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Dear Reader,

Awareness of healthy work and life balance is creating a demand by corporates for leisure facilities during a business trip. The trend for Business Leisure is growing and hotels are indulging their clients with well-equipped gyms and relaxation spas, which are becoming a must-have in hotels. Extra luxury, like massage chairs in rooms and in-house entertainment after work are being looked for by MICE planners as a must. Also, with the world business community becoming far more financially conscious, hotels, OTAs and airlines are wooing families by offering special package deals for travel and stay while the spouse is busy with his/her business commitments – and of-course to the participants also for an extended stay. Business Leisure, in every way, is becoming extremely popular. The Indian state of Madhya Pradesh is using this concept to promote its many tourism assets to the MICE industry. South Africa is working hard at luring Indian companies for MICE to Durban (which has a large third generation Indian community), Johannesburg and Cape Town. They offer the best convention centres and an understanding of Indian habits and needs. Read about Durban as a convention city in this issue. Our government is making huge efforts to build the MICE industry in India. MICEtalk brings you excerpts of our conversation with the Hon’ble Tourism Minister, K. Chiranjeevi and the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Anand Kumar about the work in progress for this niche segment.