Dear Reader,

Technology is a booster for MICE, but at the same time is taking away from it. Companies, under a money crunch, are able to hold virtual meetings and even though they are expensive, it still saves a lot, if you consider flights, hotel nights and ground transportation costs. At the same time, there is nothing like spending time with your colleagues or clients to build a rapport and motivate people to work better and harder. We spoke to industry experts on the matter… Read their views in this issue of MICEtalk. Cruising on the other hand, is gaining a huge amount of popularity among the Indian travelling masses, and MICE travellers are not far behind. Its great for the organisers as it keeps the shirker from wandering off on a personal agenda, gala evenings and entertainment are also so easy to manage with support from the cruise staff, and you have the best chefs cooking exactly what you want. Breaks can be taken from meetings when the ship comes ashore. It’s a lot of fun! And it’s election time in India… Is that good or bad for the industry? There are so many different views doing the rounds, so we spoke to MICE specialists about what to expect. It makes a very interesting read… Vancouver in the West, Macau in the East, Paris and England in the centre are probably the most visited global destinations for MICE, especially over summer. We bring you venues and incentive opportunities in these areas.

Happy polling and keep travelling!

Deepa Sethi