The standard is part of an aggressive development plan to drive Thailand's MICE industry for rapid growth. Highlighting Thailand's leadership position in the region, TCEB stressed the importance of leveraging capabilities of MICE operators, and notes that standardisation can guide investments, operations, management, and marketing support.
Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, Vice President, Administration and Strategic Support, TCEB, said: "To be able to compete in the international marketplace, quality products and services are considered key factors in propelling market development efforts, especially when regional integration with the ASEAN Economic Community will take effect. The MICE industry will expand significantly, both in terms of visitor numbers and revenue, and will serve as an effective economic driver of growth for Thailand and ASEAN."
TCEB successfully initiated the MICE Venue Standard in 2013, a first in Thailand and ASEAN at the time. The standard has since been adopted by ASEAN member countries as a framework to develop the ASEAN MICE Venue Standard (AMVS).
Since its inception, TCEB has encouraged Thai operators to follow the Standard's guidelines and improve services to meet its requirements. Over the past two years, TCEB has supported the initiative and evaluated MICE venues in six targeted cities, Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, and Had Yai. More than 80 operators have applied for the programme.
The 42 certified MICE operators, comprise three convention centres, 34 hotels and resorts, five public and private organisations. Among these were Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok Convention Centre at Central World, Miracle Grand Convention Hotel, the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's Accession to the Throne International Convention Center, and the SCB Training Center Pattaya.
The IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center (ECC), Muang Thong Thani made a separate announcement that it had received the Thailand MICE Venue Standard for eight of its meeting rooms: the Royal Jubilee ballroom, Grand Diamond ballroom and Phoenix rooms 1 to 6.
The Thailand MICE Venue Standard accolade will help guarantee the quality of Thai meeting rooms. As internationally-recognised venues, all of the 42 operators will be part of the MICE Venue Approved List. In 2015, TCEB expects 120 MICE entrepreneurs to certify under the TMVS, especially in Thailand's five key MICE Cities, as well as cities with high potential including Hua Hin, Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, and Nakhon Ratchasima.
The certification process will cover three main components including physical, technological and service aspects, with different scoring conventions for convention centres, hotels and resorts, and public and private sector organisations. The evaluation is also in line with the criteria requirements of the Thailand MICE Venue Standard – Category: Meeting Room Certification Handbook, developed by the Thai Hotels Association, Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA), Thai Exhibition Association (TEA), The Association of Thai Travel Agents, Association of Domestic Travel, and Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University.
Looking ahead, TCEB will work closely with Mahidol University to further develop a five-year strategic roadmap for 2015 to 2019 for the Thailand MICE Venue Standard, while developing capabilities of certified operators in various areas including venue management courses in collaboration with TEA and TICA, as well as educating other operators about how to get certified.
To support the success of the Thailand MICE Venue Standard, TCEB will continue to drive the ASEAN MICE Venue Standard to achieve wider adoption region-wide.
"We hope that the Thailand MICE Venue Standard Certification Ceremony, held for the first time in 2015, will encourage our operators to further improve their capabilities, as well as create confidence among Thai and international MICE organisers to host their events in Thailand. Once the ASEAN Standard is widely adopted, our Thai entrepreneurs will be ready and equipped with business edge needed to succeed," Chiruit concluded.
TCEB successfully initiated the MICE Venue Standard in 2013, a first in Thailand and ASEAN at the time. The standard has since been adopted by ASEAN member countries as a framework to develop the ASEAN MICE Venue Standard (AMVS).
Since its inception, TCEB has encouraged Thai operators to follow the Standard's guidelines and improve services to meet its requirements. Over the past two years, TCEB has supported the initiative and evaluated MICE venues in six targeted cities, Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, and Had Yai. More than 80 operators have applied for the programme.
The 42 certified MICE operators, comprise three convention centres, 34 hotels and resorts, five public and private organisations. Among these were Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok Convention Centre at Central World, Miracle Grand Convention Hotel, the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's Accession to the Throne International Convention Center, and the SCB Training Center Pattaya.
The IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center (ECC), Muang Thong Thani made a separate announcement that it had received the Thailand MICE Venue Standard for eight of its meeting rooms: the Royal Jubilee ballroom, Grand Diamond ballroom and Phoenix rooms 1 to 6.
The Thailand MICE Venue Standard accolade will help guarantee the quality of Thai meeting rooms. As internationally-recognised venues, all of the 42 operators will be part of the MICE Venue Approved List. In 2015, TCEB expects 120 MICE entrepreneurs to certify under the TMVS, especially in Thailand's five key MICE Cities, as well as cities with high potential including Hua Hin, Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, and Nakhon Ratchasima.
The certification process will cover three main components including physical, technological and service aspects, with different scoring conventions for convention centres, hotels and resorts, and public and private sector organisations. The evaluation is also in line with the criteria requirements of the Thailand MICE Venue Standard – Category: Meeting Room Certification Handbook, developed by the Thai Hotels Association, Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA), Thai Exhibition Association (TEA), The Association of Thai Travel Agents, Association of Domestic Travel, and Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University.
Looking ahead, TCEB will work closely with Mahidol University to further develop a five-year strategic roadmap for 2015 to 2019 for the Thailand MICE Venue Standard, while developing capabilities of certified operators in various areas including venue management courses in collaboration with TEA and TICA, as well as educating other operators about how to get certified.
To support the success of the Thailand MICE Venue Standard, TCEB will continue to drive the ASEAN MICE Venue Standard to achieve wider adoption region-wide.
"We hope that the Thailand MICE Venue Standard Certification Ceremony, held for the first time in 2015, will encourage our operators to further improve their capabilities, as well as create confidence among Thai and international MICE organisers to host their events in Thailand. Once the ASEAN Standard is widely adopted, our Thai entrepreneurs will be ready and equipped with business edge needed to succeed," Chiruit concluded.
