TCEB’s director of meetings and incentives department Nooch Homrossukhon speaking at the launch of ASEAN MaxiMICE on Tuesday (January 22).
Thailand is courting more meetings and incentive business from the ASEAN region with the launch of a new campaign.
Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has partnered national carrier Thai Airways to attract groups from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore under a new campaign ‘ASEAN MaxiMICE’.
To attract groups, the campaign will offer meetings and incentive planners support and privileges for groups.
These include access to a dedicated MICE lane, meet-and-greet services, cultural performances, premium souvenirs, BTS Card for sky train travel, additional baggage allowance, pre-assigned group seating on flights, special on-board announcements and customised printed seat cover.
To further entice groups, qualification criteria for the campaign has been lowered to groups of at least 40, instead of 50, with at least a two-night stay in Thailand.
With MICE arrivals from the neighbouring ASEAN region fuelling a 58% growth, TCEB’s director of meetings and incentives department Nooch Homrossukhon is seeing opportunities to grow this even further.
Groups from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore together have generated a 30.5% growth last year, revealed Nooch.
TCEB expects the new campaign will spur a 5% increase in MICE travellers from each of the four markets, with at 20 new groups to Thailand over the campaign period till August 31.
“A few years back, Thai Airways International collaborated with TCEB and launched a similar campaign for Singapore, which was very successful. From that success, we have decided to collaborate with TCEB on a new campaign for four ASEAN markets,” said Siriphong Mangkalee, regional director ASEAN, Thai Airways International.
“Asia is currently the wold’s fastest growing market for Thai Airways, while the ASEAN market contributes to more than 50% of our overall revenue,” Siriphong added.
Thai Airways currently operates direct flights from Bangkok to Singapore, Manila, Jakarta, Bali, Kuala Lumpur and Penang.