meetinthailand.com rolls out nationwide
The rolling launch of meetinthailand.com, Thailand’s first and only in-depth, interactive online portal for the MICE industry – has now been completed, following its ‘soft’ regional launch in Phuket in November 2016.
According to Grenville Fordham, founder and Managing Director of Image Asia Events (IMAGE asia), the company behind meetinthailand.com, the website now hosts detailed business profiles of approximately 600 MICE suppliers, including 320 hotels with MICE facilities, as well as exhibition/convention centres, DMCs, tour operators, event organisers, restaurants and more – spread across nine areas of the country: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui plus the wider regions of central, north, northeast and south Thailand.
“Obviously, we’re still in the early stages of reaching out to national and international MICE buyers – who this MICE portal is designed for – but even during our rolling launch phase, we’re seeing satisfying growth in visitors per month (at around 250 per cent from January to June 2017) to what is, after all, a very niche website,” said Markus Vogt, IMAGE asia’s Business Development Manager who leads the MICE project team.
According to Vogt, the next phase of development is about encouraging more hotels, venues and other suppliers to upgrade their profiles to include more detailed information, multimedia products and downloadable brochures, menus etc, while ramping up the promotion to MICE buyers using a combination of industry targeted marketing and SEO tools.
“Our objective is to give venues and suppliers in Thailand’s MICE and weddings industries an opportunity to showcase their offerings in a detailed, searchable, multimedia environment, which they can access and update themselves using comprehensive, secure back end tools,” said Vogt.
“For buyers in these industries, meetinthailand.com represents a unique opportunity to preselect venues and other event suppliers – based on easily accessible, hard information.”
This comprehensive website is not just about providing information – although it does that in a big way! The range of buyers’ ‘tools’ is also impressive. There’s a buyers’ ‘Wish List’ (a kind of shopping basket) that allows you to save possible options as you browse and – really important – your choices are saved for next time you log on.
Then there’s the automated ‘Request For Proposal’ (RFP) feature that sends a detailed enquiry direct to your short list of suppliers in the ‘Wish List’ with a single click – a real timesaver.
The last item in the toolkit is the interactive checklist that helps you keep track – all in the same secure online location – of all the details while planning an event. meetinthailand.com does seem to have thought of everything.
The online ‘toolkit for buyers and suppliers’ and the supplier business profiles are not all. The website is a continuously updated source of destination information, as well as tips and tricks for a successful event in Thailand.
Last but not least, there are news pages that represent an impressive aggregator of news relevant to anyone planning an event in Thailand.
“I’ve seen event buyers waste time and money on inspection trips to Thailand, armed with inadequate information,” said Fordham.
“The fundamental proposition of meetinthailand.com is that no buyer should need to travel to Thailand on an inspection trip without a meaningful shortlist of venues, suppliers and opportunities preselected on the basis of comprehensive, up-to-date information – and with a file of real time quotations/proposals in hand.”
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
meetinthailandLatest News
Travel DAZE Exec Agenda REVEALED: top execs to speak on airline competition
As the industry reels from Bonza's implosion, it is more important than ever to ask the big questions.
Skroo says Rex will need deep pockets to fill lost Bonza slots
The door is open for Rex, and anyone else who wants to launch a regional Aussie airline...
Hilton Expands Presence in North Queensland with the signing of Hilton Garden Inn Townsville
Heading to a North Queensland Cowboys clash? Hilton Garden Inn Townsville is set to open, but not until 2026.
Amy Poehler joins Vivid Sydney event
Oh Joy! Hit comedian Amy Poehler will make an emotional appearance at the Sydney Opera House for Vivid.
Emirates unveils future plans with new hub at Al Maktoum International Airport
We've also been looking into our future. It involves plenty of famils, we hope.
Two thirds of Australians support introduction of tourism tax, survey reveals
Can you guess which generation was the most outraged at the news? Hint: It is exactly who you think!
“The consumer really just wanted more classic reward availability” – customers underwhelmed by Qantas FF shakeup
All this consumer wants is to sit behind someone that doesn't push their seat back to near-horizontal levels.
Aussie travellers warned of ‘significant’ visa shifts in destinations including Chile, US and Vietnam
To be honest are biggest advice for having a layover in the US, is just don't.
Profile: Delta CEO Ed Bastian
Bastian says the airline business isn't for the faint hearted. We're sure Alan Joyce would agree!
Final Call: Travel DAZE Exec early birds are about to expire
Much like the auctioneer at the hottest sale of the year, we're giving you one more chance to jump at this deal!
Forget the weekend! Experience Gold Coast launches mid-week travel campaign
Your boss might be a bit bothered if you jet off mid-week, but you'll be the envy of all of your Instagram followers.
Victorian Tourism Industry Council warns of losing tourism dollars to NSW & QLD
Trendy cafe's hidden in CBD laneways can only get so many tourism dollars, clearly!
AIME 2024 rustles up $330m for APAC economy
This figure is a 65 per cent increase on 2023, much alike The Nibbler staff's alcohol consumption.
Amex GBT to purchase CWT for $871m
It's big deals like this that get a firm handshake - hence the sore hands over at the CWT and Amex GBT offices.
Boeing cleanout: CEO, chair to go as safety crisis plagues the manufacturer
CEOs are falling thick and fast these days. We should have started up a bingo game with their headshots in the office.
Star boss resigns, admits retaining NSW casino licence unlikely under his leadership
The CEO resigned after 18 months in the role. 'Another one bites the dust' rumoured to be heard playing in Pyrmont.
Corporate Traveller swings amateur golfers around the globe for World Golf Competition
How're your golf skills? Consider yourself a Tiger Woods or often get quadruple bogeys? We take after the latter.
Corporate travellers to spend big on Melbourne F1 despite financial pressures
Part of the attraction is sick days after the event as corporate travellers suffer creaked necks and blown eardrums.
Bonza officially kicks off Gold Coast-Darwin route
The Flying Purple Thumb is back at it with another route. We swear, we're going to make this nickname stick!
South West Sydney Tourism launches Western Sydney Tourism Awards
Penrith's 3 consecutive NRL premierships wasn't enough? The people of Western Sydney could fill the trophy cabinet more!
Hotels vs. Airbnb: Industry leaders at odds over who should pay accommodation levy
There's not as much gore in the Hotels vs. Airbnb saga as there is in Alien vs. Predator, but it's just as thrilling!
Singapore Airlines revamps premium economy with new menu, amenity kit
Felt Singapore Airlines was lacking "the sauce" (as the kids say). Bolster belief in the carrier's je na sais quoi here.
Business Events Adelaide set for 20th Destination SA event
Destination SA turns 20! Hopefully it's not celebrated with vodka cruisers and vapes like most 20th birthdays.
Boeing’s woes delay massive Virgin Australia order
This delay means Virgin staffers will be without that new plane smell, inspiring us to sell it in a can.
All the winners from the 2023 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards
Somehow missed this news recently? Good thing you're subscribed to our fabulous newsletter!
Corporate international travel from Brisbane up 30% YOY: Flight Centre
Queenslanders seem keen to go somewhere that actually serves good beer! Sorry, we actually like Great Northern.
Amora Brisbane undergoes $30m remodelling, geared up for MICE offerings
When $30m goes into an amazing hotel to get it geared up for MICE offerings, that's amore!
Corporate Travel Management’s CEO Laura Ruffles steps down
CTM confirmed that Ruffles will be stepping down due to a personal health issue, effective immediately.
Qatar Airways crowned World’s Best MICE Airline at World MICE Awards
You could say Qatar Airways really 'nabbed the cheese' with this one! Alright, we'll see ourselves out...
Qantas, Jetstar & Virgin hike airfares as supplier costs inflate
Supplier increases means you'll pay more. It's like pass the parcel, but instead of getting a present, you owe money.
NSW Central Coast wins global sustainability award for promoting ecotourism at ITB
NSW Central Coast jumped the gun on St. Patricks Day and got the green celebrations going early!
PHOTOS: RuPaul’s Drag Race stars hit Kings Canyon for Priscilla’s 30th anniversary
The stars have renamed the iconic spot 'Queens Canyon'. No name change to the adjacent 'Priscilla's Crack', however.
Air NZ to suspend Auckland-Chicago route amid aircraft troubles
Sorry Kiwis, your craving for authentic deep dish pizza will go unsatiated (or you could just fly with another airline).
Tasmanian Premier promises to build the world’s largest chocolate fountain if re-elected
If only sticky 6-year-old children could vote. Then the Tassie Premier would be guaranteed a victory!
The staggering amount invested in 2022/23 Australian tourism projects revealed!
Any guesses on how much it was? We'll give you a hint: It's between $1 and $9 trillion (hope this helps).
Marriott’s Bonvoy Lounge makes it a 5-peat at Formula 1 in Melbourne
If Formula 1 is so good, then why isn't there a Formula 2? Oh there is one... Never mind.