Mr. Akapol Sorasuchart, the President of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), revealed that “Social Media has been considered as the most effective tool and played a significant role in all business aspects. It is also accounted to the business-to-business platform. Many of business corporations have already jumped on the social media bandwagon in order to engage in two-way conversations with their customers and drives business success.”

According to the statistic from the Internet World Stats, it is reported that the Internet users is growing at an explosive rate, with 480% growth during 2000 - 2011. Currently, there are a total of 2.095 billion internet users globally, of which 44% are in Asia accumulated to 922 million. It also shows that internet users in Thailand has totaled 18.3 million and projected to grow to 66.7 million users by this 2011.

“We have realized that the social media have become an integral part of today’s business practices. As a resulted, TCEB has organized the seminar entitled “Form Social Media to Social Commerce for MICE.” The seminar will provide a comprehensive introduction to social media and overview of users’ behavior from across the globe. We endorse our industry to adopt social media marketing in an attempt to enhance their competitiveness at the international level,” added Mr. Akapol.

The seminar organized by TCEB is held under the topic “From Social Media to Social Commerce for MICE.” The respected experts from Google Inc.(Singapore) will present on ‘Impact of Social Media on MICE Industry.’ Mr. Matthias Bau from Reed Exhibition UK will share his experience in his adoption social media for the MICE industry while Mr. Marcel Ewals, Asia Congress, will demonstrate a case study on how to apply social media in Meetings industry. Mr. Bert “Bow-Thai” van Walbeek, from The Winning Edge will also discuss about Integrating MICE Marketing and Social Media.

On the topic “Social Media Strategy for MICE Industry”, Mr. Wolfgang Jaegel, Regional Managing Director of Syndacast will provide recommendations to seminar attendees on the preparation of their own marketing strategies. There are also other renowned experts in social online business joining the seminar such as Mr. Jakrapong Kongmalai, Online Community Manager of True Corporation, Mr. Paul Soon, Regional Director, XM-A of JWT Company and Mr. Apichai Saksuriyadej, President of Tourism Technology Association. They will discuss about “What MICE Professionals Need To Know” so attendees can get the idea for the success of their own business operation.

On the panel discussion about The Future of Social Media-How to Prepare Yourselves, TCEB invites experts including Mr. Pongsuk Hiranyapruk, Managing Director of Show No Limit, Mr. Tiwa York, Director Platforms of Omicon Media Group as well as Mr. Matthias Baur, Director e-Business Development of Reed Exhibitions UK. They will portray the future of technology development and the marketing by Social Media.

In conclusion, Mr. Akapol; he leaved, “I am confident that marketers and MICE professional are therefore understand the key formulation and integration of social media elements as well as able to employ the social media as a tools and a marketing arm. In addition, the seminar today will help to strengthen Thailand’s MICE industry to beat against the global arena, moving Thailand forward to position as the globally preferred MICE destination in Asia.”