Novotel Suvarnabhumi Confident in MICE Business Growth Despite Economic Concern

Nov. 28, 2008 - PRLog -- Thailand is one of the premier nations for meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibition (MICE) expertise and the Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel is aiming to bolster its share of the highly competitive market amid the global economic downturn.

Bangkok,  Novotel Suvarnabhumi’s meeting and exhibition business has flourished since it opened in 2006 and despite concern surrounding the global economy, the Bangkok airport hotel is confident corporate get-togethers will continue to surge.

Despite the current economic crunch worldwide, the MICE industry maintains a positive outlook.

“The exhibitions industry is traditionally quite resilient in times of downturn. Conventions and congresses generally stick to their schedules even if attendance levels drop,” said Paul Woodward, Asia-Pacific manager from UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry.
Last year, Asia’s conventions and exhibitions industry hosted 1,732 trade fairs, generating US$3.25 billion in revenue, according to UFI.

Asia’s top five markets, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, put on 300 events pulling in US$587 million. Those in the industry say that few major gatherings have been cancelled.

Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel caters to Bangkok’s growing meeting and event market with more than 2,400 square meters of conference space, including a stunning ballroom for as many as 1,000 people, and six additional meeting and function rooms. The hotel is also well positioned for delegates attending events at the nearby BITEC Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Thailand’s exhibition industry saw a 10-15 percent growth rate in 2007, with Bangkok hosting more than 100 international and regional events. It is estimated the Thai capital will host 112 events in 2008, and Novotel Suvarnabhumi has targeted its share of the market.
The Thailand Conference and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) says while the country’s meetings industry has been affected by global economics and local political turmoil, the sector is still going strong.

TCEB President Natwut Amornvivat said the bureau is aiming for 20 percent growth and 65 billion baht (US1.8 billion) in revenue. “For conferences and exhibitions, we have not seen many events cancelled,” he said.

TCEB, like other trade bodies in the region, has adapted its strategy to target Asia’s business travelers. The Association of Southeast Asian Nation members account for more than 60 percent of business travelers coming to Thailand, with about 90 percent coming from Asia, said Amornvivat.

About Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel:

From the airport, the hotel is a pleasant 10-minute walk through the underground tunnel that links the two buildings together. At this convenient location, Novotel Suvarnabhumi is an ideal place to replenish, lounge, or while away the time before boarding your next flight. A reinterpretation of existing airport hotels, Novotel Suvarnabhumi welcomes you to a new experience. The hotel's soaring five-storey atrium, merging the elegance of polished stone and marble with its cutting-edge glass-and-steel vision, harbours the main lobby and six individually themed restaurants and bars. Beyond the lobby, the central courtyard opens out to a landscaped tropical garden and the main swimming pool, with the spa, Jacuzzi and fitness purposefully tucked away in a separate area.

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The Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel is a 4 star hotel 10 minutes away from Bangkok’s largest International airport. The five-storey atrium harbours the main lobby and 6 individually themed restaurants and bars.