Let’s talk business in MAHARASHTRA
With state-of-the-art five-star facilities and upcoming venues, the state of Maharashtra remains the go-to destination for MICE, share senior officials, select MICE agents and hoteliers
India is headed as the optimum MICE sector both as the market (domestic and outbound) and as a destination (inbound). The state of Maharashtra is coming up as a suitable MICE destination with a plethora of opportunities for making the business thrive in its commercially suited cities of Mumbai and Pune and more.
MYRIAD OFFERINGS
Talking about MICE and its varied offerings in Maharashtra, Valsa Nair Singh IAS, Principal Secretary Tourism and Culture, Government of Maharashtra says, “Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation aims to become a major player in this segment wherein, it provides suitable infrastructure - an impressive combination of accommodation and other conference support facilities to hold successful meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions. Our objective is to establish the state as a dynamic business-event destination, where an ecosystem of ideas, people, and technology flourishes, which draws on vibrant knowledge and wide networks. The main convention cities in Maharashtra are Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, Nagpur and Aurangabad. Progress till date has been exponential and will see tremendous growth in the coming year.”
ZEROING IN ON THE TARGET
Concentrating on targets she adds, “The India Convention Promotion Bureau, under the aegis of Ministry of Tourism, is looking to garner a two per cent share of the global conventions market by 2025, from its current share of 0.68 per cent. Additionally, state governments of Maharashtra are making it a priority to become MICE friendly by enhancing infrastructure, connectivity, facilities and security.”
She adds, “Mumbai is also a key business hub and home to a number of national and international companies and regional headquarters. The city is well equipped with business hotels and convention centers to cater to business tourists. Leisure arrivals are driven by the tourist attractions available in Mumbai and Aurangabad circle. These range from heritage sites, including the Ellora caves, to regional sites such as Shirdi.”
CONNECTING IT RIGHT
Elaborating on the good connectivity, she reiterates, “Maharashtra airports are making a mark at the global levels. Mumbai is regarded as the best international airport in the world. Connectivity by railway and roadway to all regional, metro and national destinations is also very convenient.”
Enumerating new MICE offerings she adds, “Reliance Jio Park is currently our new project with all MICE facilities coming up in Maharashtra. The work is still going on at the Experience Center and it will be opened soon. The 13,000-sq m Jio Garden is twostorey one with a state-of-the-art parking lot below it. Each parking level has an area of 33,546 sq metres and a total of 2,000 vehicles can be accommodated in the lot. The garden has a multi-purpose, non-toxic synthetic turf and ‘panic buttons’ have been installed on pillars inside so that women can use them in emergencies.”
Highlighting the viability of Tier-2 she concludes, “Venue availability is cheaper, tax is lesser in rural and non metro cities, while the connectivity is excellent in all Tier-2 places. The Pan-India ‘Airport-drive’ will change the travel landscape of the country and the way people travel.”
“Reliance Jio Park is a new project with MICE facilities coming up in Maharashtra