What have been TCEB's major projects for 2009?
To stimulate Thailand’s domestic MICE sector, TCEB launched a cooperative plan to develop Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai under the campaign ‘Thailand MICE City’.

In February, TCEB and key partners launched a major ‘Green Meetings’ project to promote environmental best practices and sustainable long-term development in the MICE industry. The project provides guidelines, marketing and PR support, and business matching. At the core is the ‘Thailand’s Green Meetings Guidelines’ manual. We followed this up in May with the highly successful ‘Go Green Exhibition’ held in Pattaya.

TCEB also plays an important role in professional development within the MICE industry. Our MICE Education programme works to global standards and aims to position Thailand as the sub-regional leader in MICE human resources development.

Also, a recent survey by UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry, ranked Thailand as first in Asean, and eighth in Asia, for exhibitions. Thailand retained its top rank in four areas – number of events, annual size, average size per fair and total income generated.

What new initiatives have recently been launched?
Our Green Meetings Guidelines will help enhance corporate social responsibility; the MICE Security Standard will ensure MICE venues comply with international standards of safety and security; and the airport MICE Lane is a fast-track customs clearance lane for MICE delegates.

TCEB’s new ‘MICE Thailand Cluster Marketing Drive’ has also been launched to promote five distinct geographical areas, each with its own unique culture, cuisine and natural heritage.

TCEB has produced a 174-page ‘Venue Variety’ directory to support the initiative. The new ‘Thailand Maximize’ campaign also offers benefits for planners. The key concept is to present Thailand’s strengths as a country full of potential and value for organising meetings, conventions and exhibitions at international level.

List some upcoming events. 
Thailand has won a number of bids this year including the 19th World Congress of Neurology, 15th World Saxophone Congress 2009 and the 6th United Nations Day of Vesaka 2009 (The World Buddhism Conference 2009).