MICE Forum'10 Report

MICE Forum'10 Report • MICE Forum'10 Statistics • MICE Forum'10 Photo-report • MICE Forum'10 Video-report • MICE Forum'10 Video-report #2

The annual exposition devoted to the Russian MICE industry - business and incentive tourism - took place in SC "Tishinka" 16 March 2010. Organised by the aiGroup, the 6th Moscow International MICE Forum has become firmly established as the premier event in Russia for the MICE sector with 91 International companies participating. Indicating the growing importance of the Russian MICE business, the number of visitors increased to 1,118. As pre-registration is mandatory to this B2B event these were only business visitors. The general opinion from participants and visitors was that the event was successful and provided concrete evidence that the Russian MICE sector has overcome the economic crisis.

Held for the 6th time, the organizers of the Moscow International MICE Forum have utilized their many years of valuable experience and have formed a growing circle of regular participants and visitors. This year representatives of 91 firms operating in 47 countries gathered at SC "Tishinka." The number of visitors was accurately registered at 1,118. Each visitor receives a name badge with an individual bar code enabling accurate and transparent statistics.

The Forum's programme was comprehensive and diverse and offered many opportunities in addition to the many stands from the International MICE suppliers. Pre-scheduled appointments are now a permanent fixture enabling registered delegates to meet with their selected suppliers.

Having registered on the MICE Forum's site, one could fix the time for negotiations with any particular participant in good time. "Visitors actively made use of this opportunity, - pointed out Kim Waddoup, president of aiGroup. - In this way they saved their time and raised the efficiency of their work."

A series of seminars is the second distinction of this Forum. Leading representatives of the industry and well-known experts in business tourism spoke to the Forum's participants and guests. Relevant and topical business problems as well as ways of their solution were discussed. The main theme of the presentations and addresses was "MICE industry at the beginning of economic recovery." The seminars roused keen interest amongst the attendees who asked numerous questions and requested additional details from the speakers later. As was justly remarked by Elena Nikitina, Deputy General Director, UTS Travel, "The MICE Forum provided an excellent opportunity for new contacts and relevant discussions," having thereby performed its main function, for new contacts are the bottom line for successful business.

The circle of participants was rather wide. Among them were representatives of tourist agencies and tourism operators, both non-resident and domestic, employees of business and convention centers, resorts, hotels and airlines. As regards to the visitors, International participants could meet experts from Russian companies specialised in MICE business, organizing business and incentive tours and holding special events, congresses, meetings and seminars. The make-up of countries represented at the Forum is also interesting. The list of leaders can be easily guessed: Germany, Croatia, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Baltic and Scandinavian states, UAE - altogether 47 nations, including such exotic destinations in the perception of Russian people as Cambodia, Mexico, Vietnam, Caribbean Islands, Costa Rica, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Singapore, Syria, Venezuela, and South Africa.

The Forum's exhibiters and visitors thought very high of its organization. The main outcome of the 6th Moscow International MICE Forum noted by both Participants and Delegates is that this is a very timely and requisite event with a multitude of very useful meetings that create superb prerequisites for successful development of the Russian business tourism market.

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