EXHIBITION TRENDS Face to Face Business

The event industry had to adapt quickly during Covid but now with few restrictions remaining and only some destinations not fully open, face to face events are back in full swing. However virtual or hybrid events are likely to remain popular in 2022 and beyond due to international travel restrictions. But many people find these events limited especially where global time changes are not conducive to the working day. For live events, health and safety protocols are still important and exhibitors and event organisers will continue to embrace new technology innovations.

Virtual events of all kinds became the normal during the lockdowns – they were the only means to keep contacts but not effective at all in the travel, tourism and MICE industries, despite many press releases and news trying to convince that the online and hybrid is the solution, but now many people refuse to attend them and instead wish to travel to in-person events where more business can be achieved.

The traditional face to face business meeting cannot be beaten and despite the rising cost of goods and services, face to face meetings are still favoured, plus in a dedicated event space, once present, attendees are focused on the event and thus yield better results.

The after-hours Networking Opportunities that exist at in-person events are not replicable with a virtual gathering, however hard you try.

Body language, human communication, the sincere hand shake, are all essential to business and no virtual or hybrid event can match that – we are a social animal! Real face-to-face business events are back!

TCEB DRIVES THAILAND’S EXHIBITION GROWTH AT BUSINESS FORUM IN SINGAPORE

Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) recently organised the Business Forum in Singapore, showcasing confidence in Thailand’s capabilities to welcome international trade exhibitions. TCEB’s supporting concept is‚ E Power 3 or‚ Empowering Exhibition Economy” by providing attractive subsidies to professional exhibition organisers (PEOs) in Thailand. These include supporting policies to international trade exhibitions, bringing in MICE events and trade shows to be staged the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), attracting world iconic events to Thailand, promoting sustainable trade fairs and unveiling a plan for key events between 2022 and 2027, with the objective of continuous development for Thailand’s trade exhibition industry.

The E Power 3 Campaign will focus on integrated development for exhibition organisers, exhibition industry and the national economy. These include‚ PEOs Empowerment: Powerful Subvention Program. MICE Alliance: Powerful Partnership, and Carbon Neutral Events: Powerful Sustainability Programme. TCEB has set a target by 2525 as the Carbon Neutral Events Year for all supported shows. All of these lead to‚ ROE – Return on Everything, which focuses on organiser’s business returns, benefits to Thailand’s exhibition industry and the national economic impact. In 2023, eight trade shows in several industry sectors such as transport & logistics, infrastructure, digital as well as health & wellness from Singapore have confirmed to be held in Thailand. In addition other events are taking place between 2023 and 2028, in which TCEB has been working as a national bidder to bring major international trade exhibitions and events to Thailand. TCEB plan is to welcome world iconic events, as well as to upgrade the quality of existing and forthcoming trade exhibitions. Key events include ‘Aviation, Logistics & Infrastructure Week’, and the ‘Thailand International Air Show’ to be held in 2027.