Ahead of the ACE of M.I.C.E. Exhibition by Turkish Airlines, taking place from 25 to 27 May 2022, Kongres Magazine talked to Volkan Ataman, the chairman of Tourism Media Group, the company organising the event.
ACE of M.I.C.E. Exhibition is the leading MICE industry trade show of Turkey and the surrounding region, gathering the industry since 2012. The event aims to increase the perception and awareness of the Turkish MICE industry globally, provide new customers and markets with their hosted buyer program, ensure unity of the sector with many networking opportunities and raise the quality bar with summits, workshops, and seminars.
VOLKAN ATAMAN, President of Tourism Media Group
Q: What have you managed to achieve with the ACE of MICE project, which has become a giant brand, so far?
ACE of M.I.CE. Exhibition by Turkish Airlines congress, meeting and event exhibition which has been held every year since 2013, is among the most visionary and important events of our country in this field with its global communication campaign to increase the perception and awareness of Turkish MICE industry globally, in order to gain new customers and markets with the professional hosted buyer program, to ensure the unity and motivation of the sector with networking chances and ‘AMEzing’ parties held within the scope of the exhibition, to raise the quality bar of our sector with the summits, workshops, seminars. On the other hand, ACE of M.I.C.E. Awards is the biggest award ceremony of the global MICE industry which targets to guide the sustainable growth of congress, meeting and event operations, to create a will of achieving perfection for industry companies and to increase the awareness of the Turkish MICE industry on a global scale. And it has been going on without interruption since 2012. We moved our award ceremony to Antalya which held under the name of ‘Master of Events by Ace of M.I.CE Awards’ with a different concept. While allowing the participants to have B2B meetings, we strengthened the network with party and the award ceremony and this made a very serious contribution to the MICE sector in Antalya.
As of the point where it came today, we are proud to be the star brand of the global tourism and MICE industry with ACE of MICE, despite the difficulties our country has experienced in the last eight years.
Q: Can you tell us about the Hosted Buyer Program?
Tourism and MICE industry professionals come together again with B2B. Within the scope of the International Hosted Buyer Program; International incentive companies, PCO, DMC, and corporate buyers from the global companies will have B2B meetings with the exhibitors. Thanks to the cooperation with an increasing number of international industry partners and media organizations for 2022, participants will have the opportunity to grow their network with both a quantitative and a qualified hosted buyer programme. Within the framework of the comprehensive communication strategy determined to increase the appearance and position of the exhibition in international MICE markets, we are expanding collaborations with media organizations and international associations working focused primarily on MICE and event tourism. If the Tourism Media Group has been bringing together the tourism and MICE industry for 16 years, it means we have a mission here. As a team, we are preparing so intensely for May 25-27 with our stakeholders, sponsors and supporters.
Q: What’s new this year? Are there any novelties that await the exhibitors and visitors?
We are preparing to increase the commercial volume of the sector, while providing a unique MICE experience to industry professionals at the exhibition, which will be organized for the 9th time with the theme of Sustainable Future. We will try to provide a unique MICE experience with colorful content, B2B meetings with 160 national-international buyers in the Hosted Buyer Area specially created for our participants, session programs that open new perspectives and network activities to 15,000 professional visitors. We will also be offering the entertainment and network together to our participants with the Gala Dinner and AMEzing Party on the evening of the first day of the exhibition.
Sustainable Future
Q: Could you tell us more about the programme? We heard there will be a strong focus on sustainability?
We are preparing to welcome guests in the impressive environment of ACE of MICE with special concepts and experience areas of Infinity Visual Fx Studio which I am a partner of, that will fascinate the participants from the first step they take to the exhibition. We give great importance to the issue of sustainability. For this reason, we will be trying to keep this issue on the agenda with our summit program, speakers and communication campaign.
Within the scope of the ‘Sustainable Future Summit’ to be held at the Istanbul Congress Center Üsküdar Hall, we will be talking about water and energy efficiency, climate crisis, carbon emission reduction, zero waste and the equality in all areas of society experienced in our country and in the world.
Experts in the field of sustainability will discuss Climate Change, Water and Energy Efficiency at the main session on May 25. After that, the executives of highly important brands will tell about the projects they have realized about sustainability. Like all organizations, we support sustainability and try to announce the work has been done in this issue.
“ACE of M.I.C.E. covers my whole life”
Q: How are the numbers looking for this year compared to 2021?
Unfortunately, there were companies that could not come to the exhibition from our international participants due to restrictions in 2021. Covid-19 has affected our visitor numbers to some extent. But we still held our exhibition at the highest level. ACE of M.I.C.E Exhibition by Turkish Airlines is the most important meeting of the year in the tourism and MICE industry. We are coming to give great morale to all our stakeholders and our sector. I do not want to give an exact number of visitors, but I can say that we are currently running a very large and comprehensive communication campaign and we have very valuable supporters in this field.
Q: What excites you the most when it comes to your job and the ACE of M.I.C.E Event?
ACE of M.I.C.E. covers my whole life. I can say that everything that inspires me and creates new ideas in the events I go to, the countries I visit, the people I meet gives me excitement. And being able to bring these differences to reality and make the participants experience this is a whole different kind of excitement.
Q: What are your plans for ACE of M.I.C.E in 2023?
2023 will totally be a different year for ACE of M.I.C.E. We are making collaborations to strengthen international participation. We will continue to lead the development of our industry with new collaborations by including more qualified buyers who will provide volume to the MICE industry in our event. We also plan to hold our event in Cyprus, except Antalya, within the scope of “Masters of Events”. We’ll be making our announcements when the dates become clear. So it’s going to be a year full of ACE of M.I.C.E.
“THE EXCITEMENT AND ADMIRATION IN PEOPLE’S EYES WHEN IT’S OVER IS WHAT INSPIRES ME.”
Q: What gives you the inspiration to continue working in the event industry?
First of all, it is exciting to work in this industry. The preparation process of our events, new ideas, new technology and finally being able to implement them is incredibly enjoyable. For example, dozen of people did not sleep for days for the opening show we prepared with the special concept of Infinity Visual Fx Studio in 2021 but the stage show, the technology used, the stage set up were incredible. I think that excitement and admiration in people’s eyes when it’s over is exactly what inspires me. A great effort and the appreciation that comes afterward.
Q: Can you give information about the Masters of Events by ACE of M.I.C.E. Awards?
ACE of M.I.C.E Awards which has been continuing successfully for 9 years was held in Antalya between 7-9 November 2021 with the name of ‘Master of Events by Ace of M.I.CE Awards’ and with a different concept. More than 7.000 B2B meetings took place in 3 days where we hosted 130 national and international corporate buyers and hundreds of industry professionals. We had a very serious interaction by presenting business and entertainment together with breathtaking parties and network activities held every night. We brought together the best in the event sector with their awards while preparing a fascinating ceremony with a red carpet ceremony, shows, and a magnificent stage at the Masters of Events by ACE of M.I.C.E Awards, which took place on the evening of November 9. We are very happy to bring the MICE industry together on such a high level in Antalya.
Q: What do you want to say about the “Masters of Events by ACE of M.I.C.E. Awards” will be held at Nirvana Cosmopolitan Hotel on 29-31 October 2022.
We are preparing to bring together the event industry professionals with the highest level as always at the 10th ”Masters of Events by ACE of M.I.C.E. Awards” on 29-31 October 2022. 10 years is a special issue for us. Nirvana Cosmopolitan Hotel will be hosting our event, which will be held with the Cosmos concept. In the event, where there will be a stand and B2B area in the convention area, 100 corporate brands, 30 international buyers and hundreds of companies providing services in the MICE industry will be together for 3 days.
Apart from the B2B meetings, our event will end with events that will increase interaction, parties and the award ceremony, which will be talked about for a long time, with its magnificent shows and red carpet ceremony in the final. Apart from the B2B meetings; the events and parties will increase interaction and the award ceremony, which will be talked about for a long time will end with its magnificent shows and red carpet ceremony at the final.
As Tourism Media Group, we give great importance to Antalya and we are very happy to work to contribute to the brand value in the industry of MICE. The chamber of commerce, convention bureau, governorship, municipality and sector associations are providing great support to us by being with us. I would like thank them one more time.
More information about the event:
Serap KALİK
International Communication Coordinator
P: +90 216 465 95 56-57
F: +90 216 465 95 58
M: +90 532 337 28 73
E-Mail: serap@turizmmedya.net
Web: www.ameistanbul.com
