The Ulsan Exhibition and Convention Center (UECO), located in South Korea's Metropolitan City of Ulsan, will be officially opened on 29 April 2021. UECO will be the 17th convention center in Korea, and it is expected to help transform Ulsan into the next hub for the Korean MICE industry. The opening of the center will coincide with the centre’s first official event - Asia Pacific MICE Business Festival 2021 - which will take place from 29 to 30 April as an offline in-person event. ​

Event organizers keen to restart MICE activities in Thailand can be more assured of health and safety aspect. With the aim to raise MICE safety standards throughout the country, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and 22 organisations signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly upgrade disease control and hygiene measures for MICE industry in 10 MICE cities nationwide. 

​This initiative is spearheaded by TCEB and the Department of Health under Thailand's Ministry of Public Health. Witnessing the signing of MoU was Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, Mr Anutin Charnvirakul. In his speech, Mr Charnvirakul reaffirmed the government’s priority for public health and the nationwide vaccination programme to revive tourism and the economy. The MOU is the largest inter-agency initiative aimed at revitalising MICE to date. 

The Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS) launched the SG SafeEvents Certification today during the Tourism Industry Conference organised by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). The certification programme is based on the Technical Reference (TR) 84 “Safe event management for the MICE1 and events industry” developed by the Singapore Standards Council (SSC) overseen by Enterprise Singapore (ESG).

The Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) is excited to announce a new partnership with Get Local and support the success of their inaugural domestic business events showcase in July which will reconnect Australian destinations and industry suppliers with new business opportunities. 
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Andrew Hiebl, CEO of AACB said, “The success of Get Local is in everyone’s interest as a key platform to restart the business events industry.” 

​178 buyers met 30 Thai exhibitors over 580 business-matching sessions, while eight industry webinars and eight cultural workshops gave audiences an idea of how MICE entrepreneurs in Thailand have pivoted during the pandemic and Thai culture can be presented in a fresh, engaging manner to MICE visitors.
 
7,755 online participants from 33 countries participated with over 580 business-matching sessions in the first Thailand MICE Virtual Expo organised by Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). Held from February 24 to 25, 2021, the event gave international MICE buyers and stakeholders a timely update on Thailand’s MICE market and what industry leaders are doing to ensure business continuity and competitiveness. 

A new cultural complex, Parc.1, has opened in Seoul’s Yeouido district, combining business, shopping and leisure in one stop, with the opening of two high-rise office buildings, luxury hotel Fairmont Ambassador Seoul, and The Hyundai Seoul, a new concept shopping center.  Parc.1 will offer visiting MICE delegates a new experience in Korea’s Yeouido district once travel resumes.​

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) will organise ‘Thailand MICE Virtual Expo’ – the country’s first virtual event dedicated to MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) – from February 24–25 to create opportunities for Thai MICE entrepreneurs to connect with potential buyers worldwide and showcase Thailand through webinars and workshops.  

Mr Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of TCEB, said the ‘Thailand MICE Virtual Expo’ is the country’s first virtual event aimed at promoting Thailand’s MICE industry. The objectives are to maintain Thailand’s global competitiveness in MICE and to help Thai entrepreneurs leverage technology to engage with buyers and industry colleagues worldwide in spite of travel restrictions.​

With the opening of a large-scale aquarium, the Suwon MICE Complex in Korea’s Gyeonggi Province is officially complete. The new aquarium, ‘Aqua Planet Gwanggyo’, opened its doors on January 19th, as the fifth aquarium under the nation’s biggest aquarium brand, ‘Aqua Planet’, following locations in the 63 Building, Ilsan, Yeosu, and Jeju. Establishment of Suwon MICE Complex began in early 2019 with the opening of Suwon Convention Center, followed by the opening of Courtyard Marriott Suwon hotel and Galleria Gwanggyo Department Store in January and March of 2020. Aqua Planet Gwanggyo marks the fourth and final addition to the complex. Located an hour’s drive from Incheon International Airport and with a direct subway line which connects to Gangnam in 30 minutes, the Suwon MICE Complex will open up doors to new MICE experiences for delegates post-Covid-19.