THAILAND Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) will introduce its new brand campaign Thailand CONNECT the World to the Japan market through an upcoming roadshow in Tokyo later this month.

The Thailand CONNECT the World: Japan Business Events Road Show 2015 will be held on April 21 at the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, gathering more than 200 buyers, suppliers, international media and industry experts in a series of events including an international press conference, a showcase of Thailand’s MICE sector and a welcome dinner reception.

Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, president of TCEB, confirmed: “The event will provide new insights into Thailand’s MICE industry as well as the overview of trade and relations between Thailand and Japan, and the Thai government’s policy in building the confidence and moving forward to the ASEAN Economic Community.

“A new marketing promotion created especially for Japanese MICE market will also be announced.”

Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has also pledged its support for TCEB’s Spice Up Your Business Agenda campaign to increase MICE visitor numbers and spending.

The campaign includes an aggressive digital marketing plan, development of an innovative Thai MICE web portal, and launch of a mobile application for MICE travellers and professionals to allow easy access to the Thai MICE database.

A series of online marketing promotion and PR campaigns will be conducted throughout 2015 in high-potential key markets.

Targeted at international business travellers, delegates, visitors and exhibitors attending trade exhibitions or organising meetings in Thailand from now until December 2015, the campaign also offers discounts, value-added services and complimentary facilities.

Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, executive director of advertising and public relations, TAT, said: “MICE travellers have high-spending power. Their contribution to the Thai economy starts from making business deals and topped up by the recreational spending that follows.

“TAT aims to increase the number of quality tourists…It will accommodate and facilitate MICE travellers as well as attract them to come to Thailand and stay longer for leisure. Therefore, the benefits of the campaign are far beyond the MICE industry – it helps the tourism industry as a whole.”

CONGRESS Rental Singapore (CRS) introduced a ‘revolutionary’ conference system with multi-tasking capabilities last month.

Called the Bosch DCN Multimedia Conference System the sleek tablet-size gadget provides audio, video and multimedia content, Internet access, participant touch-screen capabilities, superior audio quality, and IP based on OMNEO architecture.

The system is recommended for U-shape or hollow-square meeting configurations, but can also be used by head-table attendees to view video presentations without having to turn around.

Customer categories CRS is recommending the new system for include government agencies, corporate, and associations meetings. Jeremy Ducklin, managing director, said the product was used at meetings in the banking and finance sector in Singapore and Tokyo this year.

He added that CRS is the only company that carries the Bosch DCN for rental in the region but it is exploring the possibility of launching the system in Malaysia.

THE Health Inspector Union of Sarawak Health Department (HIUS) is organising the International Environmental Health Conference in Kuching this October.

This inaugural conference, themed Threats To Health: Uncovering Issues, Challenges and Prevention for a Healthier Environment, Safer World, is expected to attract more than 1,000 delegates, both local and international, said Sabri Sahari, president of HIUS.

The two-day conference starts on October 27 and will be held at Pullman Kuching. It will include plenary sessions and symposiums only for delegates, as well as exhibitions and CSR activities that will be open to the public.

Plenary and symposium sessions will include topics on environmental health management and enforcement, critical issues pertaining to global health, pollution, climate change, trans-boundary and non-communicable diseases, genetically modified food and organisms, world environmental problems as well as best practices in occupational safety and health, among others.

Meanwhile, exhibitions will be held at both Pullman Kuching Hotel and the adjoining Hills Shopping Mall.

CSR activities will include free health checks and screenings.

THE organisers of the annual SingaPlural, the anchor event of Singapore Design Week, are on a hunt for a new home next year, as this year’s venue – 99 Beach Road, the former Beach Road Police Station – will go on sale next month.

Organised by the Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC) since 2012 and held in conjuction with International Furniture Fair Singapore/ASEAN Furniture Show, The Décor Show and Hospitality 360°, SingaPlural was hosted at multiple venues across Singapore in previous editions. This year, however, main programmes were held in a single location.

Speaking to TTGmice e-Weekly in an interview, chairman of SingaPlural 2015 and vice president of SFIC, Mark Yong, explained that having key activities in a single venue allowed for a better concentration of visitor traffic, closer interaction between exhibitors and visitors, and a longer stay by attendees.

Attendance figures were unavailable at press time.

The former Beach Road Police Station, which sat vacant for more than two years, was chosen as it provided a “raw canvas” of a backdrop for the design installations.

“The venue is very important, as sometimes we need it to be there before content can flow in,” Yong said, adding that while Singapore has many convention venues, and hotels and malls with event spaces, these are “too glossy” and will take away the “flavour of the installations”.

“Singapore is land-scarce and it is very hard to find the right space. In fact, we looked at 15 locations before setting our hearts on 99 Beach Road this year. We will speak with the Singapore Land Authority and other parties for venue ideas. It could be an old school, or perhaps the Gilman Barracks,” said Yong.