Thailand is a long haul, but the country has captured the imaginations of travelers for good reasons, among them incredible value that mitigates the cost of airfare, hospitable people, a rich cultural heritage, wonderful temples, and the natural beauty of areas like Phuket.
Thailand also is a business destination and understands what international groups need—as it should with 680,000 MICE visitors in 2010 alone. That much was clear on a recent familiarization trip run by the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), even before we reached the hotel. Thai Airways Premium Economy seats are basically business class but cost only about $200 extra. And in Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, an express customs line is available to corporate groups if they arrange the trip through the TCEB or a destination management company. In reverse, passengers on participating airlines can check in luggage at the new Airport Link monorail station in the city center before departing.
A Business Metropolis
Thailand has two challenges, according to Akapol Sorasuchart, president of the TCEB: the fact that it is better known in the U.S. for leisure travel, and the political unrest of the past few years, which seems to have abated. The TCEB can help planners by offering advice, expediting visas, and facilitating the use of special venues in and near temples and historic sites.
On our first night in Bangkok, we stayed at the 381-room Inter-Continental Bangkok, in the heart of the city. It’s an incredible hotel, with first-rate service, large rooms, and 22 meeting and function rooms that can hold up to 1,000 attendees.
The next two nights were spent at the five-star Centara Grand at CentralWorld, a 505-room property in the central business district that is connected to the Bangkok Convention Centre. The hotel’s most notable amenity is Red Sky, an outdoor rooftop restaurant and nightspot with stunning city views.
Cultural Destinations
On the cultural side, Ayutthaya, the ruins of an ancient capital, are worth a visit; this UNESCO World Heritage Site has several event venues. Other must-see destinations are the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Vimarnmek Palace, and the 1920s-era Praya Palazzo riverfront mansion.
There is so much more to Thailand than can fit here, starting with an excursion to the world-famous beach resort city of Phuket, to say nothing of the other hotels and the convention centers we toured.