Dear Reader,

Summer is here, the financial year has ended, movement has started of corporate groups to cooler, fun places for relaxation, motivation, and brainstorming meetings for business in the coming year. Our cover story tells all about the key drivers for a change in MICE requirements. We take you to Kerala - despite the warmth it is still one of the most popular destinations for MICE groups, and it has become more attractive with Kerala government’s announcement of a five per cent reduction in luxury tax for the non-peak season, beginning June, bringing it within our budgets. Internationally, Rotterdam in Netherlands is a fresh destination for Indian travellers. It’s on the waterfront with many attractive cafes, restaurants and pubs to relax in after a busy day. It has a number of convention centres that cater to groups from 75 to 1500 people with excellent service and technical support at some of the best hotels. Zagreb in Croatia is another fascinating city on the rise on the new MICE map. Alternately, the New Zealand Government is going out of its way encourage MICE by developing new infrastructure, along with plenty of activities inland and on their shores. The three hotspots are Auckland, Queenstown and Rotorua. In Thailand, it’s nice to move beyond the main city of Bangkok, to its suburbs for meetings at the one-stop convention centre, IMPACT. We have updated news on apps for Associations, to help them with their budgets, costs, content and the actual format of the event; the mantra to find happiness in your job and something a lot of us have trouble with - small talk at a business get-together. Our expert gives you steps on how to master it. If you are planning a MICE trip for your company to a destination and need information on it, please do send us an email - if we have covered it, we will forward the article to you.

Deepa Sethi