BANGKOK’S events sector suffered tremendous fallouts from the months-long political protests that plagued the city earlier this year and the subsequent military coup that took place in May, but sellers and buyers at IT&CMA are sanguine that MICE business will pick up again for the Thai capital although it has yet to reach pre-crisis levels.
“The political crisis greatly impacted our hotel because we are in the Ratchaprasong area. Occupancy went from the upper 80 to lower 30, a loss of about 50 percentage points,” said David Barrett, executive director, events at Amari Watergate Bangkok and Amari Orchid Pattaya.
Dubbing the military intervention “a blessing”, he added: “The situation has changed dramatically since the military government brought stability socially, economically and politically. (MICE) business is now on the upswing, not just from Asia but farther afield.”
International buyers also share a strong confidence in the revival of Bangkok’s MICE sector.
Konrad Ong, managing director of MICE Hubs Malaysia, said: “Bangkok – and Thailand overall – is an evergreen destination that can sell by itself, due to its many possibilities for MICE.
“Clients are asking for Bangkok again, especially smaller groups of 20-30 pax. We have seen a recovery of around 40 per cent.”
Michael Packford, CEO of UK-based Eventworld, said: “With laws being upheld, improvements will come about and business will return. We’re getting a pick-up in incentives and events to Thailand, and we are scheduled to do more business in Bangkok in 2015 than any other year.”
However, Barrett admitted that unlike previous crises, Bangkok is “taking a longer time to rebound this time round”.
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Additional report from Hannah Koh
