Vibrant and colorful, Brazil has a series of convention centers and exclusive resorts across its cities of Salvador, Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Recife, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.

To add that extra zing to your corporate event, how about a cruise to Ecuador's Galapagos Islands? An auditorium and cabins to handle 100 passengers aboard a luxury liner skirts the Santa Cruz, Floreana, Espanola, San Cristobal and Seymour islands over 4 days with sightseeing trips on the islands packed in Business on the Inca Trail? From Cuzco in Peru, trek to the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Pichu. The Sacred Valley has a choice of luxury hotels, and the splendid views of the Andes and the massive temples and ruins combine to create a truly memorable event.

MICE in Asia

Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia as MICE destinations for Indian companies offer distinct advantages like short traveling time, world-class infrastructure, and an abundance of tourist attractions, all at competitive rates. Preferential air fares, special rates for accommodation and transportation, custom and immigration facilitation and adequate facilities for all sizes of conventions make these countries a viable MICE option.

Sri Lanka too offers very competitive rates for corporates covering airfare and conference facilities for medium to large groups.

The Phillipines archipelago has much to offer the MICE market, and Manila has been a preffered destination for global conferences and events. Its modern conference facilities include the Phillipine International Convention Center with a capacity to host 4000 people, a humongous banquet hall, over a dozen meeting rooms and a press centre. The Megatrade hall encloses three multipurpose halls, conference centre plus a series of entertainment centres like a bowling alley and ice skating rink. . The World Trade Centre, the Peninsula Manila, the Makati Shangri-La, the Mandarin Oriental Manila and the Westin Phillipine Plaza offer comprehensive arrangements for MICE events. Fine handicrafts, miles of pure beaches and great bargains add up to the charm of the Phillipines as a MICE destination.

Vietnam is grabbing the attention of organizers as a MICE host. Between Ho Chi Minh and Nanoi, it has over 20 5-star hotels, several seaside resorts in Da Nang, Quang Nam and Binh Thuan, and large capacity international convention centres. With an profusion of cultural and natural heritage sites Vietnam is slowly climbing the popularity charts of tourists.

Bali is Indonesia's most charming destination for companies to take a break from the routine. Its string of luxury hotels apart, the Convention Centre provides for 2,500 theatre style and 1,200 classroom style accommodation, and 5000 square metres of outdoor and indoor exhibition space, bonded warehouse facilities and a comprehensive business and communication Centre. Hong Kong's attraction as a MICE destination has also been enhanced with meeting and conference space being added considerably over the last few years.

Macau is well-entrenched as a business tourism destination, and new capacities are being built in Cotai. The Macau Cultural centre, the East Asian Games Dome, Fisherman's Wharf and the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre combine luxury and business effortlessly, while at least 15 5-star hotels are equipped with business meeting facilities.

Mainland China has recently expanded its existing capacities in Shanghai with auditoriums, exhibition halls, meeting rooms and seating capacity for 150 to 650 in each of the new convention centres. Beijing, Fujian, Tianjin and Guangzhou have similarly built up large capacities to attract the exhibition and convention market. Sanya Island is pursuing an integrated MICE programme and is well-appointed to receive business travelers.

Taiwan's Taipei World Trade Centre is a multi-function business complex with exhibition and conference spaces which host an average of a 100 trade shows every year. Heavy investments have been made to augment MICE facilities in North and South Taiwan, and the Nankang Exhibition Hall in suburban Taipei. A sprawling complex to cater to conferences and exhibitions is under construction at Kaohsiung. Hotels, transport systems and tourist attractions are being revamped to meet the demands of the MICE sector.

World famous amusement parks, historic monuments and nine world class convention centres and exhibition spaces make Korea a fine MICE venue, with great shopping and mouth watering cuisine thrown in.

Europe MICE Tourism

With a choice as varied as a medieval castle or a royal yacht, Britain can add that extra magic to a corporate event! From new venues like the Wembley Stadium and ExCel to the 19th century Earls Court & Olympia, London offers a range of conference and exhibition spaces. Most hotels in London's are also outfitted to host MICE of any magnitude.

Birmingham's NEC, Glasgow's SECC and Edinburgh's International Conference Centre are some of Britain's preferred venues for major events. Greenwich is vigorously promoting its facilities to attract MICE traffic - these include the soon to be completed Cutty Sark clipper ship equipped with a 50 seat auditorium.

Similarly, Hamburg, Berlin, Dresden, Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Munich and Stuttgart in Germany have all that it takes for MICE - large capacities for exhibitions, conference halls, hotel rooms, excellent connectivity, local attractions and the engaging countryside. Germany continues to maintain its lead amongst European markets in the MICE sector.

For an unforgettable experience, there's no place like Switzerland. Bern the capital, and Lucerne, Uri, Nidwalden, Luzern, Obwalden and Shwyz in Central Switzerland, Crans- Montana atop an alpine plateau, Davos, Pontresina, St. Moritz in Graubunden, St. Gallen - Lake Constance in eastern Switzerland, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano and Montreux-Vevey in the Geneva Lake District, Ticino, Zurich and Valais have a tradition of business tourism, and enjoy a popularity that remains unchallenged.

Austria too has a long history of hosting meetings and incentives. Its picture book surroundings, a string of convention and trade fair centres and over 400 hotels makes it a natural choice for lovers of heritage, nature, and music! Beyond the Vienna Convention Bureau in the capital, organizers can choose from a dozen other venues in Austria. for conferences and conventions

France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands are other top destinations for the meetings and convention tourism industry

Cyprus is a world-class conference and events location, backed by rich history and enduring landscapes. Nicosia and its coastal town boast of business-friendly hotels and resorts. The Cyprus International Conference Centre and the exhibition grounds have facilities like an amphitheatre and media centre to host receptions conventions, seminars, exhibitions and fashion shows.

Against the backdrop of its historic monuments, St Petersburg in Russia draws science congresses and conferences, and is groomed to host conference facilities every year.

Montenegro, the world's youngest country, and carved out of Serbia is investing heavily in hotels, conference facilities, airports and other infrastructure in its mountain and coastal resorts to accommodate small to large groups. Excellent amenities are being developed in its island resorts and the former royal residence. Its picturesque locales and rich history promise delegates a unique experience.

Cracow, Warsaw and Poznan in Poland are likewise witnessing a spurt in infrastructure projects and the scenic landscapes are a delightful backdrop for meetings, incentives, conferences and events.

MICE in Middle East

Dubai is the most happening destination for MICE trips with exhibitions, conferences and seminars of every scale being hosted there. The Dubai Convention Bureau coordinates the promotion of all convention hotels and venues in Dubai and is augmenting its facilities to meet commitments made till 2020.

Abu Dhabi is keeping pace with a dazzling array of ongoing tourism projects at the Saadiyat and Yas Islands, Al Raha Beach, Qasr Al Sarab, Angsana Resort and Spa, Bridgeway at Zayed Sports City, the Emirates Pearl, Abu Dhabi Creek Business Resort, the Quay and the Al Gurm Resort.

Sharjah, Doha and the Kingdom of Jordan are also gearing up for the MICE sector with a slew of projects. Bahrain's growing infrastructure includes grand projects like the Durrat Al Bahrain, Amwaj islands and Al Areen. The Gulf Hotel Bahrain's International Convention Centre has been a popular venue for cross-border corporate events.

Qatar's historic monuments and the Cultural Village in Al Dafna, the Education City Convention Centre and the Shangri La make it a good choice for meetings and conferences. The recently launched Blue City, the St Regis Doha and the Al Waab City projects are building up capacities for the MICE market.

The reconstruction of Iraq is most visible in Erbil where large scale real estate projects are driving the city's dream of becoming an alternative to the UAE as a MICE destination. A multipurpose convention centre with a capacity for 1,200 people is already operational, and hotel facilities will see a boom in the next few years.

MICE Tourism in India

As twenty-two regional airports go through a facelift, and exclusive business hotels and exotic resorts spring up in new and established locations, choices for corporates to conduct meetings, incentives, conventions and events (MICE) within India are rapidly multiplying.

Hyderabad, Pune, Bangalore, Noida, Gurgaon and Chennai are stiff competition for established destinations like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Goa, Kerala, Agra and Rajasthan are non-traditional business locations, but extremely high on the "wow" factor. Similarly, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Mussoorie, Nainital, Bhubaneswar, Simla and Srinagar are catching the imagination of conference planners for the 'freshness' that they have to offer.

Choices for MICE in India will expand exponentially by 2010-12 when under construction projects by global hotel brands such as the Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Sofitel, Aman, Marriott, Crowne Plaza, Novotel, Grand Hyatt, Shangri-La and Radisson are completed. A look at the meetings, incentives, convention and conference facilities available in India: MICE in East India, in South India, in West India MICE and in East India.

Task 2. Find out information about MICE industry in East India, in South India, in West India MICE and in East India.