As twenty-two regional airports go through a facelift, and exclusive business hotels and exotic resorts spring up in new and established locations, choices for corporates to conduct meetings, incentives, conventions and events (MICE) within India are rapidly multiplying.

Hyderabad, Pune, Bangalore, Noida, Gurgaon and Chennai are stiff competition for established destinations like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Goa, Kerala, Agra and Rajasthan are non-traditional business locations, but extremely high on the "wow" factor. Similarly, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Mussoorie, Nainital, Bhubaneswar, Simla and Srinagar are catching the imagination of conference planners for the 'freshness' that they have to offer

Choices for MICE in India will expand exponentially by 2010-12 when under construction projects by global hotel brands such as the Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Sofitel, Aman, Marriott, Crowne Plaza, Novotel, Grand Hyatt, Shangri-La and Radisson are completed. A look at the meetings, incentives, convention and conference facilities available in India:

• MICE in East India
• MICE in North India
• MICE in South India
• MICE in West India

 

MICE in East India     

Kolkata's existing five star facilities for conferences and meetings at the Taj Bengal, Oberoi Grand, Hindustan International, Peerless Inn, Great Eastern and the Park Hotel will be complemented by the upcoming Kolkata Convention Centre to be built by the Jakarta based Salim and Ciputra group. Located over 100 acres in the eastern suburbs, JW Marriott will set up a five star and a four star hotel adding 1000 rooms to the complex. A cultural and retail zone, serviced apartments and office towers will be integral to the project. The convention centre will have facilities for 2000 participants. Kolkata's star attraction, the Floatel on the Jetty has a theatre style arrangement for 90 guests, and open air banquet facilities for up to 500. The Vedic Village in Rajarhat is a venue with a difference, and corporates have found its spacious and tranquil environs perfect for MICE.

Bhubaneshwar is evolving into a good MICE destination, offering a serene business environment and a host of tourist attractions. Swosti Plaza's convention centre has an impressive seating capacity of 1500.The Kalinga Ashok Hotel, Trident Hilton, Hotel Oberoi, Mayfair Lagoon, Hotel Keshari, The Marion, Royal Midtown, Hotel Sishmo and the Quality Inn Crown offer superior conference and meeting facilities at satisfactory rates.

Bhubaneswar's neighbour, Puri, with its lovely beaches and the world famous Jagannath Temple offers quality conference facilities at the Mayfair Beach Resort, Coco Palms and the Country Inn. Toshali Sands Resort on the road to Konark offers four star facilities, and its ethnic décor and excellent facilities for conventions finds favour with the professional community.

The Gateway to the North East, Guwahati, is another emerging MICE destination. The region's still untapped tourist attractions are a big draw with event managers, and the city's growing hospitality industry is well equipped to handle sophisticated conferences and events. The Landmark Hotel, Orchid Hotel, Hotel Rajmahal, Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok, Hotel Belle Vue and Hotel Dynasty are some of the business-cum-leisure hotels in Guwahati. The Brahmaputra Ashok will be adding a convention centre facility for 1000 guests as part of its expansion plans. The Radisson will be operating Guwahati's first five star hotel with a 200 room capacity and state-of-the-art convention facilities for 500 people.

For small to mid size conventions, lovely Shillong has much to offer. A meeting or conference here would give delegates an opportunity to discover the marvelous countryside, the unique flora, the limestone caves and adventure sports at the idyllic Umiam Lake. Hotel Polo Tower is a four star 50 room hotel with conference and boardroom facilities. Hotel Pinewood Ashok, Hotel Pegasus Crown, Hotel Alpine International and the Ri Kynjai can also be checked out for MICE events.

The Chalsa Resort on the Guwahati-Siliguri road has been used for a reasonable number of incentive tours and conventions by major corporates over the last few years. The resort can be bundled with a trip to Darjeeling and other tourist spots in the Himalayan ranges.

Sikkim's growing popularity as a tourist destination can be considered in selecting Gangtok as a MICE destination. Its unaffected and beautiful landscapes offer scope for a variety of adventure sports. Four star business facilities can be availed of at the Nor Khill and Tashi Delek hotels.

 

MICE in North India     

Meetings Incentives Convention and Events in North India - Delhi's location and infrastructure makes it a popular venue for exhibitions and events, its MICE facilities extending over a string of five star hotels. The Ashok Hotel has a 16,435 sq. ft convention hall, a banquet hall, a cocktail lounge and an open air theatre. Other select venues in Delhi are the Habitat World Convention Centre, Vigyan Bhawan, and luxury hotels Taj Palace, Maurya Sheraton and Le Meridien.

Habitat World's comprehensive facilities - a convention centre, 57 rooms, health spa, 8 restaurants, a 480 seat auditorium, business centre and performance venues for cultural and entertainment programs enable 20 functions to be conducted simultaneously.

By 2010, India's largest convention centre with a capacity for 12,000 delegates will come up in Dwarka, Delhi with a built-up area of 2 million square feet covering a humongous convention hall, 25 meeting rooms, 2 exhibition halls, a hotel and a commercial complex.

Neighbouring Noida boasts of the Delhi International Expo Centre for B2B and B2C exhibitions, conferences and seminars, with banquet space to accommodate 5000 people. The India Expo centre in Greater Noida is similarly placed to host dealer meets and product launches, with eight exhibition halls and banquet halls equipped with sound proof dividers and a pre-function lobby.

As a MICE destination Gurgaon is supported by a bouquet of sophisticated meetings and convention facilities in and around the city. Outside the city limits several attractive options for MICE events exist.

The Heritage Village in Manesar has state-of-the art facilities to host conferences, with 10 well appointed halls, and lawns to accommodate 1000 people. The Best Western Resort Country Club with an 18-hole golf course, conference room and business centre for 70 stay-in guests is another popular MICE venue.

The luxurious Westin Sohna Gurgaon Resort and Spa, the Neemrana Fort Palace, the Best Western Premier Holiday Regency in Moradabad, the Platinum Resort in Bahadurgarh, Shiva Oasis in Behror and the Golden Huts Resort and Leisure Center in Manesar are other options the professional community can consider for MICE in the NCR region.

Agra's MICE requirements are met largely by the Jaypee Palace Hotel and Convention Centre, the Clarks Shiraz, the Trident Hilton, the Oberoi Amarvilas, Taj View and the Mughal Sheraton. Jaypee has state-of-the art facilities like audio-visual recording, satellite uplink and multi-lingual interpretation for up to1500 delegates, while the banquet hall can accommodate 350-600 guests. Welcomgroup's Mughal Sheraton has five convention halls with theatre style seating for 750 persons and a garden for open banquets.

Rajasthan lends opulence and style to a corporate meeting or event, as heritage palaces combine old world charm with up-to-date technology. A host of attractions in and around the venues makes Rajasthan truly a world-class destination. Around Jaipur, the Samode Palace, Bharatpur Palace, Sariska Lodge, Castle Mandawa, Mukundgarh Fort and Roop Niwas Palace in Nawalgarh can be considered. The BM Birla Institute is a modern structure with elaborate conference and meeting facilities.

In Jodhpur, the Umaid Bhawan Palace run by the Welcomgroup is the preferred choice, while Udaipur's Lake Palace, Shiv Niwas, Laxmi Vilas, Devigarh, Hotel Lake Pichola and the Trident Hilton are some of the popular MICE venues.

The cool climes and scenic landscapes of hill resorts have always scored high on the list of MICE destinations. Apart from Srinagar which has good five star and four star conference facilities, Patnitop is emerging as a popular alternative too. Vardaan Resorts has theatre style seating for 100 persons in their conference hall, while the Oasis Resort has a 50 seat capacity. Ski courses and organized trekking route add up to Patnitop's snow covered charm.

In Shimla, the Radisson is a 59 room five star facility with a fully loaded business and convention centre. Hotel Wildflower Hall, Shilon Resort, Hotel Oberoi Shimla, Clarke's Hotel, Chapslee Palace and Woodville Palace Resorts offer plush conference facilities. Amongst the three star category, the Toshali Royal View Resort, East Bourne Resort and the Destination Resort have well appointed conference and banquet rooms.

MICE in South India     

Meetings Incentives Conference and Events in South India- In Chennai, the Chennai Convention Centre has banquet facilities for 20 to 2000 delegates, 67,500 sq. ft of air-conditioned space and 75,000 sq. ft of lawns. The Taj Coromandel is highly recommended as a MICE venue, and is outfitted with eight conference rooms, ball rooms and board rooms. The ITC Park Sheraton, Le Meridien and The Park Chennai, Chola Sheraton, Fisherman's Cove, Hotel Radisson, Taj Connemara and the Trident Hilton are high-end luxury hotels geared to host meetings and conventions. The Welcomgroup's Chariot Beach Resort in Mamallapuram is also increasingly being used to host corporate events.

The MLR Convention Centre is equipped to organize events in Bangalore for up to 1000 people, complete with an auditorium, conference room, boardrooms, banquet and buffet halls, an open air-stage, terraced courtyard and serviced apartments. Bangalore's convention and meeting facilities will receive a boost once the big banner hotels under construction like the Ritz Carlton, Taj, Shangri La, Radisson, Accor, Hilton, Royal Orchid and J W Marriott join the existing facilities at Grand Ashok, Taj Residency, Park Hotel, Le Meridian and Ista Hotel among others

The heritage city of Hyderabad in its new avatar as the IT hub has sophisticated facilities to host MICE at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre. Convention facilities including a 6500 sq. m hall for 5000 delegates have been created over 15 acres at the HITEC City. The success of the HICC has led to a build up of similar facilities in six other centres across the country, expected to be completed by 2010-11

With a string of interesting sights within a short distance of Vishakapatnam, Andhra's second largest city is gaining recognition as a MICE destination. Comprehensive conferencing and meeting facilities are offered by the high-end hotels like the Park Hotel, Grand Bay, Green Park and the Taj Residency. Besides, the Kala Bharathi and Sagar Tarangalu also lend their spaces for large gatherings. The Destination Vizag project will see world-class convention and exhibition venues very soon in the city.

Cochin in Kerala is a fine base for conventions and conferences with five star facilities from the Taj, Le Meridien and Casino on Wllingdon Island and Marine Drive. The Le Meridien Resort and Convention Centre has led the MICE business in Kerala with its advanced facilities - a convention hall with a seating capacity for 1600 persons and four conference halls, and 95,000 sq. ft of lawn space. The Taj Kerala Hotels and Resorts Limited also have excellent facilities in Ernakulam, Kumarakom, Varkala and Thekkady.

The possibility of a conference aboard a luxury houseboat, access through three international airports in the state and scenic environs make Kerala a much sought after MICE destination.

MICE in West India     

The Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Mumbai set the standards for the new wave of convention centers in India. Ideally located in the heart of the city with the airport and golf course in close proximity, the Renaissance is set between the hills and the tranquil Powai Lake, creating an ideal business environment. The convention center offers 15 meeting rooms and a full service business center along with other world -standard amenities.

Mumbai's stock of 5 star convention and meeting facilities has been further enhanced with the recent opening of the Four Seasons Hotel which will eventually have a seating capacity for 500 persons. Over 5000 sq. ft of indoor conference space and six function rooms will complement the 6500 sq. ft of outdoor space.

Off the Mumbai Pune highway, spread over 10,000 undulating acres on the Sahyadri Mountains, Amby Valley City is slowly gaining recognition as a MICE venue. Amby Valley's world class infrastructure and an innovative range of luxurious locations makes every conference, product launch, incentive programme or annual meet conducted here a memorable one. Moreover, a wealth of natural attractions in the vicinity makes local sight seeing, day excursions and conference tours very feasible.

With a capacity to comfortably accommodate 1,500 people, Amby Valley's sophisticated electronic network with complete GSM coverage, wireless broadband connectivity and advanced communication technology, fail-safe electronic multi-level security and a crisis management system makes it a perfect MICE venue. Furthermore, attractions like equestrian courses, an aquatic bay for water sports, entertainment hubs and leisure lounges, a temperature-controlled swimming pool, splash pool for children, health club with sauna, steam, jacuzzi, Kerala Ayurvedic and Swedish massage, hi-tech gymnasium, indoor dome for table tennis, air hockey, billiards, snooker, pool tables, rodeo bull ride and video games parlour add to its MICE value.

Goa's attraction as a MICE destination started with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet in 1982. Goa's five, four and three star hotels and resorts are fully oriented to cater to MICE, and with all major hotel brands having a presence along its lovely beaches, the choices are many.

Halfway to Goa from Mumbai is an interesting stopover at Chiplun. Temples, beaches, waterfalls and the Koyna Dam and Reservoir around this highway town make it a base for an incentive tour or conference. The Quality Resort The Riverview is the obvious choice for meetings and events.

Pune has a world class facility coming up at the International Convention Centre which comprises the ICC Trade Tower, the ICC Tech Park and the S L Kirloskar Convention Centre. State of the art facilities will be embedded in the convention centre which will sport open air exhibition grounds, auditoriums, a five star hotel and a family entertainment centre as well.

The Pune Marriott Hotel & Convention Center slated for completion by 2010 will further augment the city's MICE facilities. Amenities will include a 1,500-square meter spa and fitness center; an executive level and lounge; a business center with four work stations, two offices, a meeting room and two boardrooms. For conventions and conferences, the hotel will have 1,864-square meters of flexible function space, including a 1,410-square meter ballroom.

Aurangabad's proximity to the world heritage sites of the Ajanta caves and Ellora rock cut temples draws makes it an interesting MICE venue. Five star conference facilities can be availed at the Taj Residency, Rama International of the Welcomgroup and the Ambasssador Ajanta, while three star services are provided by the Meadows and Aurangabad Ashok.

Convention and meeting facilities in Gujarat are being expanded to meet the state's booming economy. Presently, Ahmedabad has conference capabilities at the Le Meridien for up to 200 guests, at the Taj Residency for up to 600 guests in a combination of open and covered spaces, and at the Inder Residency for 1000 guests. Sterling Greenwoods has five meeting rooms with a maximum capacity for theatre style seating for 300 delegates. The resort boasts of excellent recreational facilities. ITC's Fortune Landmark, the Sarovar Portico and the Cama Hotel with well appointed services are other plausible venues for MICE in Ahmedabad.

While the Welcomhotel in Vadodara is the preferred choice for meetings and events in the city, Surat is gearing up for a world-class convention centre with four banquet halls and 120 luxury suites to build on its existing conference capacity. At present, the Taj Gateway Hotel's five meeting rooms have a combined capacity of 2500, while the Holiday Inn can cater to 600 guests. The Lord's Park Inn offers three star facilities for MICE in Surat.

Approximately 170 kms from Ahmedabad off the highway to Abu is the Balaram Palace Resort. Lovely landscaping and plush rooms with a theatre style conference capacity for 75 guests make it a perfect venue for small sized incentive tours. Similar options can be explored across the Ahmedpur Mandvi and Porbandar beaches. The Mandvi Beach is an exotic destination 60 km from Bhuj worth considering for MICE - the choices are as varied as luxury tents to ethnic village resorts.

Daman's peaceful environs and unexplored beaches have several resorts which serve as MICE venues. The Sandy Resort in Daman and Radhika Beach Resort in Diu have conference facilities for 50 and 150 guests respectively, with a host of activities and attractions around the resorts to choose from.