IMPACT sets aside 200 million baht for facility development to accommodate customers while 2023 bookings rise by 41%

Published : 2023-07-21

IMPACT sets aside 200 million baht for facility development to accommodate customers while 2023 bookings rise by 41%

IMPACT’s bookings in 2023 exceed 1,100 events, a 41-percent rise year-on-year. So far, 749 events were held during the first half of the year. As the COVID-19 crisis subsided, the revenue from rental and service sections was 3.47 billion baht for the 2022/2023 period. Meanwhile, a 200-million-baht budget is set aside for more facilities to accommodate the increasing numbers of domestic and international customers. Additional facilities that are in the works include the Link Bridge Phase 3, which is scheduled to open this July, among others.

Mr. Paul Kanjanapas,Chief Executive Officer of Bangkok Land Public Company Limited, the operator of IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center, Muang Thong Thani, revealed that 1,073 events have been booked at IMPACT for 2023 (as of June 2023), a 41.18-percent growth or an increase of 313 events as compared to those in the same period last year. To break down, 233 are meetings and seminars, 56 trade fairs, 13 business negotiations, 56 parties, 62 wedding receptions, 106 concerts and family-friendly events, 475 off-site catered events, and 72 miscellaneous events. For sectors, 184 are from public agencies while 889 are from private companies.

In the first half of 2023, 749 events were organized, representing a rise of 242 events or 47.73% year-on-year from 507 events that were held in the first half of 2022. Concert was this year’s big star as it took place every week. Out of around 100 in total, 43 were local shows while 63 were performances by global artists. On a year-on-year basis, international gigs were 9.88% in share, compared to 4.11% in 2022. Examples of newcomers in 2023 include VIV Asia 2023 and Meat Pro Asia 2023 in March. IMPACT also welcomed the return of Disney on Ice and Magic Convention 2023, the incentive event for Indian businessmen in April. In May, the international food exhibition and trade fair THAIFEX spanned across the entire capacity of the venue while World Hindu Congress 2023 is scheduled for November.

“As the COVID-19 pandemic has eased, we have seen satisfactory performance in terms of the number of events and revenue growth. For the 2022/2023 fiscal year (April 2022 - March 2033), the key three main sources of revenue were venue service, food and beverage business, and hotels. The rental and service fees stood at 3.47 billion baht, a rise of 141.6% or 2.034 billion baht as compared to 1.436-billion baht earned in the same period last year. The growth of 2023 venue reservation is expected to boost up income.”

Similarly, the number of customers, including organizers and visitors, is expected to grow based on each event category. This is strikingly evident in the part of trade fairs, business negotiations, concerts, and international conferences in which foreigners are the main visitors. For this reason, they demand hotel rooms near the venue. IMPACT has two hotel chains, Novotel and ibis, located on its site. To meet this rising demand, IMPACT has set aside a 200-million-baht budget to build more facilities including a new pedestrian bridge linking nearby buildings to ensure that hotel guests can easily, rapidly, and safely walk to exhibition halls.

Mr. Watchara Chanthrasopa,Head of Project Management, disclosed that the construction of pedestrian bridges called Link Bridge is an ongoing project at IMPACT that aims to connect buildings together so that visitors conveniently walk between each building quickly to ensure safety and avoid accidents arising from road and traffic during some periods. Currently, the project is in the third phase. With a 400-meter length, the two-section bridge offers a 330-meter connection from Building 12 to the IMPACT Forum Building, while the second part is a 70-meter construction that goes into Novotel.

As for entry, two escalators are offered, one situated diagonal to Thunder Dome and the other in front of the Immigration Police Bureau. Two moving walkways are also available. The Link Bridge Phase 3 is expected to be ready by 23 July 2023. When completed, it will be operational in conjunction with Phase 1, which is 290 meters long from ibis to Building 12, and Phase 2 that spans 336 meters from the ibis roundabout to Cosmo Walk and connects with Cosmo Bazaar. The pedestrian bridges connect all buildings that cover exhibition halls, meeting rooms, hotels, shopping malls, outlets, and parking buildings. The company also plans to add another skywalk connecting the MRT Pink Line Extension to Muang Thong Thani that will have two stations: IMPACT Muang Thong Thani Station (Challenger 1) and Muang Thong Thani Lake Station. The construction of Muang Thong Thani Lake Station will begin in early 2024 and the extension is expected to be completed and operational in 2025.