Major hotel operators have pledged to help the Mice sector after adopting certified Asean Mice Venue Standards (AMVS).
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) continues to upgrade more venues for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) in Southeast Asia to meet regional standards members agreed to in 2016.
Member countries have begun to implement the standards in the meeting room category.
Countries certified with AMVS include 13 venues in Thailand, four in Singapore, three in Brunei and five each in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Philippines.
Centara Grand at CentralWorld is among the certified Mice venues.
Ferry Tjahjono, cluster director of sales for Centara Grand at CentralWorld, said attempts to enhance the standard of Thailand's Mice venues will attract international attention.
Centara Grand at CentralWorld and Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok are among 13 AMVS certified venues in Thailand.
Mr Tjahjono said permanent spaces have been added, which include prayer rooms and restrooms designed for seniors and the disabled. Training in waste management has been implemented to ensure legal compliance. With these standards, meeting planners and organisers will gain more confidence in selecting Bangkok as a Mice destination.
"In fact, the year-to-date [figures] show the most success since the launch of Bangkok Convention Center at CentralWorld in 2007. We have seen double-digit growth. Our venue has hosted major events and corporate meetings for leading associations," he said.
Sitthirat Hothongkam, hotel manager at Sheraton Hua Hin Resort and Spa, also an AMVS-certified venue, said the hotel is determined to operate and enhance the infrastructure that supports Mice business.
With this initiative, Thailand can compete on a global scale with genuine pride, Mr Sitthirat said.
Thamolwan Chalongrathakij, assistant director of sales and marketing, Duangjitt Resort and Spa in Patong Beach, Phuket, another AMVS-certified venue, said receiving the certification has boosted confidence among customers.
"Feedback from Asian customers has surged by 19% year-on-year, including from Singapore, Malaysia, China, Vietnam and Thailand. The potential of our convention room and the readiness of Mice personnel have enabled us to respond better to customers' demands, and we are looking forward to preserving the standard," she said.
TCEB president Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayutthaya said he expected 20 Mice venues in Thailand to achieve AMVS certification this year.
