More sky bridges mean more convenience

Published : 2018-10-12

As the business events industry continues to thrive rapidly, myriad exhibition centers across the globe recognize the growing needs of facility upgrades, renovations, and expansion to accommodate a bevy of mega events and trade shows, and we are no exception. Bangkok Land Public Company Limited, the investor of IMPACT Exhibition Management Co., Ltd, will be investing 115 Million Baht in a bid to add more pedestrian bridges across the venue for seamless convenience.      

After months of construction, the 250-meter long sky bridge from ibis Bangkok IMPACT to exhibition halls is finally open to serve hotel guests and visitors as well as another newly-built 200 meter pedestrian bridge connecting Cosmo Bazaar Outlet to indoor and outdoor parking lots to accommodate evolving MICE businesses and exhibitions including KCON 2018 Thailand, Jeunesse Expo 2018, Miss Universe 2018, Baan Lae Suan, Motor Expo, OTop City, and several more in the pipeline, which are occurring at the end of the year.             

Mr. Paul Kanjanapas, Managing Director of IMPACT Exhibition Management Co., Ltd., the operator of IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center, has revealed that the overall business outlook in terms of space reservation has flourished, particularly from new events, which account for a 155% increase compared to 2017 and come from the following:

 

• Bookings of consumer shows such as “Organic Biotech Exhibition,” “Rand Det Fair,” and “Lampang Ceramic Fair” up by 27%.
• B2B events comprising Medical Device Asean 2018, SILMO 2018, and CEBIT 2018, overall revenues seeing a 20% increase
• International conventions risen by 33%
• Concerts and entertaining events grown by 37%.

All those combined, we are able to entice nearly 1,000 local, regional, and international MICE-related events annually, compared to the average of 800 events from the earlier years.

We have experienced a positive number of bookings towards the end of the year, especially mega events because of a wide array of meeting of all shapes and sizes that meet all kinds of MICE requirements. Incentive and tourism market have also enjoyed increased growth in a number of bookings.

Inbound arrivals from China and India have risen, and we are delighted to be a destination venue of their business as we have branched out into a more tourism market and are creating a new hub for tourism: a better venue for MICE visitors and their families. When business travelers make a trip to convene aboard, they usually bring along children and spouse, and as long as we keep them busy and excited with heart pumping activities, we can generate more economic impact, vibrancy, jobs, and profits, retain current business, and attract new business to the community as well as the country. We want our visitors to discover what makes things hum here. Nestled in the heart of Muang Thong Thani, our 380-room, 4-star MICE Novotel Bangkok IMPACT along with a 587-room ibis Bangkok IMPACT is currently serving visitors from around the nation, the region, and the world, and merely steps away from the contemporary ibis hotel is IMPACT Sports Club and IMPACT Tennis Academy, one of Thailand’s top-notch fitness centers that features 10 indoor and outdoor tennis courts and 2 clay courts. (Import from Europe) In addition, visitors can take our shuttle service, which operates all day, to BEEHIVE Lifestyle Mall for a plethora of dining options and retail stores.

The prospects for the MICE Industry are looking very bright, and we regard this as a prominent opportunity to play our active, supporting role in the business events industry. Bangkok Land Public Company Limited, the parent company of IMPACT, sets aside a budget of 115 Million Baht for the construction of the sky bridge to connect the ibis Bangkok IMPACT to the exhibition halls, and another 110 Million Baht that has already gone to the construction of a walkway connecting exhibition halls to Cosmo Bazaar, Outlet Square, and the new car parking facility. The sky bridge and pedestrian walkway are now fully operational.

Mr. Lek Termtrakool, Director of Project Management, has disclosed the details of the construction of the sky bridge that connect ibis Bangkok IMPACT and exhibition halls through the second level of the Hong Kong Fisherman. The first phase involves a total distance of 250 meters, 8 travelators, 2 escalators and 1 elevator. Another project to expand the sky bridge to the commercial building “Cosmo Bazaar” is currently in the works with expanding shopping area, including a supermarket along with entertainment space such as a cinema and fitness center. The sheltered sky bridge from Cosmo Bazaar Outlet Square to the car park area behind the exhibition hall, with the distance of more than 200 meters, allows for a faster and convenient walking route to the shopping area, which is already open to the public.

This project aims to improve the overall convenience with regards to accessibility to the different venues to help with new events namely KCON 2018 Thailand, Jeunesse Expo 2018, and Miss Universe 2018 that will lure countless attendees. In addition, new events from Queen Sirikit National Convention Center next year: Baby and Kids Best Buy (BBB) and Thai National Book Fair.

This also comprises of past regular events specifically, Thailand Digital Big Bang, “Baan Lae Suan, Motor Expo, OTop City, local & International Concerts and Theatrical performances. This means that IMPACT will welcome and accommodate upwards of 10 million visitors per year. With the addition of the new sky bridge to all the buildings, it will provide convenience and safety while avoiding heavy traffic for the IMPACT hotel guests walking to the event venues.