TCEB organises MICE Techno Mart 2022 to push innovation towards elevating MICE industry

1 April 2022, Bangkok: TCEB showcases MICE Techno Mart 2022, an innovation and technology discovery platform conducted to propel the MICE industry towards elevating MICE standards. Among its highlights is a pitching activity in which MICE organisers present ideas for integrating innovation and technology into events for a chance to win MICE Inno-Voucher, a funding support from TCEB which is worth a total of over 5 million baht.

            Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB, said that TCEB continues to spur the adoption of innovation and technology to drive the MICE industry forward. Holding the event for 2 consecutive years, TCEB organises MICE Techno Mart 2022, under the 'MICE Winnovation' project, on 1 April 2022 at the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit. The event serves as a platform to create a new dimension for elevating the standards of MICE through the adoption of innovation and technology. The MICE Techno Mart, in its second edition, features a broader range of innovations with over ten categories of tech solutions, including Robots, Health Innovation, and AR/VR Technology introduced at the event. Among its highlights is an idea pitching activity in which MICE organisers pitch ideas for integrating innovation and technology into events for a chance to win funding support from TCEB in the form of two types of MICE Inno-Vouchers. One is Inno-Voucher for event organisers and the other is Inno-Venue Voucher for venues. Both vouchers are worth a total of over 5 million baht.

            “Based on the government's policy to reopen the country and TCEB's mission to attract overseas MICE visitors, MICE event planning and venues become vital not only to the success of the event but the safety of attendees. Therefore, it is essential to encourage event organisers and venue operators to incorporate innovations into their management, especially in the current situation.”

            In the pitching activity, both event organisers and venue operators must team up with tech entrepreneurs to present methods and appropriate applications of cost-effective innovation and technology in organising an event. The goal is to sustainably upgrade MICE events and MICE venues through the adoption of innovation and technology.

        The Inno-Voucher offers funding support in three categories:  

            1.Inno-Voucher L – a maximum grant of 500,000 baht for organisers holding an event for at least three days, with innovation and mixed technologies to benefit at least 1,000 attendees. 

            2.Inno-Voucher M – a maximum grant of 200,000 baht for organisers holding an event for at least one day, integrating innovation into the event to benefit at least 300 attendees. 

            3.Contactless Voucher – a maximum grant of 200,000 baht for organisers holding an event that utilises innovation to promote safety and facilitate MICE travellers.

        The Inno-Venue Voucher offers funding support in two categories: 

            1.Innovative Convention Center Voucher – a maximum grant of 1 million baht for venues that allocate a minimum area of 3,000 square meters for innovation and implement technologies into at least three events.

            2.Smart Venue Voucher – a maximum grant of 500,000 baht for venues that allocate an area not exceeding 3,000 square meters for innovation and implement technologies into at least two events.

            Also, MICE Techno Mart 2022 provides a business matching platform for 150 trade buyers representing MICE entrepreneurs and operators to meet, exchange ideas, and expand business with 30 tech entrepreneurs. This year, up to 150 business-matching meetings are conducted on-site, while in the last year's edition, the event witnessed 312 business-matching meetings, which led to 21 events that enable innovation and technology.

            Mr. Chiruit added that TCEB continues to inspire innovation and technology adoption through the MICE Winnovation project. Besides the MICE Techno Mart and MICE Inno-Voucher funding scheme, TCEB also continuously develops an online databank and marketplace for MICE operators and tech entrepreneurs via a platform so-called MICE Innovation Catalogue. Currently, there are up to 70 tech solutions from 60 tech firms showcased on the platform, while TCEB expects to grow the database to reach 100 tech solutions from 70-80 tech firms by the end of this year.