THE Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) topped off last week with development at the 80 per cent mark. While completion for the US$318 million project is slated for March, business begins in January.
Danny Budiharto, president director of ICE’s owning company Indonesia International Expo, said: “Michael Bublé will stage his concert here on January 19, with some 10,000 people in attendance. This symbolises the start of the venue’s operations.”
Danny explained the topping off marked the beginning of a new era in Indonesia’s exhibition history and a shift in the country’s convention and exhibition business.
Built on 22ha of land in BSC (Bumi Serpong Damai) City, Tangerang, with a total floor space of 200,000m2, ICE offers 10 exhibition halls with an indoor area of 50,000m2 and an outdoor exhibition space of 50,000m2.
ICE’s meeting facilities will include a 3,600m2 convention hall and 33 meeting rooms capable of accommodating up to 10,000 people.
The venue will also be equipped with support services such as in-house food production, F&B outlets, parking space for 3,000 cars and a four-star hotel with 300 rooms.
ICE, which is managed by Deutsche Messe, is expected to put Indonesia on more equal footing with other MICE destinations in South-east Asia.
Mark Schloesser, president director of Deutsche Messe Venue Operations, said: “Deutsche Messe is committed to leverage the MICE industry in Indonesia by making ICE the preferred destination for conventions and exhibitions in the region.”
The company has so far received enquiries and bookings for tradeshows, conferences, social functions, and more than two concerts to be staged at the venue.
Apart from signing on domestic conferences and exhibitions, Deutsche Messe is targeting international events. Explained Schloesser: “We will not get to the highest (revenue and occupancy levels) in the next two to three years as a new facility usually takes that long to ramp up…We expect to reach the prime operational phase in five years, (with) a lot of big major events coming from within and outside the country.
“Our target groups now are local and national exhibitors and events within Indonesia, followed by those from the South-east Asian countries and other parts of the world,” he added.
