On the occasion of the European Incentive & Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (EIBTM 2009) held in Barcelona between 1-3 December, the Macau Business Tourism Centre (MBTC) of the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), together with 5 representatives of event organizers, destination management companies (DMCs) and hotel from Macau, promoted the home city and its recent MICE development to the tradeshow participants. Held at Barcelona’s Fira Gran Via exhibition venue this year, the European Incentive & Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition is one of the leading global events for the meetings and incentive industry held in Europe annually. Every year it attracts over 3,000 international suppliers from over 100 countries across the globe to exhibit, network and do business. By exhibiting at the EIBTM 2009, it did not only help promote Macau’s new MICE products, but also increase its exposure in the European market as well as strengthening its image as a premier MICE destination of Asia. During the three day event, the Meeting Planners Guide, Macau Incentive Guide and the revised version of the “Strategic MICE Market Stimulation Program” were given out at the MGTO promotion booth, drawing lots of potential suppliers’ and buyers’ attention and requests for more information about having their events held in Macau. In recent years, Macau has been concentrating its efforts on developing the MICE industry. Under the supervision of MGTO, the Macau Business Tourism Centre was inaugurated in 2006. Its mission is to liaise with international associations, assist overseas organizations and meeting planners to organize MICE events in Macau as well as working in tandem with the local industry for concentrated efforts to develop and to build Macau as a premier MICE destination of Asia. In view of this, MBTC launched the Industry Partner Program in October 2008, with the purpose of encouraging Macau’ s MICE industry to support the initiatives of MGTO in promoting Macau and to help secure MICE business for the SAR. So far the program has successfully attracted over 160 key industry suppliers and their response to the program was very positive.
