bangkok_thailand
Photo: Montien Surawong Bangkok

INTRO

Few Asian destinations enjoy such a high profile as Bangkok. When Kongres Magazine last ventured to the Thai capital, the city was riding a wave of incredible tourism development, surpassing more renowned cities, including New York and Paris, based on the number of overnight stays. On our return visit, the city seems alive as ever, the city streets humming with activity, even though September is considered the low season. That can largely be attributed to the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, bringing thousands of guests daily. It is linked to the city centre by a modern, reliable, and swift rail link. Bangkok is gearing up for the upcoming high season. In the tourism sector, the central event is the 32nd IT&CM Asia, convening leading Asia-Pacific providers, suppliers and hosted buyers. We took to the event to see how Asia is innovating and, in many ways, eclipsing Europe.

Bangkok knows what makes tourists and business travellers tick. The unfaked hospitality and perennial smiles on the faces of locals draw visitors into the roadside shops, street food markets and less prominent voids. The traffic and rowdiness are nonstop in Bangkok. Getting around town can turn from a ten-minute ride to an hour-long journey. That is why opting for two wheels on the backseat of a Bolt or Grab scooter is the preferred mode of transport for locals and tourists in the know. The superb accommodation and meeting venues provide a welcome respite from the traffic chaos. The city has an irresistible charm, and its pagodas, guarded by lions and daubed in red, yellow and white hues, make for an exotic background for the European wanderer.

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Photo: TCEB

NEED TO KNOW IN 2024

The city is eager to welcome international guests from across the globe. Opulent hotels and span-new meeting venues are no strangers to high-rolling events. The city hosts 300 events per year, but the annual IT&CMA event is what rakes in profits. The equivalent of IMEX for Germany and Europe, the event marked its 32nd anniversary this year, while TTG Media Asia commemorated 50 years. To celebrate, they curated a revamped educational track and welcomed more attendees than ever before.

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Photo: IT&CMA

Hotels have been mushrooming across Bangkok. One of the latest additions is the Mercure Surawong Bangkok, a 219-key venue with vistas of the sprawling downtown. Gen Z will likely opt for the newly-opened Moxy Bangkok, a hotel kitted out for youthful urban travellers. Besides gleaming and glassy facades, a slew of established names have been upholding high-quality standards. One is the Centara Grand at CentralWorld, a mishmash of a shopping centre, hotel, and business centre. It doubles as the Bangkok Convention Centre, which hosted the IT&CMA trade show in 2024. Recently opened is also InterContinental Bangkok Sukhumvit, with an impressive 19 event halls in the heart of the Thonglor district famed for its numerous bars. Perhaps best located is the Montien Surawong Bangkok, a stone’s throw away from the Silom district. Regardless of your choice, the proverbial Thai hospitality will leave you speechless. Be sure to learn “sawasdee” by the end of your travels!

bangkok_thailand
Photo: TCEB

The world-famous Wat Arun Buddhist temple, dominating most postcards sold in Bangkok, was constructed by King Rama II. A famous poet, writer, and beloved ruler, he expanded trade from Thailand to the West and built the iconic temple. Extolling the king, the museum inaugurated a memorial exhibition for his 200th anniversary in 2024. Today, thousands visit the temple to see the ornate handpainted details, marvel at the statues of Buddha and wander the tidy gardens.

Bangkok
Photo: TCEB

BEST INCENTIVE IDEA

Party golfing at TopGolf Bangkok

The growing TopGolf franchise opened one of its first global outposts in the Thai capital. The concept of merging golf with entertainment and socialising proved to be a hit among event organisers. The venue in Bangkok regularly hosts teambuildings and events. For the American Independence Day, they staged an explosive display with fireworks for over 4,000 attendees. Besides the highly professional team who cut their teeth in some of the finest hotel establishments in the city, the venue relies on the expertise of the culinary team, who excel in catering service. Pairing a fun game of golf with mouthwatering bites has won the hearts of local event organisers and their clients.

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Photo: TopGolf Bangkok

BEST KEPT SECRETS

Thailand is sometimes overlooked as a silk destination, even though the tradition of making products from high-quality silk spans centuries. Annually, Bangkok stages the Thai Silk Festival, covertly expanding the country’s soft power worldwide. There has been no better proponent of their silky smooth products than Jim Thompson. In the mid-20th century, he awoke the slumbering silk industry in Thailand and introduced it to the world. His legacy is tangible, as the company has earned worldwide recognition for high-quality products. You can purchase their products in one of their outposts scattered around Bangkok or visit his house to see his extensive art collection. There, you will also learn of his mysterious disappearance in Malaysia, which has inspired many theories.

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Photo: Jim Thompson

PERFECT GIFT

The Bangkok-based cosmetics producer Charcoalogy has been making premium cosmetics from charcoal. Their products range from detoxifying bamboo charcoal shampoo to micellar face wash. You will feel reborn after a long day thanks to the excellent ingredients they use. In Thailand, there is an ointment for any disease. Besides the legendary Tiger Balm, you can find miscellaneous remedies in one of the roadside shops or in a pharmacy. To bring back home a piece of Thai cuisine, we recommend zigzagging through Chinatown in Bangkok. The array of products is spectacular.

bangkok_thailand
Photo: TCEB

TOP EVENTS IN 2024

Summer Sonic Bangkok 2024
(24 – 25 August 2024)
W: https://www.rollingloud.com/

IT&CM Asia
(24 – 26 September 2024)
W: https://itcma.com/

Sustainability Expo 2024
(27 September – 6 October 2024)
W: https://www.sustainabilityexpo.com/sx2024/

Rolling Loud Thailand 2024
(22 – November 2024)
W: https://www.rollingloud.com/

Thailand Marathon Bangkok 2024
(1 December 2024)
W: https://www.bkkmarathon.com/

it_cma_bangkok
Photo: IT&CMA and CTW APAC

FOODIES

In Bangkok, the gastronomy is incredibly diverse and spicy. In essence, Thai gastronomy advocates a zero-waste approach where nothing goes to waste. From Michelin-awarded food stalls to upscale restaurants, the quality never disappoints. We relished the food at Montien Hotel Surawong Bangkok’s Ruenton Restaurant, where they add a modern twist to classic street food bites. The staples of Thai cuisine are available at every step: pad thai, tom yum and dishes with chicken and rice are the beloved choices of tourists and locals alike. We recommend traversing the Chinatown district to see the colourful shops fronted by stalls with fresh lobster, oysters, pots of Yasmin tea, and coconut vendors. Brave foodies can try the durian fruit, but beware of the unmistakable smell. Thai gastronomy is among the world’s most known for good reason. It is impossible to resist the fresh ingredients and spicy flavours.

bangkok_thailand
Photo: Montien Surawong Bangkok

WHY BANGKOK?

Five great reasons to organise an event in Bangkok:

1. Paragon of hospitality
Scarcely found are destinations where every local greets a foreigner with a welcoming grin. You will be welcomed and treated like royalty wherever you go in Bangkok.

2. Hub of Southeast Asia
Bangkok is one of the largest cities in the region. Unsurprisingly, commerce relies on the numerous routes leading to and from the Thai capital. The city attracts capital and tourists because of its acclaim and connections to the rest of the world.

3. Superb accessibility
Bangkok International Airpot offers incredible connections to over 150 global destinations. In turn, event organisers can easily bring groups from Asia and beyond. The rail link, merging the city with the airport for an incredibly affordable price, makes Bangkok’s accessibility first-class.

4. Thai culinary mastery
The fact tourists can try a Michelin-recommended dish at a roadside operation for less than two EUR says a ton about gastronomy in Bangkok. The variety of dishes and the quality that never seems to disappoint, whether in a restaurant or at a simple food cart, is awe-inspiring.

5. Nonstop action
The rattle from the bustling streets of Bangkok never dies down. Consequently, event organisers can host an event at any time of the year. More importantly, event organisers can always find an alternative hotel or unique venue to pull off a resounding event.

bangkok
Photo Credit: PCMA

BANGKOK, IN A FEW WORDS

To experience Bangkok is to allow the stories of the city’s buildings, cuisine and locals to be disclosed in front of you, portraying a patchwork of cultures and influences. The ornate pagodas, dwarfed by the skyrises, the smells of a thousand dishes, and the unrivalled hospitality are what will continue attracting tourists in the future. Bangkok is also a household name in the meetings industry of Southeast Asia, reigning supreme for decades. Still, as regional destinations such as Macau and Hong Kong lure more and more guests, the Thai capital has had to revitalise and repackage its offer. Thanks to new venues and the concerted efforts of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, the city now looks to the future with clear intent to cement its nr. 1 position in the Asia-Pacific.

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Photo: ICCA

NOTE: The MTLG Destination Update is not a paid advertisement. The Bangkok MTLG Destination Update was prepared based on a personal visit of Kongres Magazine’s assessor in April 2024. Based on the evaluation, Bangkok will be evaluated according to the Meeting Experience Index methodology. The MTLG evaluation will be prepared by the end of 2024.

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