Thailand Exhibition and Convention Bureau (TCEB) has been meeting with buyers and promoting several support-laden initiatives during a series of road shows it has undertaken since the end of civil unrest in May. The bureau will also host groups from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan by the end of the month in an effort to reassure buyers that it is 'business as usual' in the country.
The local event industry is also offering incentives through the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA) including complimentary handling for speakers and manned hospitality desks from DMCs and PCOs, 30-minute cocktail functions, guestrooms and WiFi access from hotels, and special airfares from Thai Airways.
While such incentives are important, it is TCEB’s industry interaction and the country’s enduring destination appeal have proven the most effective.
Insurance concerns
Yet while the state of emergency remains in place, so do the automatic travel warnings from many countries. Predictably, insurance issues often mean large corporations cannot take groups to Thailand even when they want to. So is the campaign enough to offset security concerns?
“Most companies will wait to see what happens politically and if the warnings are lifted,” says Keith Christenson of 212°F, the Australian arm of Extra Mile Company. “Australia’s government travel warnings are the key. However, some will take a risk for a great deal and if the destination has to change, so be it. Large multinationals will follow their internal rules.”
Occupancy rates at Bangkok’s major hotels are rising with the return of leisure and business travellers, as well as some groups. And with Phuket’s multitude of direct international flights and distance from the conflict and its main support base, the southern island has been receiving a steady stream of events including a product launch for Ford. “Phuket is an easier sell,” says Christenson. “We have already had two groups there this year.”
Returning business
Max Jantasuwan, MICE director of Bangkok-based events company, Asia World Enterprises, says: “We currently have a 350-person group in Phuket and a booking of 250 people for November.
“With the TCEB and TICA initiatives and industry-wide efforts in promoting the country, business is already swinging back before the year-end. There are new requests for October and November, and some potential events have now been confirmed.”
Resilient appeal
However, regional groups who enjoy the excitement of Bangkok are not always attracted to resort alternatives. Geraldine Ng, training executive for McDonald’s Restaurants (Singapore), had to move its annual September conference from Bangkok.
“At the time of the decision Bangkok was too uncertain, so we offered Phuket and Ho Chi Minh City as alternatives. Many wanted the event to remain in Bangkok, but they decided on Ho Chi Minh City for its shopping and urban environment. Bangkok remains on our list for the 2011 event.”
No problems
Several markets have proven less sensitive to security issues, especially when there is a strategic business advantage to meeting in Thailand.
Saket Tiku, director of Esteem Gases and vice-president of the All India Industrial Gases Manufacturers’ Association, says: “We would have no problem holding an event in Thailand. Security no longer seems to be an issue. The Thai people are very courteous and it is a value-for-money destination.
"More importantly, Thailand is also a good place for investment. As a signatory to the Asean free-trade agreement, there are significant benefits for Indian companies when doing business in, and with, Thailand.”
While many companies will remain cautious until after a sustained period of stability and the state of emergency is cancelled, it seems the regional business events industry is eager to return to one of its favourite destinations.