Stories tagged with convention
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Chiang Mai convention centre projected restarted
Visitors will soon have another excuse to visit Chiang Mai other than trekking, sightseeing, shopping and relaxing. The much anticipated international convention centre project which was originally floated by ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra is to be relaunched. Plans to make better use of the Royal Flora Expo grounds have also be announced.
The convention centre, which will be located on 200 acres of land near the 700 Years Stadium, was intended to boost this Northern cities appeal to the MICE market, attracting not just tourists as has been the case until now, but off season conferences, exhibitions and corporate large-scale meetings.
Much optimism was placed in the project when Shinawatra first proposed the project for his home town, and the effect was evident when several major luxury hotel brands started opening new resorts from 2006 onwards. However, the project was immediately put on hold in the wake of the September 2006 coup as the Junta installed government reviewed all mega projects of the Shinawatra government for possible corruption. It has left Chiang Mai in a difficult situation as over supply of hotel rooms following the masses of visitors to the 2006 Ratchaphruek Flora expo, has left many hotels struggling with less than 50 per cent occupancy. Of particular note is the glut of new five star hotels that have opened in this hitherto down-market destination.
Meanwhile, the Royal Flora grounds, which are presently a public park, will now get a new lease on life with plans to use it more often for fairs and permanent exhibitions, starting with a Lanna Culture Fair in mid August. A budget was recently approved by the cabinet to promote the usefulness of this extensive landscaped ground.
Chiang Mai has increasingly relied on its burgeoning tourism industry in recent years to enjoy a renaissance of prosperity for this ancient Northern town which previously depended on agriculture.
Posted by: Andrew on 26 Jul 2008, 05:57 -
New convention centre plans still delayed
A new national convention centre planned for Chiang Mai is still on the drawing board much to the dismay of the tourist and hospitality industry. Initially planned under the disposed Thaksin administration, the project was put on hold following the Sept 2006 coup.
Plans to develop a large centre and target the MICE sector created a bullish sentiment in the city when announced several years ago, resulting in a flood of new hotel rooms. However, with the project failing to materialise the industry is struggling, and the losses incurred might eventually add up to 2 billion baht according to Vorapong Muchaotai, secretary of the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association.
“The MICE market is highly productive and has great potential as the market can generate tourism income three times greater than other sections,� explained Vorapong.
 Many seminars and conferences that were penciled in for Chiang Mai on the strength of the convention centre plan have since been moved elsewhere, including the association’s conference and exhibitions and the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2008 in January next year.

Although the centre’s construction will go ahead, sited on land provided by the military compound in Mae Rim, north of the city, no decision has been made to restart the project by the military installed government. It is hoped the newly elected government will deal with it as a priority in 2008.
Particularly affected is the luxury hotel chains who had decided to finally go ahead with building five star hotels in the city. The Shangri La, GHM (Chedi), Mandarin Oriental, Dusit and Le Meridien Groups have all recently constructed or opened luxury hotels in the city in an unprecedented show of up-market hospitality. Some have more than 200 rooms and without the centre, are struggling to maintain occupancy levels.
Posted by: Andrew on 18 Dec 2007, 03:45