S Mumbai's M!CE hub
In an interview, Rupa Naik, Senior Director, World Trade Center Mumbai, elaborates on the exhibition and event spaces available at WTC Mumbai
What facilities are provided by World Trade Center Mumbai?
World Trade Center (WTC) Mumbai is strategically located in the heart of the financial and commercial capital of India, providing an array of state-of-the-art venues to hold meetings, exhibitions and conferences, catering to all business requirements. The location is a two-hour flight distance from any major city and in close proximity to state government offices, major business hubs, hotels, entertainment zones and famous tourist spots. Our USP lies in providing the ultimate experience in organising business-tobusiness and business-toconsumer meetings in South Mumbai. Our facilities offer well appointed, centrally air-conditioned rooms and halls and are available in various settings, from large conference venues of 300 persons to small ones of 10 persons as per the organisation's specifications. The banquet rooms serve as an ideal venue for hosting corporate meetings, annual general meetings, press conferences, seminars, workshops, training programmes, arbitrations, business and educational interviews, among others.
The venues are well packaged with value-added services such as internet wi-fi service, electrical and engineering support, ample car parking, air-conditioning, 24x7 security arrangements with CCTV surveillance, empanelled contractors for stall design and construction, catering services, branding spaces within the complex, store rooms, telephone facilities, freight elevators and inhouse audio-visual facilities.
Please tell us something interesting about the inception of your venue as a M!CE destination
WTC Mumbai venues for M!CE were constructed with a view to draw the crèmede-la-crème institutions and organisations to organise international meetings and conferences. Besides, WTC Mumbai is a premier World Trade Center in India and a member of World Trade Centers Association, New York (WTCA, NY). WTCA has an unparalleled network of 326 World Trade Centers connecting trade
globally across 91 countries representing over 1 million businesses across sectors. The venues are in an ideal location and are constantly upgraded to meet the business needs of emerging entrepreneurs, overseas commercial and trade offices. Located in a prime business surrounding, the venues have easy access to hotels, restaurants and public transport system, most importantly the upcoming metro line three.
What differences do you see between the M!CE sector in India and abroad? In the Indian scenario, development of M!CE venues is yet in the nascent stage which is now gaining recognition as an emerging area. There is an urgent need to scale them up into convention centres. Internationally, convention centres are built to house huge M!CE venues with all facilities and services under one roof.
How do you see the Indian M!CE industry?
This industry offers tourism services in which organisers and suppliers manage and deliver meetings, conferences, exhibitions, and other related events to achieve a range
We plan to use Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics to help organisers in optimising M CE events
EVENTS 100+ exhibitions and over 600 meetings & conferences are held at WTC Mumbai in a year
of professional, business, cultural, or academic objectives. Therefore, there is huge potential to promote the M!CE industry in India. There is an urgent need to identify cities that have the potential to promote M!CE events.
How many M!CE events are organised at WTC ?
About 100+ exhibitions and promotional activities and over 600 meetings and conferences are held at WTC Mumbai throughout the year.
Which challenges in the M!CE sector would you want the government to address urgently?
The government must provide incentives to the M!CE sector as a result of policy changes such as Goods and Services Tax (GST). It must relax visa norms through the introduction of eVisas for M!CE events and also conduct M!CE promotions through roadshows. Easing regulations that govern M!CE businesses would provide necessary thrust to the industry. There is a need to develop suitable exhibition spaces and related infrastructure in areas in and around large cities and areas where exhibitions can be held. There is a need for convention bureaus to register M!CE events as is done in states across
Maharashtra and cities such as Hyderabad.
As a venue, how much of your business comes through M!CE?
WTC Mumbai is primarily a trade promotion and support organisation which offers trade infrastructure that includes commercial spaces for both public and private sectors to conduct meetings, conferences and exhibitions, and also undertake trade promotion activities, research and education on international trade. It also provides commercial spaces for M!CE events. Approximately, 20-25 per cent of business comes from M!CE events.
This confirms that there is huge potential to enhance revenue under M!CE.
What are your future plans? We review and strategise campaigns for our venues as per industry standards. We resort to digital marketing and social media campaigns to create business models to achieve greater targets, so that there is 100 per cent occupancy. In order to keep up to M!CE industry standards, WTC Mumbai upgrades its existing venues on a periodic basis. Industry 4.0 offers excellent opportunity to use the content and data generated from various M!CE events. We plan to use Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics to help organisers in optimising the marketing and infrastructure cost to organise M!CE events and thereby enhance competitiveness.