Headed by Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), a delegation of 21 industry partners of the Industry Partner Program of Macau Business Tourism Centre (MBTC) exhibited at the 17th Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) held at Bangkok Convention Centre between 6 and 8 October, to promote the city as a new MICE destination in Asia. In tackling the current adversity, many Asian convention bureaus (CVBs) and destination marketing organizations, including MGTO/MBTC, are stepping up subventions to assist event organizers. Since the launching of the ‘Strategic MICE Market Stimulation Program’ by MGTO in mid of May this year and was revised on 1 August, the program has received positive response. Many industry partners revealed that the number of potential requests by the international buyers in hosting their events in Macau during the IT&CMA trade show increased compared to the previous edition. The booth of Macau at the IT&CMA received the bronze award for the category Stickiest National Pavilion. The prize is awarded to the country or territory which booth stands out from the crowd, by decision of a panel of juries. Being the second largest booth after host Thailand, the design of MGTO booth celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Macau SAR and decorated with colorful campaign Experience Macau. Organizers announced the winners of this year on 8 October at the Sticky Awards Luncheon. During the tradeshow, organizers invited Macau to conduct media briefing on 8 October, which was attended by more than 30 media from the different parts of the globe. Taking the convenience of time and location, on 9 October, after IT&CMA, MGTO held jointly with Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau a business session named MICE Macau & Thailand Seminar. The seminar brought together more than 50 representatives from corporate companies, travel-related agents and event organizers from Thailand with around 20 representatives from Macau, for service and products update and business discussion. In its 17th year, IT&CMA is the region’s premier meetings and incentive travel tradeshow and has attracted thousands of delegates from more than 40 countries. It is at the same time a platform for promoting the Asia-Pacific region as a MICE destination as well as a source for MICE visitors.
