MICE Tourism (MICE: Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions)
MICE Overview
Lately, there has been an industry drift towards using the term 'meetings industry' to avoid confusion from the short form of MICE which literally aims to ‘Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions.’ ‘Events industry’
is being suggested by other industry mentors to be an umbrella term for
the immense range of the meeting and events profession.
Perhaps with the exception of Incentives, MICE is well understood. MICE is
an influential tool to be used for rewarding the corporate employees
for their performances and motivating them to do well in their future
tasks. It also allows corporations to mix business with pleasure making
work look inspirational.
MICE Tourism
is usually designed where large groups are brought collectively for a
particular intention. Travelers, attending MICE activities, have a
purpose beyond Leisure tourism and are in reality, business travelers.
These business travelers are connected to different sectors of the
tourism and hospitality industry through their MICE Activities.
MICE Events and Conference Management
MICE Event Locations are generally proposed by
specialized convention bureaus, established for the purpose of bidding
on MICE activities in particular countries and cities. MICE Travel Services are usually affiliated with large corporations and organization as planning involve typically years in progress.
This process of marketing and securing major events benefit the local
economy of the host city or country. Convention bureaus may offer
financial subsidies to attract MICE Events to their city. Today, it is usually used to boost hotel revenue. The global MICE Industry generated revenue of US$752 billion in 2016, and expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5 per cent to reach US$1,245 billion by 2023.
Owing to the increase of various types of events and meetings
frequently being organized globally, the MICE industry worldwide is
gaining popularity. There is growth observed in business travel, rise in
disposable incomes and the rapid development in tourism and hospitality
sectors.
Components of MICE Travel
MICE Travel components involve representatives to
provide an entire range of travel and conference services for large and
small groups and events of shorter and longer duration. The players in
the MICE field include Corporate Meeting Planners,
meetings and convention departments of hotels, conference centers or
cruise ships, food and beverage managers, logistics firms, Private tour operators
and transfer companies, incentive houses, professional trade
organizations, tourism boards, tourism trade associations and
travel-selling professionals.
The main reason why a destination should promote the MICE segment is
because of the potential it has for boosting the economy. Besides, MICE Segment
helps mitigate the seasonal nature of a destination. Congresses,
meetings and events are usually held during the months when there are no
holidays and many congresses and fairs are programmed midweek depending
on the audience and field that they are aimed at.
Capturing large international congresses that are attended by hundreds
or thousands of delegates from all over the world puts a destination on
the map. Hosting congresses attracts more congresses, especially those
that have the same organisational characteristics. Once a city has
proved it has the ability to host certain types of congresses, fairs and
events it is much easier to sell the destination and ensure that the
organisers choose it.
When a mature destination arrives at a point where it has a saturation
of tourists in high season or certain days such as the weekends, it is
necessary to look for alternatives to halt this situation. When an
alternative exists like MICE Tourism, it isn’t necessary to dedicate so many resources, promoting holiday tourism.
Corporate MICE Tours
Many tourists travelling for business purposes will extend their stay
in order to spend a few days discovering the destination, popularly
known as ‘Bleisure.’ Around 67 per cent of business
travellers state that they often take some free time when they are
travelling on business and 58 per cent will often add a day or two on
top of their stay to get to know the city. Others expressed their
intention to return to the city with their family to spend a few days.
CIS Countries are going ahead in leaps and bounds to become an ideal MICE Tourism Destination.
With the advanced technology and facilities, warm hospitality,
personalized services united with immense natural beauty and rich
cultural heritage, the goal seems to be not very far. The importance of
the MICE Industry lies in the fact that it converts the annual business meetings and conferences into a glamorous event for the attendants.
Corporate MICE Tours inspire higher performances
internally and explore opportunities of business development with
partners, investors, customers and suppliers. CIS’s diversity opens
doors for some unforgettable Corporate Tours. Adding
feather in the cap is the hospitality industry that has been ensuring
remarkable services to keep short and long weekend trips exclusive.
Keeping this in mind, a range of customizable flawless corporate travel experience through Corporate tour packages are designed by the business and corporate tour operators
to make the outing memorable. CIS countries boast varied best
destinations for corporate outings, which are distributed on beaches to
hills and desert.
MICE Tour in CIS Countries
MICE Tour extensively flourishes in Eurasia, a blend of Europe and Asia, comprises parts of Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia, some countries of former Soviet Union and areas influenced by Russia. Some of the major countries include Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, Moldova, Serbia, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Mongolia and Uzbekistan.
The major restraint for the growth of the MICE industry is the
operational cost associated. However, the use of tele-seminars and
virtual meetings to abolish travel expenses may prove out to be a
significant growth opportunity in the future. Even though presently,
technology plays an imperative role in the growth of MICE Business as many corporations adopt e-conferences as a substitute for face-to-face meetings and conferences.
MICE Tour in Central Asia
The MICE Tour for Central Asian Countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan)
offers an exclusive experience with conferences, seminars, congresses,
incentive trips and road shows. With striking landscapes and incredible
cultural prosperity the countries possess a feel of originality of MICE
Events. With vast knowledge and experience, CIS MICE Tours include dealers get together, award ceremonies, conferences and gala events for corporate clients from worldwide.
Estimated to be worth more than US$.500 million every year, MICE Business is already a multi-million segment from Russia. ‘Buying Business Travel Awards 2017’ named Armenia best MICE tourism destination at Business Traveller Russia & CIS Awards that took place on December 7, 2017 in Moscow.
Dook - Leading MICE Tour Operator for CIS Countries
Dook International, an international Travel Agency brand, headquartered in New Delhi, India, with a collective experience of over 450 years in CIS Tourism, is also famous as MICE Tour Company. An all-inclusive network of resources is utilized to offer Corporate Tour Packages or MICE Tour Packages for CIS Countries according to client’s requirements with the help of Incentive tour packages
and trusted business partners from worldwide. Small towns,
international and exotic destinations - all are explored with the help
of on-board professional organizing team to enhance exhibitions and
seminars with competent customer support and travel guidance.
How Dook is placed for MICE in CIS Countries?
Local Offices: Dook International is omnipresent with own office set ups in all CIS countries.
Indian and Local Support Staff: Trained Indian and local staffs understand and cater every client’s needs, provide the best possible facilities.
Equipments: Arrangements of equipments for your
conference or business meeting like Screens, Projectors, Sound System,
DJ, Microphones, Internet and more.
Flying Distance (Flying Distance of CIS Countries from India):
The favorable flight distance, helps traveler to decide CIS countries
as their apt MICE destination. It takes only 3 to 4 hours from some of
Indian destinations like the distance between Delhi to Tashkent is 1570 Km, Delhi to Almaty is 1600 Km, similar to distances traversed within India like Delhi to Mumbai is 1415 km. As MICE Tour Operator, Dook provides complete VISA services, Travel Insurance, National/International Flight bookings as well.
Price Comparison (CIS Countries Vs Popular Worldwide Countries): It’s so simple to differentiate the price or the cost structure of Dook when MICE is concerned - one can compare ‘Thailand’ with ‘Tashkent’, ‘Dubai’ with ‘Almaty’, ‘Australia’ with ‘Russia’.
Restaurants: Based on your needs Dook can organize a
banquet or dinner in the best restaurants in CIS countries. We provide
Indian as well as Local restaurants, Jain Foods, High Tea, etc.
Various Entertainment Options (Team Building Activities, Casions, Bars, Shopping, Spa)
Team Building Activities and Return Gifts: Immense
entertainment options are available after or during MICE along with
various team building activities and return gifts after or during
events.
Casions in CIS Countries: Casinos and the associated
activities in CIS countries is lucrative in places like Kazakhstan which
have specified gambling regions with two main areas being developed as
the Las Vegas and Atlantic City of the region - Borovoe in the Akmola
and Kapchagai, nicknamed as Kaz Vegas in Almaty. The most well-known of
Russian Casinos is the Sochi Casino and Resort. The largest casino is
Yerevan, Armenia according to gaming machines and table games put
together, is Shangri La Yerevan and X.O.Club. Belarus boasts over 30
casinos, many of them concentrated in its capital Minsk which are
frequented by the rich and powerful from across the CIS.
Shopping in CIS Countries: A thrilling blend of
reasonable price and product varieties makes CIS countries, one of the
exceptional destinations, where any kind of shopper can find their
choice! In Kazakhstan, the felt art is quite predominant culture,
traditional Kyrgyz jewellery, chess sets, old paintings, handmade felt
items, watches, tea bowls, fur hats, traditional dresses, decorative
Kyrgyz mats are all available in the most well-known shopping mall Tsum
in Bishkek Kyrgyzstan. Russia is known for its amazing fine art and folk
handicrafts. Baku in Azerbaijan is known for its carpet weaving, carpet
bag, which are an excellent souvenir. Uzbekistan is the best place to
buy embroidery, ceramics or pottery, silk or carpets. Cafesjian Center
of the Art at Yerevan, Armenia, is known for its contemporary art.
Bulgaria is known for its cheese, yogurt, fruits, chocolates and
specialty items. Belarus is known for its unique craftsmanship in
designing of ceramic products. The Georgian tablecloth decorated with
birds, deer and other figures comes in beautiful indigo paint, imprinted
with attractive local patterns. Jewelleries shaped like little figures
wearing traditional Serbian folk costumes and jerseys are some of the
ethnic jewellery pieces found.
Spa Resorts in CIS Countries: CIS countries are very well known for their wellness tourism,
offering healing spring’s mud baths to spa resorts. Almaty, in
Kazakhstan has the most well-known spas in the country. Zaamin resort is
popular for its abundance of conifers and alpine landscape. It also
goes by “Uzbek Switzerland”. Another famous health
resort popular for its climate, is Aktash. Armenia has an entire town
dedicated to spas and medical therapies. Dilijan is the urban
municipality located in the Tavush province and is often referred to as
Little Switzerland or ‘Armenian Switzerland.’ Azerbaijan, called as the
land of healing oil for many centuries owing to the curative properties
of therapeutic oils like Naftalan crude oil. Russia offers various
sanatoria and modern resorts which provide healing services using
natural resources.
Places of Exhibition (Events and Exhibition Centers) in CIS Countries
Incentive tours to CIS countries provide a welcome
relief from monotonous job life. It has an abundance of Convention
Centers, an ideal venue for events and exhibitions, noteworthy meeting
center points. Dook provides best Exhibition Centers
based on the customers’ needs and specific demands. Some of the
Exhibition Centers worth mentioning in different countries are in
Kazakhstan, Korme Exhibition Center Astana, Atakent International
Exhibition Centre Almaty, in Ukraine, International Exhibition Centre,
Kiev. In Russia, it’s All-Russian Exhibition Center, ExpoCenter and
World Trade Center Moscow. In Uzbekistan, it’s Uzekspocentre Exhibition
Centre Tashkent.
Conference Halls and Venues in CIS Countries
The best conference halls of different capacities and
seating arrangements are provided by Dook in different CIS countries as
per customers’ specific needs and demands are like in Kazakhstan -
Almaty City Exhibition Centers (The Ritz-Carlton Almaty, Rixos Hotel,
InterContinental Almaty, Hotel Rahat Palace Almaty, Grand Aiser Hotel).
In Ukraine its Kiev City (Hotel Fairmont, Hotel Intercontinental, Hotel
Radisson Blu Podil, Hotel Mercure Kyiv), while in Russia, its Moscow
City (Sheraton Palace Hotel Moscow, Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya, Crowne
Plaza Moscow, Izmailovo Delta Hotel). Besides every arrangements of
equipments like Sound System, DJ, LED, are organized along with Indian
and local restaurants, Jain Foods are available ready at hand.
MICE Tourism Trends
The fast-emerging MICE Tourism is giving conventional
tourism a good run for the money. The experts believe, in few years it
can surpass the conventional tourism and take travelling industry in the
world to a new stage altogether. The most important aspect is to have a
certain infrastructure available in order to be able to absorb all the
activities that a congress involves, as much with regards to venues that
can hold the events as to accommodation, catering and restaurants,
transport and communications. Having other cultural attractions, leisure
options, gastronomy, fashion or nature is also useful for attracting
this type of tourist who apart from work, also wants to discover new and
interesting destinations.
