India occupies 31st position in the world among global MICE organisers: say MICE experts in a Panel Discussion

Hyderabad stand 3rd Place in Wedding Destination: Rahul Mehta Director of Events Park Hyatt
Hyderabad, October 24, 2017….. India occupies 31st position in the world among global MICE organisers say MICE experts while participating in a Panel Discussion—“Trends in MICE(Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions)”.

Organised jointly by Young SKAL and Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and applied Nutrition, IHM, Hyderabad at Shivam, near OU Campus on Monday night, Asif Khan, Director Marketing, Taj Krishna; Najma Mamaji, Director Marketing N Sales Novotel Airport HYD; Rahul Mehta, Director Events and MICE, Park Hyatt, Hyderabad and Kalyani, HOD from IHM were the panellists. It was moderated by Valmiki Hari Kishan, MD Valmiki Tourism

Participating in the panel, the experts informed that India occupies 31st position in the world, with a total of 143 Global conferences organized in the year 2015 -16.

They also observed that The MICE industry in India, though well equipped to take on its' immediate neighbours and in certain cases the Global warhorses, has to trudge a long path before it comes up as a “Top of the mind” destination amongst global MICE organizers.

The tourism sector, especially MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) segment has a good reason to rejoice. We have recently moved up to occupy the 31st position in the recent list of global ranking published by ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) from 35th rank in 2014 globally.

The Union Government has set an ambitious target for MICE INDIA to achieve 2% of the global MICE market share by 2025, from an insignificant current share 0.5%

Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad are also among the major cities that had hosted major events.

The industry estimates currently rank the Meetings, Incentives, Conference & Events/Exhibitions (MICE) Sector in India at Rs. 8500 crores annually, which has been growing at a rate of 15 – 20 percent annually, large part of the growth coming in from the domestic MICE ventures informed Valimiki Hari Kishan in his opening remarks.

According to panellists, a conference traveller, on an average, spends $ 1511 a day during four-day stay compared to $600 spent by an inbound leisure traveller staying for the same duration.

As per industry estimates the global MICE market supports 4,00,000 conferences and exhibitions worldwide, making it an annual US $280 – 300 billion market.

The Asian market however accounts for US $ 60 billion market, but is growing at a significant rate of 38 % since 2006 while India accounts for a mere 0.5-1 per cent of the total market with current ICCA rankings hovering around 28th globally.

The Centre has set a target to achieve 2 per cent of the global MICE market share by 2025.

One of the Panel Speaker Najma Mamaji said MICE traveller spends more than a Leisure Traveller. She confirms this as Volume Game. Post and pre Tours also can be also a revenue fetching area.

Arif Khan, MICE is the future business also he feels that one needs to be visible in the market to encash the same. Marketing is the key drive for MICE. He proudly says Nobody knows India better than Taj. He also says as part of Events Wedding segment is picking up and is the only recession free he said.

Rahul Mehta Director of Events Park Hyatt said 40% Room Revenue they generate from MICE segment. He also felt that the Government plays a major role in influencing MICE market. He concludes saying that Hyderabad stand 3rd Place in Wedding Destination.