WARMER cross-straits ties have bolstered Taiwan’s MICE industry, where a promising outlook has propelled MICE infrastructure development and investment from international hotel chains.
Latest information from Meet Taiwan has revealed plans to construct brand-new MICE venues in Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung, which will be ready for business in the next two years.
Kaohsiung city saw the grand opening of its Kaohsiung Exhibition Center in April 2014, while in Taipei, construction of a second exhibition space for Nangang Exhibition Hall will complete in 2017. The halls will collectively be able to contain 5,000 booths, and the increased capacity will relieve the space crunch confronting major international exhibitions including Computex Taipei.
Meanwhile, construction of Taichung Convention and Exhibition Center – with the capacity to house 3,353 booths and 30,000 visitors – will be wrapped up by 4Q2018.
Prominent local hotels, including W Taipei, Le Méridien Taipei and Humble House Taipei, are expanding their MICE facilities. The Marriott Taipei, featuring an attached international convention centre for 2,000 pax, will commence business in 2Q. Likewise, the Courtyard by Marriott Taipei will open its doors in 2H2015.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts is boosting its presence across the country via the Westin brand in Taoyuan and Taipei, Le Méridien in Hualien and Taichung, and Four Points by Sheraton in Penghu. More international brands are expected to come up in Taiwan.
Taiwan External Trade Development Council executive vice president and Meet Taiwan managing director, Walter Yeh, said Taiwan will welcome 12 international conferences with over 1,000 participants in 2015.
Also, Meet Taiwan will bid to host Rotary International Convention 2021 and 2022 that will involve an estimated 35,000 participants.
Meet Taiwan 2014 assisted 118 firms in conducting corporate meetings and incentive travel in Taiwan, with Greater China as the largest source market.
Corporate clients drawn to Taiwan include renowned firms like Jollibee China, China Perfect, Charle Japan, Colgate-Palmolive Malaysia and Estee Lauder Singapore.
Translated from the original TTG China e-Daily, January 20, 2015 article by Ong Yanchun
