MPI and Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau to Partner on Education
LAS VEGAS, July 22, 2013 — Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and the Thailand Convention &
Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) announced plans to collaborate on education for meeting professionals in
Thailand. The agreement was announced at MPI’s 2013 World Education Congress in Las Vegas during
a media event which included a ceremonial signing of the organizations’ memorandum of
understanding (MOU) by MPI president and chief executive officer (CEO) Paul Van Deventer and
Nichapa Yoswee, TCEB’s director of MICE Capabilities Department.
MPI and TCEB’s goal with this collaboration is to enhance the Meeting, Incentives, Conventions and
Exhibitions (MICE) industry in Thailand through education.
“Meeting Professionals International is pleased to partner with the Thailand Convention & Exhibition
Bureau on this effort. This strategic collaboration expands MPI’s global reach in Asia and furthers our
commitment to delivering value to the meeting and event community at large,” said Paul Van
Deventer, president and CEO of MPI. “We look forward to leveraging our educational expertise and
strong brand to help grow the local meeting industry in Thailand.”
The Thailand meeting industry has high potential for growth. Last year, the country hosted 7,382 MICE
events. International meetings represent the most important MICE subsector, with a share of 33
percent of the total MICE industry in Thailand, followed by corporate meetings and incentive travel,
which contributed 25 and 24 percent, respectively. International exhibitions and trade shows
accounted for 18 percent of total MICE revenues for 2012. In addition, Thailand welcomed more than
895,000 MICE visitors in 2012, exceeding the target for the year by 19 percent. In 2013, Thailand is
expected to welcome approximately 940,000 MICE visitors to the country, generating expected
revenues of $2.93 billion.
Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, TCEB President, said, “The MPI-TCEB partnership highlights the
importance of professional development within the MICE sector, and brings MPI’s global expertise and
TCEB’s own industry knowledge to establish a formal, accredited training and education system for
MICE professionals in Thailand. The focus of our international training curricula will be to extend
Thailand’s leadership as a MICE education hub within ASEAN.”
MPI currently has two chapters in Asia. The association’s South Korea and Japan chapters were
established in 2008 and 2010, respectively. In addition, MPI has members based throughout the Asia
region including some in Australia, China and Singapore.
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About TCEB
Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) was created as a vibrant, 21st-century, cutting-edge
professional organization. TCEB's organizational design, with its flat and agile structure, enables the
TCEB team to deliver prompt and superior service, whilst achieving the highest level of operational
efficiency and effectiveness. These are essential to Thailand's MICE competitiveness on the regional
and global stage. TCEB promotes ethical and responsible business behavior based on its core values of
customer enthusiasm, integrity, teamwork, innovation, continuous improvement, and responsibility.
www.tceb.or.th.
About MPI
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) is the largest and most vibrant global meeting and event
industry association. The organization helps its members thrive by building human connections
through knowledge and ideas, relationships, and marketplaces. MPI membership is comprised of
approximately 20,000 members belonging to 71 chapters and clubs worldwide. For additional
information or to join, visit www.mpiweb.org.
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MPI Media Contact:
Sonya Thorpe
sthorpe@mpiweb.org
+1.972.702.3098 office
+1.972.375.6322 mobile
TCEB Media Contact:
Arisara Thanuplang
Arisara_t@tceb.or.th
+662-694-6095
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