MGTO organizes new series of seminars on business tourism

Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) is organizing a new series of seminar for professionals interested in convention and exhibitions organization, with the first being held today. The speakers are MGTO’s consultants on business tourism development, Gary Grimmer and Mike Williams. The seminars are divided into two main topics, “Meetings Business: Getting Your Share” and “Building Your Business: Developing the Convention and Incentive Market for Macau”, each involving a several day training program. “Meetings Business: Getting Your Share” is a four day training series, to be held today, October 15, December 4 and 11. The seminars target top sales, marketing and service managers of business that have an involvement or interest in the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) industry. The “Building Your Business: Developing the Convention and Incentive Market for Macau” training series will be held on October 16 and December 6. This training series are tailored for owners and operators of business that have an involvement and interest in the MICE industry. The training series aim to help participants understand the MICE market, how it is changing, how customers think, how to be more successful in their sales and customer service, the sales opportunities that are being created and how to get involved. MGTO director, João Manuel Costa Antunes, said “MGTO has been giving its full support to the development of the business tourism industry in Macau, actively contributing to the implementation of the government policies for this area. In this regard, the task of training is fundamental. The organization of training programs enables the Macau convention and exhibitions industry to improve its performance, which is essential for its development. To conduct the seminars, we have invited two distinguished experts with rich experience in the conventions industry that we hope can provide fresh information and ideas.” He added that “for more than a year, the MGTO’s Macau Business Tourism Centre has been coordinating, supporting and organizing business tourism activities and training programs. In the next two years, various mega-conventions will be held in Macau and the Centre will continue to perform its role in the facilitation of the development of business tourism in Macau.” The speakers of the seminars are two experienced, well-connected and knowledgeable MICE experts. Gary Grimmer is the CEO of the international consultant company on business tourism Gary Grimmer & Company. Prior to starting is own company, he was CEO of the Convention Bureau in Melbourne, Australia, and bureaux of Portland and Albuquerque, in the US. He also serves as chairman of ConventionWorks, a global convention industry consulting network. Born in the US, he lives in Australia. Mike Williams joined Gary Grimmer & Company as senior consultant in February, 2007. Prior to that he served as general manager sales of the Melbourne Convention Bureau where he led the community’s bid teams to secure major international and national business events to the city. He also oversaw strategic planning and marketing programs within the Bureau. This press release is available at: www.macautourism.gov.mo