MICE Sector is fast becoming the latest trend in India’s tourism industry. Between September – February every year good number of foreign tourists visit India to attend exhibitions, conferences or seminars. India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) is a specialized agency of the Govt. of India, Ministry of Tourism. It is striving hard to boost India as a favourable MICE destination. They are also participating in convention related international exhibitions overseas to showcase India as convention destination. Recently in India, many international conferences (from medium to large level of ) of big Multinational companies (like pharmaceutical companies, travel agents (UFFTA), Insurance companies, Petrochem companies etc. took place and these events attracted delegates in thousands. All these events placed India at a strong footing in conference & convention segment.
Mice Tourism is being favoured by the Govt. of India in a big way it promotes longer stay and higher spending by delegates. (Most of the expenses of the delegates are covered in the delegates registration fee which is paid from the company’s account. So these delegates have enough spare resources for shopping or join post convention tours etc. National carrier also supports MICE tourism in a big manner due to its potential to bring volume. India has unique advantages for promoting MICE segment as it can offer exciting pre & post convention tours. Many delegates specially come in advance to enjoy the world heritage sites which is scattered throughout the country or to enjoy its beautiful beach resorts for leisure holidays. They often like to visit places like Goa, Kovalam, Mamallapuram, Mangalore, Gopalpur on seas etc. for leisure holiday combining little bit of architectural sites in & around.
In recent time Hyderabad has since become a major centre for MICE tourism activities in India. With its state of art convention centre of international standard. It recently hosted the annual convention of the Travel Agents Association of India in early September. Now Hyderabad because of its good air connectivity from many gulf countries & Asian countries lot of Gulf and South East Asian Business conferences are expected to come to Hyderabad. Novotel hotel as part of the convention complex provides very comfortable accommodation. The hotel has special rooms with modern facilities for business travelers, private lounge & special thematic cuisine restaurants. All these facilities give good choice for business clients to enjoy during their stay. Hyderabad also have good number of hotels of varied categories to cater to the convention market.
Bhubaneshwar in Orissa State, M/s Swosti Travels have developed a brand new Convention Centre with State of art facilities. They are keeping an eye on the Korean & Japan business partners who have made investments in Orissa. They will be keen to host their out of country board meeting or conventions at their convention centres. They have also lunched an aggressive marketing to attract domestic business establishments in India.
Automobile industry, IT sector, Pharmacuritical companies, Textile, Publishing House, Doctors, Engineering companies etc. are major user of the convention and conference facilities In India. Convention Hall at the Hotel Ashok remains booked more or less throughout the year with various conventions wherein 300 to 2000 delegates participate. Most of international brands who have collaborations with India hold their annual conventions/conferences in the convention centres in prime cities like Mumbai (Marriots Convention Centre), Grand Hyatt, Hotel Taj, The Oberoi, Sheraton Hotel in Bangalore, Kochi (Meridien), Jaipur (Birla Convention Centre. Medium level conference centres are located even at Heritage Hotels and natural sites all over India at very scenic locations like Darjeeling, Shimla, Ootty, Mussorie and Pondicherry.
Fashion brands are now leading the way to launch their brands where increasingly affluent people (from India and neighbouring countries are participating) for new products experience & updating on current fashions. Life style India Fashion Week in August/September at The Grand, New Delhi, wherein delegates from more than 14 countries participated.
The MICE tourism is the right platform to experience hospitality at its best. In the conference packages there are always good number of cultural programs and Special culinary displays. Everyone wants to showcase their best products for the convention delegates. Service is also at its best to impress upon the decision makers attending the conference.
With the health tourism sector in India growing, lot of Medical & Pharmaceutical health related conventions are now taking place in India. Recently concluded “Arogya 2006” Expo was attended by many overseas delegates who were looking for information on modern Health care as well as traditional rejuvinating and wellness therapies.
Most of the Govt. sponsored conferences where in international delegates representing foreign countries participate are held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi which is termed as the most prestigious convention venue in India. India need more such upmarket conference venues for hosting Government sponsored convention.
Leading hotel chains like Leela Hotel Group’s, Renaissance hotel, The Grand Hyatt in Mumbai run convention centres with professionals handling the job. Now Leela Group has Kovalam convention centre in Kerala. India thus offers varied choice to hold small to big conventions. In Jammu & Kashmir, Sher-E-Kashmir Convention Complex with panoramic view of Dal Lake is now available for conferences. Recently good number of conferences of Doctors, pharmactucal companies, telecommunication companies were held at this convention complex.
Our tour operators are also very keen to be involved in MICE Tourism segment as in such convention the delegates number is high as well as revenue earnings is more by virtue of volume. However, lot of professionalism is needed. No doubt our tour operators handling this specialized segment hold a lot of experience in this operation. India’s recent successful completion of PATA Conference, WTTC Conference, UFTAA Conference, WTO Conference, SAARC Conference, International Publication conferences, International Labour Conference, all vouch for the countries capability for holding conference of international stature. Every participant carried back a happy memory of their convention experience in India.
Some of the chain hotels like The Leela, The Oberoi, The Taj, The Welcom Sheraton, Le Meridien have been promoting unique “Conference & convention facilities and have drawn up innovative packages. They have great locations and innovative incentive packages also. They have the commitment and service culture to backup. Le Meriden team has made a good name through its delivery. Sheraton & The Oberoi logo properties are taken as ultimate in professionalism. All these chain hotels with super Chefs are catering to upmarket clients in the convention market. All these Group of hotels provide state of art meetings and conference facilities, diverse restaurants and for delegates, good shopping experience in the hotel arcade. India stands as a more cost effective and varied experience destination for MICE Tourism. The convention venues are extensive & situated from metro cities to Himalyan or beach locations and even wildlife resorts at Kanha, (Madhya Pradesh) or Kaziranga (Assam), Palaces in Rajasthan to village settings in Haryana at eco-tourism environment. Even Tea Estates around Darjeeling/Assam and mountain locations of Mussorie, Shimla, Manali and Mount Abu are becoming popular with convention promoters. India is now going for global conference market aggressively. You are welcome to be the partner. Proudly announce “India is the right choice”.
