At the recent Thailand – USA Meetings and Exhibitions Industry Forum in New York, Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva confirmed Thailand’s readiness to strengthen Thai-US collaboration in the meetings and exhibitions industries of both countries. Speaking at the Forum, which took place at the Mandarin Oriental New York on September 22, 2009, PM Abhisit said, “The importance of a strong and vibrant Meetings and Exhibitions industry to the economies of both our countries cannot be underestimated. Its benefits, as we know, are far reaching and well-established.” …
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At the recent Thailand – USA Meetings and Exhibitions Industry Forum in New York, Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva confirmed Thailand’s readiness to strengthen Thai-US collaboration in the meetings and exhibitions industries of both countries. Speaking at the Forum, which took place at the Mandarin Oriental New York on September 22, 2009, PM Abhisit said, “The importance of a strong and vibrant Meetings and Exhibitions industry to the economies of both our countries cannot be underestimated. Its benefits, as we know, are far reaching and well-established.”
The Forum was also well-attended by top industry leaders who participated in the open dialogue. The invited leaders included Deborah Sexton, President and CEO of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), John H. Graham IV, President & CEO at ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership, Trey Feiler, Chief Operating Officer of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and Patrick K. Sullivan, Site President.
While generally aware of the immense variety of Thailand’s attractions, legendary hospitality and value for money, participants in the Forum offered a great deal of advice on how the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) could facilitate a better relationship with prospective partners and clients in the U.S. The value of TCEB’s role as a facilitator of market access for North American planners was particularly highlighted. Key points revolved around marketing and communication – making sure that the TCEB maintains frequent and consistent contact as well as provides market information and custom research.
Commenting on the forum, Supawan Teerarat, Exhibition Director and TCEB Acting President noted, “For TCEB, hosting this forum was a valuable opportunity to listen to and learn firsthand of US perspectives. We received a number of excellent recommendations on key issues and our task now is to translate these recommendations into action.”
Michel Couturier, President of Marketing Challenges International (MCIntl), the North American marketing office for the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, further added, “Thailand’s well-developed infrastructure makes it an attractive destination for business events. The overall growth in Thailand’s business and meetings industry is a testament to this. Associations looking to increase their Asian membership should look no further than to host a meeting in Thailand.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
