Thailand stands at the historic crossroads of trade and culture with a mature MICE industry and a thriving tourism sector

Greetings from Thailand: “One Place, Every Possibility’. After venturing on the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)’s media familiarisation trip, that’s exactly what I learned about Thailand.

I arrived at Bangkok’s newly opened airport to the warm greetings of ‘Sawadee Ka’. While being whisked away to the Centara Grand Hotel, I had my first encounter with Bangkok’s infamous traffic. Flashes of searing buildings, mega malls and hotels together with bustling markets, ornate temples and speedy tuk-tuks rolled past my window, forming a spectrum of Thailand’s varied and rich culture. The city was bustling with throngs of people and hordes of cars. As I joined the international press contingent at the hotel lobby, TCEB proceeded to outline a rigorous schedule of six site visits in just four days. Of course, it was accompanied with freshly knifed young coconuts, humble greetings and many smiles.

Clear waters, sandy beaches and fresh fruit are a few of the many heavenly thoughts that first spring up when thinking about Thailand. For us living in Asia, it is an idyllic location for a quick getaway, offering a slice of paradise at an affordable price. Together with its tasty cuisine, incredible shopping, emerald buddhas and hospitable people, Thailand puts together a holiday package that you can’t resist. Now as the nation is positioned as the gateway to India and China, TCEB is securing a leadership position as ASEAN’s exhibition hub.

New trade space

The first of the six prime exhibition and convention halls was located at our doorstep. As well as housing the newly refurbished 5-star Centara Grand hotel and a shopping mall, CentralWorld also recently opened Central World Convention and Exhibition centre. Over 10,000 square metres that accommodate 6,000 delegates in a single, pillar-free environment.

Not very far away is the Royal Paragon Hall, positioned on the 5th level of the Siam Paragon Shopping mall. This venue opens up to a stunning 12,000 square metres. Also situated at the heart of Bangkok’s pulsating city centre is the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC). Named after the queen of Thailand, it can fit 4,000 delegates in its Plenary Hall. The venue is noted for its traditionally Thai architecture. The design is Thai high-tech, its exterior sloping walls of yellow and soft white colouring echoing the hues of traditional Thai non-wood structures. The exterior makes a striking contrast against its well-equipped 65,000 square metre interior.

The next few sites were further away from our centrally located hotel. Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) is situated outside the city centre, but only a 15-min drive from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Linked column-free halls create a total venue floor space of 50,400 square metres, easily accommodating fairs of all sizes. The convention and exhibition centre offers 20 meeting rooms, sophisticated technical facilities and three food outlets.  BITEC competes with the IMPACT Convention and Exhibition Centre, also located in the suburbs of Bangkok, but with 140,000 square metres of floor space. IMPACT has a new shuttle bus service to the city.  

Shuttling to and from exhibition centres on Bangkok’s heady streets amidst the traffic is not unusual in a teeming city like this. However, when we were taken to Pattaya, the closest resort city just 90 minutes away, we were immediately cloaked by the seaside calm. Perched on a gorgeous seafront, the Royal Cliff Beach Resort houses the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH). The 4-storey building spreads over 10 acres of the 64-acre resort. It can accommodate up to 7,600 delegates and sits amidst an oasis of holiday tranquillity. When it comes to unwinding after a tiring day’s work, it is clear that a walk on the beach shores or a leisurely stroll through the green gardens certainly trumps the hustle and bustle of the city.

In order to attract more international convention organisers and trade organisations to Bangkok, TCEB has launched the ‘Thanks a Million’ marketing cash incentive. TCEB estimates 947,600 business visitors coming to Thailand in 2008, generating income of about US$2 billion for the next fiscal year.

It seems few cities in the world are as exciting, exhausting and enterprising as Bangkok. From its expansive platform for global trading, its colourful markets, its spicy cuisine and its ethereal shores, it is certainly a city that demands full attention.