THAILAND Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai will be promoted as alternative MICE destinations for long-haul markets, which traditionally prefer to hold their events at established destinations such as Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket.

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) meetings and incentives director, Malinee Kitaphanich, said the two northern Thai provinces had improved product and service standards, following the launch of internationally branded hotels such as Shangri-La, Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi and Le Meridien.