Leveraging MICE in India
ITDC and ICPB co-hosted a roadshow to promote the MICE segment, providing an opportunity to stakeholders to network and interact with professional suppliers, conference organisers, DMCs, travel agents, etc.
Keeping in mind India’s progress as one of the fastest-growing destinations for conventions and meetings of all sizes and hues, the roadshow was an exclusive, participative platform open to associations and interested consumers who are decision-makers in their respective domains. Professional suppliers from the MICE industry including conference organisers, destination management companies, travel agents, fabricators, etc. interacted with conference planners from the medical, education, corporate and other sectors. The participating members included IRCTC, Thomas Cook (India), Cox & Kings, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat, RMB Events, Madhya Pradesh Tourism, The Leela, Wizard Events, STIC Travels and The Taj Group. The event saw as many as 130 attendees, informed Chander Mansharamani, Vice Chairman, Indian Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB). Other distinguished guests included Piyush Tiwari, Officiating Chairman and MD and Director (Commercial & Marketing), Indian Tourism Development Corporation; Amaresh Tiwari, Honorary Secretary, ICPB; Vijay Dutt, General Manager, The Ashok; Rajiv Anand, General Manager, Corporate Marketing & Sales, ITDC among others.
Addressing the show, Piyush Tiwari, said, “India is working at both macro and micro levels towards significantly increasing the market share of the global conventions business by 2025, from its current share of less than one per cent, as per ICCA statistics. Needless to say, ITDC properties will contribute their might in augmenting the numbers. The Ashok is best suited for the MICE segment as it has its genesis in UNESCO conference in New Delhi in 1950s and was designed keeping in mind big conferences.”
Mansharamani further elaborated that such roadshows are an important part of the ICPB mandate in order to bring together conference organisers and ICPB members on a common platform. “We organised similar roadshows in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad earlier. We have very few centres in India that can cater exclusively to MICE segment apart from HICC in Hyderabad and ITPO in New Delhi which is more of an exhibition ground. I strongly believe that The Ashok can be focused on for international conferences and we hope to work closely with ITDC on this regard. We are getting members on board from different sectors to help them gain exposure and exclusive benefits from being an ICPB member. We are pleased that state tourism boards are also joining as lifetime members of ICPB to promote conventions in their respective states,” said Mansharamani.
We have very few in Hyderabad and ITPO in New Delhi
India is working at levels towards market share of the