Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the number of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions) events held in various venues in Macao totalled 445 in the fourth quarter of 2009, up by 44% quarter-to-quarter, with 422 meetings & conferences (95% of total) and 23 exhibitions. Total number of participants and attendees rose by 7% from the third quarter to 232,353. The average duration of the MICE events increased from 2.0 days in the previous quarter to 2.1 days, with an average of 2.1 days for meetings & conferences and 2.6 days for exhibitions. As regards subject of MICE events, the majority focused on Commerce, Trade & Management (158), Tourism & Culture (62) and Education & Training (60). Analyzed by type, most of the events were Corporate Meetings (184) and Association Meetings (123). There were 283 MICE events held in hotels, drawing a total of 146,529 participants and attendees. Attendees to the 15 exhibitions reached 124,421 and the majority were attendees to the Macao International Trade and Investment Fair, accounting for 48% of the total. Meanwhile, 162 MICE events were held in convention & exhibition centres and other conference venues, bringing in 85,824 participants and attendees, of which 8 exhibitions attracted 67,360 attendees. For the whole year of 2009, a total of 1,485 MICE events were held in Macao, with an average duration of 2.0 days, attracting 660,881 participants and attendees. In respect to the subject and attendees of MICE events, those related to Commerce, Trade & Management accounted for 33% and 58% of the total; besides, exhibition event had the longest average duration, at 3.4 days.
