Conference HubChadatip Chutrakul, director of Iconsiam, said yesterday that the hall would have an area of 12,000 square metres and a capacity of 3,000 seats. The events market expects to pass the Bt100-billion mark this year and continue expanding at about 18 per cent per year, Suphachai said. It will occupy floors 7 and 7M in Iconsiam, which overlook the beautiful scenery of the Chao Phraya River.The hall aims to promote and elevate the standard of MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) and show business in Thailand. "We are working to make the country a hub for world conferences and show performances - a fully integrated one with the highest potential and the most outstanding in Asia," she said.Suphachai Chearavanont, chief executive of True Corporation, said the hall would open a new dimension as an advanced, world-class centre for international meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions with an exceptional location and functions.True Group will combine its experience and impressions for exhibitors and visitors. "We are confident that the True Iconsiam Hall will be able to attract exhibitors for MICE and tourists from around the world in order to stimulate revenue generation for the country," he said.The company last year gained about Bt1 billion in revenue from the MICE business.It looks for only slight revenue growth this year and has not disclosed a precise figure.Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said the True Iconsiam Hall was a good sign that the private sector had joined the government sector in supporting and promoting tourism and MICE in order to stimulate revenue generation for the country.They will give the economy a driver in line with the government's policy to synergise all stakeholders to make Thailand a MICE destination of the region and the world.

Source: The Nation Bangkok July 21, 2016 18:00 UTC