(From left) Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of TAT, and Ackash Jain, director of QNA International, exchange a warm handshake after the agreement signing ceremony

THE Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has successfully won the bid from QNA International to host the 4th Annual Destination Wedding Planners Congress 2017.

The event, scheduled to be held in Thailand from May 2-4, 2017, is expected to attract 450 delegates from around the world. The previous three editions took place in Greece, Mauritius and Italy.

Ackash Jain, director of QNA International, said: “Thailand has been a very strong contender; the country is already very popular among travellers and leisure seekers, and is also on the radar as a coveted destination for weddings and honeymoons.’’

Moreover, according to a survey conducted by QNA International, Thailand was listed as the top destination of choice in Asia for destination weddings and honeymoons.

Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of TAT, said: “Weddings can raise a great deal of revenue for Thailand. The average spend for a wedding is around five (US$142,000) to 20 million baht depending on how many guests attend. It is estimated that 400 couples come from India alone to get married in Thailand, with Europe and the US being strong markets.”

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

THE past week has seen Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) securing two conference wins – the 11th World Congress on Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2019 (DOHaD 2019), and the 2020 Meeting of the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT 2020).

The biennial DOHaD, touted as the only gathering worldwide for specialists in the field of research in prevention of disease in early life, will be held in Melbourne for the first time.

The four-day event will take place at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) and is expected to attract over 800 scientists, clinical researchers, obstetricians, paediatricians, public health professionals and policy leaders in the discipline of foetal and developmental disease.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events, John Eren, said: “Events of this calibre put Melbourne and Victoria (state) on a world stage, and contribute significantly to our economy. Business events are the highest yielding sector of the Victorian visitor economy, delivering an economic contribution of A$9.98 billion (US$7.5 billion) and 65,000 jobs annually.”

Come October 2020, MCEC will also play host to the world’s leading musculoskeletal physiotherapists, who will exchange knowledge, share research and celebrate innovation in the neuromusculoskeletal physiotherapy sector, during IFOMPT 2020.

MCB said that this meeting would generate A$5.5 million for Victoria, and attract 1300 international and local delegates.

Eren added: “Staging the big international conferences provides valuable returns for all Victorians. It means more business for our hotels, restaurants and other small businesses – and that means more jobs for locals.”

SEA WORLD on Australia’s Gold Coast is gearing up for the launch of its new Plaza venue this August, just over a year on from the opening its Conference Centre.

Located in the heart of the theme park, adjacent to a number of rides and animals exhibits, the Plaza will be an al fresco venue with shelter, good for 800 delegates.

Speaking to TTGmice e-Weekly, Village Roadshow Theme Parks’ sales manager – conferences and events, Caroline Duveau-Clayton, said the Plaza had been designed to attract larger events looking for a unique venue.

“The Sea World Plaza venue can be themed to any formal or casual occasion, which will leave delegates with a lasting impression,” she said.

Duveau-Clayton also added that the Conference Centre, which celebrates its first birthday this month, has exceeded expectations and continues to grow.

“Being able to do business on a much larger scale has had a positive impact in all areas of our business including special events at our sister properties.”

The Panorama105 screen

NEW projection equipment and technology were unveiled at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre last week, the result of the centre’s partnership with Active Visual and Digimagic Communications.

The Panorama105, one of the two products that form the new ImmersiveAV Suite, is a wide-format projection screen spanning up to 105m by 5m and powered by high-end 20,000 lumen projectors.

Completing the suite, The Float3D uses holographic projection technology to present still images with a depth of field. Suspended at 4.5m above ground, the display could become the illuminated centrepiece in an event.

“Conferences and events have to be more like an experience than a lecture. It has to be immersive, emotional and informative. The new products have been designed to deliver the ultimate event experience at an affordable price,” said Donald Lim, managing director of Digimagic Communications.

Arun Madhok, CEO of Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, added: “The ImmersiveAV Suite also helps organisers meet their sustainability requirements by providing an alternative to the use of physical backdrops and branding structures that are costly to build and often for one-time use.”

From now till September 30, 2016, The Panorama105 packages are priced from S$33,000⁺(US$24,340⁺) and come with customised backdrops, panoramic scenes with accompanying motion graphics effects and choice of Powerpoint templates for presentations. Use of The Float 3D is priced from S$9,500+.

Tokyo Big Sight

DUE TO a shortage of large venues in Tokyo, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has decided to make 11 public parks, and other venues across the city, available to event planners.

Three outdoor areas in the city – Kasai Rinkai Park, Yumenoshima Park and Shiokaze Park – are now available as venues for open-air concerts and other events. Another five parks across Tokyo’s 23 wards are similarly being promoted as alternative venues. These venues are suitable for music, dance and kabuki performances, or theatrical productions.

The shortage is due to the 2020 Summer Olympics, where some venues have been demolished to be replaced by new facilities, while others have been closed for renovation works.

“There are not enough theatres, halls or other venues in Tokyo due to the closures and renovation works, so we are trying to assist event organisers by drawing up this list of new locations,” said Yoji Murata, deputy director of Tokyo’s Bureau of Citizens and Cultural Affairs.

Authorities are also permitting temporary halls, with seating up to 3,000 pax, to be set up in Kiba Park and Koganei Park. Meanwhile, the new East Exhibition Hall at Tokyo Big Sight – scheduled to be completed this November – will also be available as a theatrical and concert venue.