Paul Kanjanapas,chief executive officer of IMPACT Exhibition Management Co., Ltd, said that the Thai events industry outlook in 2024 is very encouraging. Meetings, conventions, incentives, exhibitions, as well as entertainment and concerts have witnessed a surge since the beginning of this year; 2024 is going to be a dynamic year, characterized by substantial growth. The global travel and tourism sector will fully recover to pre-pandemic levels by 2025 after a sharp drop of 68% in 2022 and regain its steady growth momentum in 2025. The number of international trips should go beyond 100% of pre-pandemic levels, yielding benefits for the business events industry worldwide.
The number of bookings is robust - especially for international conventions, meetings, and concerts where more than 90% of those have been confirmed. Stability is returning to the market and tends to move in the right direction. In the first half of the year, IMPACT has hosted 290 events. The venue has some big shows booked for 2024 including the 45th Bangkok International Motor Show, March 27 - April 7; IMPACT X Shell Shuan Shim, a new food collaboration between IMPACT Exhibition Management Co., Ltd and Shell Shuan Shim from March 29 - April 7; the 8th Garment Screen & Embroidery Expo 2024 held concurrently with the 11th PrintTech & Signage Expo 2024 from March 28 - 31; Architect' 24; and THAIFEX - Anuga Asia, the premier F&B trade show in Asia Pacific, held May 28 - June 1.
"IMPACT Arena is still gaining popularity among artists, singers, and event organizers worldwide. The venue is almost fully booked for the whole year. Although not as popular as the IMPACT Arena, the Challenger halls 1 - 3 spanning more than 60,000 square meters of recreational space together with the 48,000-square-meter Exhibition Centers 5 - 12, can fulfill the demand for event space when no availability at the IMPACT Arena. All three venues have frequently been busy hosting concerts on weekdays and weekends," said Paul.
The meetings sector is poised for a big comeback by the end of 2024, mainly due an increased demand for meeting space. Flexibility, functionality, aesthetics, a staggering array of exhibition space, top-tier amenities, and prime location make IMPACT outshine others. The center is less than 20 minutes away from Don Mueang International Airport and boasts 2 hotels onsite totaling 960 rooms: Novotel Bangkok IMPACT and ibis Bangkok IMPACT. An extension of the Pink Line monorail to Challenger halls and lakeside is in progress.
He continued, "The events industry is expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels and just keep growing, plus an influx of inbound tourists show signs of a strong recovery. We have a satisfactory number of bookings this year, which includes large-scale events as well as local and international shows. New constructions, industry-leading technology features, and best-in-class offerings are underway providing more convenience to customers. Recently, we have entered into a new partnership with many businesses such as a food collaboration with "Shell Shuan Shim," Thailand's most trusted food critic. This food show is set for March 29 - April 7, 2024."
Source: IMPACT Exhibition Management