Impressive Venues, State of the Art Facilities

Thailand's outstanding meeting facilities and industry expertise have helped to make it into one of the world's leading Meeting Incentive, Convention and Exhibition destinations.

In recent years these facilities have been further supplemented by the development of purpose-built venues such as the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) which was opened to host the 1991 World Bank/IMF Conference.

In 1997 Bangkok added another important venue with the opening of the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC), South East Asia's Iargest column-free meeting facility. Scheduled of further expansion in the coming years, BITEC has already received high praise from international event organizers. At the time of writing another 50,000 square metre exhibition centre planned in the north of Bangkok.

THE CHALLEMGER

This new expansion at the IMPACT arena, Exhibition and Convention Center destined to be Asia's premier convention and exhibition center. At a cost of five billion bath, it will create what is claimed to be the world's largest column-free exhibition hall, Asia's largest indoor exhibition center and Thailand's most luxurious ballroom.

The single column-free hall will be 459 metres long by 131.2 metres wide by 16 metres high. The floor ares of 60,220 sq.m. will be larqer thaneight football fields and add to the existing availability of 100,000 sq.m. of indoor exhibition apace. It is scheduled to be completed in early 2006.

Soon after, IMPACT WILL ALSO ADD THE universal ballroom, claimed to be “the grandest in Thailand” with 5,000 sq.m of column-free aqace and a 20 metre ceiling height. Lcated adjacent to the exhibition areas with separate drop-off points and parking, it will have 10 breakout rooms and also plans to build a hotel of 800 rooms and an entertainment complex.

IMPACT officials say they they needed the extra sqace for the the many massive events being held there. The Challenger has already received bookings for the first three years. About 40% of the centre's existing business is coming from the Thai government.

Right now, access is the biggest problem and venue owners working with exhibition organizers to see what can be done. In addition to the existing expressway, organizers have run shuttles from the Mor Chit bus terminal but that is considered inadequate for the huge demand that will emerge private care are always an option for local visitors, and for them, there is some relief.The Challenger will have an underground car park, allowing vehicles to get some shade.

PEACH

The Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH), attached to the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, is making headay thanks to growing economic activities in the Eastern Seaboard area. The growing economic activities in the Eastern Seaboard area. The presence of the deep-sea port in Laem Chabang plus the increased access thet will come with the opening of Suvarnabhumi airport will generate additional business.

Recently PEACH hosted the ITC&MA meetings industry show, giving valuable exposure to Pattaya and its environs. It will also host the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) annual conference in April 2006.