IN AN effort to capitalise on the six billion baht (US$170 million) expansion due for completion in November, the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) is seeking to secure major international concerts and theatre shows.
Set to become one of the largest venues in Asia – almost doubling in size to boast 70,000m2of event space – managing director, Panittha Buri, said BITEC would continue to be an industry leader for international trade exhibitions, consumer fairs and conventions.
Along with three new event halls, BITEC will add 12 meeting rooms, three convention halls, retail and dining areas, an outdoor concert area and a mixed-use office building to its existing facilities. It will also boast greater transport links with a direct connection to Bangkok’s skytrain network, a terminal for 31 coaches and a helipad.
However, its growth strategy is “geared towards the lifestyle and entertainment sector such as concerts, live entertainment and theatre productions”.
“This was one of the driving factors to create EH 100 – our new lifestyle event hall with a 25m-high ceiling. The height allows for greater possibilities in terms of staging and backdrops as well as light and sound shows,” Panittha said.
Panittha said that once Phase II was complete, BITEC would be able to accommodate 40,000 people at a time. The expansion will be ready in time for Grand Metalex 2016, which will use all 10 event halls.
“Our organisers will be able to deliver bigger events, not only in terms of space, but also in terms of profile and exposure,” she said. “There will be opportunities to deliver multiple concurrent events – different events held at the same time, but separated by halls.”
