THE Adelaide Convention Bureau has in recent months secured the hosting rights for six international conferences which will earn the Australian destination an estimated A$18.3 million (US$17 million) in economic benefit.

Damien Kitto, CEO of Adelaide Convention Bureau, said: “These six conference bid wins are an exceptional result for the bureau, especially considering the increasing resources our national and international competitors have access to.

“To win the right for Adelaide to host these six events (during such challenging times when we have reduced resources) is testament to the strategic direction and sheer hard work being undertaken by the convention bureau team, Team Adelaide industry partners and our Conventions Adelaide Ambassadors.”

Slated to take place between 2014 and 2017, the six confirmed events include the five-day Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition for 600 attendees in October 2014; the four-day International Convention of Asian Scholars with 1,250 delegates in August 2015; and the four-day International Symposium on Supportive Care in Cancer for 1,500 delegates in June 2016.

THAILAND’s robust economic outlook, coupled with strong post-flood industrial recovery and a relatively peaceful political scene, has buoyed corporate and MICE business for Pattaya’s hospitality sector, according to hoteliers that TTGmice e-Weekly spoke to.

“Since the flooding in Ayutthaya and Central Thailand two years ago, there has been a big wave of change for new investors to invest in the Eastern Seaboard instead,” remarked Chatchawal Supachayanont, general manager of Dusit Thani Pattaya.

“The new Amata City Industrial Estate (in Rayong province) has opened new factories and companies, driving a lot of overseas business travellers to this area (Eastern Seaboard) and benefiting hotels in Pattaya.”

These international corporate travellers usually stay for “a good length of time” of about a week or two at Dusit Thani Pattaya, with some taking root for months, according to Chatachawal.

He added: “We have seen very strong growth in the MICE sector in the first half of 2013; corporate business has grown by 15 per cent while MICE business has grown 25 per cent year to date.”

Similarly, Pullman Pattaya Hotel G has also recorded a surge in MICE and corporate business driven by booming industrial development along the Eastern Seaboard, according to general manager Sophon Vongchatchainont.

He said: “MICE business has increased from five per cent to 15 per cent within the span of six months this year. The corporate sector now makes up around 10-20 per cent of our guests.

“We used to turn away a lot of MICE customers due to the strong leisure demand, but we have identified the MICE segment as a focus for our hotel from this year onward,” Sophon shared, adding that the hotel has signed more contracts with MICE clients this year.

Meanwhile, hoteliers are expecting MICE and business travel demand to stay positive for 2H2013.

Said Chatchawal: “The third quarter usually sees the least MICE business compared to the rest of year, but we’re already seeing good signs of advance bookings for October and November. Business in the second half of 2013 will definitely be better than last year.”