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STS Chooses Jackson For 2023 Conference

September 12, 2022

The Southeastern Tourism Society (STS) announced at their Connections 2022 annual meeting held in Concord, North Carolina, that Jackson, Mississippi, will be the site for Connections 2023. “We are so excited to bring STS Connections to Jackson in September 2023,” said Suzanne Moon, VP of Operations for STS. “We look forward to showing the members the great museums, dining and adventures to enjoy in the area. We know the city of Jackson and the state of Mississippi will make sure it will be a conference for all to remember and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of STS.” The selection committee traveled to Jackson for a site visit last month and expressed how impressed they were with the city’s offerings. Additionally, they were overwhelmed with warm hospitality. These two elements coupled together sealed the deal. Each year, travel and tourism experts, visionaries and curators come together from the thirteen states and the District of Columbia to share industry insights. It’s an opportunity to learn, network, and celebrate tourism. “I am extremely proud of the success of our Sales Team. Securing one of the largest and most respected regional tourism promotional organizations is an honor for the City With Soul, said Dr. Rickey Thigpen, President & CEO of Visit Jackson.  “Education, advocacy, recognition and networking are the focus of the STS Connections Conference. Visit Jackson shares that value system and is elated to welcome the 40h Anniversary conference to Mississippi’s capital city in September 2023. We, along with our strategic partner, Visit Mississippi, will ensure that we demonstrate Southern Hospitality like never before.” About STS On September 14, 1983, a small group of industry leaders from the Southeast gathered for the purpose of organizing the Southeast Tourism Society (STS). Those charter members shared the mutual belief that regional promotion of tourism, via a partnership between states, would create a powerful marketing alliance unparalleled throughout our country. More than 39 years later, their vision continues as STS is an established leader amongst tourism organizations.

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Huntsville named 2021 host city for Southeast Tourism Society Domestic Showcase

Wednesday, March 11, 2020 10:00 AM by The Huntsville/Madison County CVB Team

Premier regional tourism conference heading to the Rocket City

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 11, 2020

(Huntsville, AL) – This week in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, it was announced that Huntsville will have the honor of hosting one of the premier tourism industry events in the South – Southeast Tourism Society’s Domestic Showcase. The Domestic Showcase conference is one of the largest industry marketplace events of its kind, bringing together over 600 tourism professionals, tour operators, and destination marketing organizations throughout the South. Hosting an event of this magnitude will not only bring a positive impact on the local economy, but a level of exposure that is extremely beneficial for Huntsville/Madison County, North Alabama, and the state of Alabama as a whole.

Domestic Showcase will be held in Huntsville, February 8-11, 2021, and will be Huntsville’s first time serving as the host destination. Next year’s event will also mark the first year the conference will be hosted by the Southeast Tourism Society, following a change in leadership announced in 2019 from the convention’s original host organization, Travel South USA. Travel South USA began the first regional, domestic, computerized marketplace in 1983 to bring more group travel business to the Southern states, since expanding to include travel media representatives, state tourism offices, and other travel and tourism entities.

The Southeast Tourism Society was established in 1983, and serves as a nonprofit dedicated to the promotion and development of tourism throughout the Southeast United States.

“We are thrilled to host the 2021 Domestic Showcase. We look forward to being the first host city under the new guidance of our partners at the Southeast Tourism Society, and we appreciate the work Travel South USA has done to make this conference what it is today,” said Judy Ryals, President/CEO for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). “Domestic Showcase is a first-rate conference for our industry, and they’ll have a first-rate experience to match when they visit the Rocket City.”

A team of Huntsville/Madison County and Alabama representatives, including Ryals, CVB Vice President of Tourism Jennifer Moore, Executive Vice President Charles Winters, Tourism Sales Manager Pam Williams, Alabama Tourism Director Lee Sentell, Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association President/CEO Tami Reist, and Grey Brennan, Deputy Director for the Alabama Tourism Department, were in attendance for this year’s Domestic Showcase to make the 2021 announcement.

“Domestic Showcase is one of the premier events of our industry, and we look forward to welcoming them in 2021,” said Lee Sentell, Alabama Tourism Director. “Hosting events of this stature highlights Alabama’s role as a leader in tourism in the Southeast, and we hope attendees will take advantage of all that we have to offer during their time here.”

The announcement this morning was accompanied by a video designed to give this year’s attendees a preview of what they can expect to experience in the Rocket City.

To learn more, contact Kristen Pepper, Director of Marketing for the Huntsville/Madison County CVB, at 256-551-2294 or [email protected] .

About Huntsville/Madison County CVB

T he Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is a non-profit 501(c)(6) organization which was developed in 1970 to create economic growth for Huntsville/Madison County by marketing the community as a top-of-mind convention and visitor destination. As the official city/county agency which promotes the area as a tourist destination and convention site, the CVB works with an array of hospitality industry partners to market our destination to visitors of all types.

Author: The Huntsville/Madison County CVB Team

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The STS Staff, courtesy Travel South USA

Travel South USA Completes Handoff of Domestic Showcase

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana — Travel South USA formally handed off its Domestic Showcase conference to the Southeast Tourism Society (STS) during the 39th annual edition of the event, which took place March 8-11 in Baton Rouge.

The transition has been in the works for more than a year and was first announced at last year’s Domestic Showcase.

“The name Domestic Showcase remains, and the STS staff have spent the last year shadowing us,” said Travel South president and CEO Liz Bittner. “For the rank and file attendee, there will be no noticeable change next year.”

For nearly four decades, Domestic Showcase has been one of Travel South USA’s signature initiatives, bringing tour operators and travel journalists from around the country to meet destination and attraction representatives from 12 Southern states. In recent years, however, Travel South has grown significantly in its international outreach. Bittner said that handing the domestic tour operator event over to STS will allow her team to focus their efforts on the growing inbound travel market.

“We can highlight a lot of second- and third-tier cities that people are excited to go to,” she said. “We want to give them places to stop between Texas and Washington, D.C.”

Those promotional efforts will become pivotal as the travel industry deals with the fallout from the coronavirus epidemic. Domestic Showcase took place shortly before widespread travel restrictions and quarantine measures were announced, and during the conference attendees began grappling with the size of the challenge confronting the tourism community.

“We’re in a position to be thinking three moves ahead,” Bittner said. “Our strategy will remain intact. International visitation will come back, and if history is any indication, it will come back with a vengeance. Coronavirus is a short-term hiccup, but that strategy will remain the same.”

STS, which has a long track record of education and advocacy events, will be fully in charge of the next Domestic Showcase, scheduled for February 8-11 in Huntsville, Alabama.

“We are excited to host our first STS Domestic Showcase in Huntsville,” said Monica Smith, president and CEO of STS. “The overall format of Domestic Showcase will remain the same with regards to Marketplace and the scheduled meetings between suppliers, buyers, and journalists.   However, we are working to include both educational sessions and additional networking opportunities for all participants. In addition, we’ll be inviting STS members from destinations, attractions, and hotels in both Florida and Washington DC to participate in the event.”

Brian Jewell

Brian Jewell is the executive editor of The Group Travel Leader. In more than a decade of travel journalism he has visited 48 states and 25 foreign countries.

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2023 Signature Events of the Southeast

ATLANTA, GEORGIA—SEPTEMBER  2023— Southeast Tourism Society (STS) is dedicated to promoting and developing tourism in its member states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. On September 14, 1983, a small group of industry leaders from the Southeast gathered for the purpose of organizing the Southeast Tourism Society (STS). Those charter members shared the mutual belief that regional promotion of tourism, via a partnership between states, would create a powerful marketing alliance unparalleled throughout our country.  In 2023, in recognition of the unique, diverse and unparalleled events in the region, STS began the Signature Events award program. A Signature Event Award seeks to bring more publicity and recognition to the best events in the Southeast, whether it be media, attendees or both. These celebrations represent the soul of the South and serve as inspiration for future explorations of the Southeast region. Learn more about Southeast Tourism Society at  www.SoutheastTourism.org

Current STS Signature 20 Events

Click here for full event descriptions.

February 11-12, 2023 , ArtsFest, Florida, https://www.martinarts.org/programs-events/events/artsfest/ 2024 Dates: February 10-11, 2024

March 18-27, 2023 , Macon, Georgia’s International Cherry Blossom Festival, Georgia, https://cherryblossom.com/ 2024 Dates: March 15-24, 2024

March 26-27, 2023 , 42 nd Annual Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival, Georgia, https://www.georgiahorsepark.com/p/calendar-of-events/conyers-cherry-blossom-festival 2024 Dates: March 23-24, 2024

April 21-23, 2023 , Baton Rouge Blues Festival, Louisiana, https://www.brblues.org/

April 22, 2023 , Hospice Foundation of the South’s Crawfish Cook-Off, Louisiana, https://thehospicehouse.org/events   2024 Date: April 20, 2024

April 28-29, 2023 , Double Decker Arts Festival, Mississippi, https://doubledeckerfestival.com/ 2024 Dates April 26-27, 2024

June 10, 2023 , Porchfest, Kentucky, https://www.facebook.com/events/518722073288463

June 30-July 4, 2023 , Charleston Sternwheel Regatta, West Virginia, https://charlestonregatta.com/

August 11-12, 2023 , Bluegrass in the Park Folklife Festival, Kentucky,  https://bluegrassinthepark.com

September 3, 2023 , Landry Vineyards Grape Stomp, Louisiana, https://landryvineyards.com/

September 14-16, 2023 , Mississippi Science Festival, Mississippi, https://www.mssciencefest.org/

October 13-15, 2023 , Fall for Greenville, South Carolina, https://www.fallforgreenville.net/

October 14-15, 2023, Wooden Boat Festival, Louisiana, https://maritimemuseumlouisiana.org/wbf

October 27-28, 2023 , Festival d’Avion, North Carolina, https://www.festivaldavion.com/

November 3-4 , Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival, Georgia, https://www.jekyllisland.com/signature-events/shrimp-grits-festival/

November 9-12, 2023 , Dickens Christmas Show & Festivals, South Carolina, https://www.dickenschristmasshow.com/

November 18-19, 2023 , Englewood Beach Waterfest, Florida, https://englewoodbeachwaterfest.com/    2024 Dates: November 16-19, 2024

November 18, 2023-January 8, 2024 , Speedway Christmas, North Carolina, https://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/

November 23,2023-January 8, 2024 , Holly Jolly Jekyll, Georgia, https://www.jekyllisland.com/signature-events/holly-jolly-jekyll/ 2024 Dates: November 24, 2024-January 7, 2025

December 7-10, 2023 , Dickens on Centre, Florida, https://www.ameliaisland.com/dickens 2024 Dates: December 8-10, 2024

Detroit officials debrief on NFL Draft, say economic impact could exceed $150M-$175M

Detroit — The economic impact of the three-day NFL Draft on Detroit, which broke attendance records as crowds flooded the city late last week, should be between $150 million and $175 million and might even exceed those figures but is still being calculated, a top Detroit tourism official said during a Monday press conference.

Visit Detroit, the former Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, is still quantifying the draft's economic impact and expects to have a report by June, said President and CEO Claude Molinari. But Molinari said he predicts the actual amount will exceed the $150 million to $175 million estimate.

"The week before the draft was our best hotel revenue week of 2024," Molinari said. "It's possible that this past week with the draft will be the best hotel revenue week ever for Southeast Michigan, and that's 128 years of tracking that."

Molinari was one of several officials, including Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who gathered Monday morning in the city to go over the draft's impact and how it went, from law enforcement issues to transportation use.

Duggan said Detroiters made a lasting impression and should be proud of the warm welcome they gave America last week. He also said this year's draft was unique in its inclusion of local businesses, which contributed to everything from food sales to VIP suites.

"I feel like we are a 10-year overnight success," Duggan said. "The credit really belongs to the people who live in this city."

The draft shattered previous attendance records with an estimated 775,000 coming to be a part of the three-day event; an additional 34 million people watched it on TV, up 6% from last year. As guests passed through entrances to the draft footprint, which extended from Hart Plaza to Campus Martius, phones with the NFL One Pass app downloaded were pinged using artificial intelligence, which was used to determine crowd estimates.

Visit Detroit is "very confident" in the attendance estimates within the footprint, Molinari said. But the 775,000 number only represents guests within this area and doesn't include other viewing areas at places like Capital Park and Eastern Market yet, he said.

"The NFL wanted that shot you all saw on Campus Martius," Duggan said. "I knew if we put the draft there that meant the NFL zone could never contain all of the people who were going to show up. It meant we had to use all of downtown from Corktown to Grand Circus Park to Eastern Market."

Grand Circus Park, for example, saw four times as many visitors on each of the three Draft days as a traditional Tigers Opening Day, said Eric Larson, CEO of the Downtown Detroit Partnership. There were 90 food trucks and 135 small business vendors spread throughout the draft spaces and many local businesses like All Things Marketplace in Corktown saw the best sales they've ever had, Larson added.

After the record attendance, East Lansing-based Anderson Economic Group LLC, in an updated report released Monday, estimated the net economic impact of the 2024 NFL draft could exceed $165 million, up from its original estimate of $160 million. The group predicted the draft will have a direct economic impact of $100,146,418 on Detroit, with an estimated $37,746,418 in total by attendees.

"The record number of attendees at the NFL draft in Detroit creates additional economic impact, and our original attendance estimate was within 10% of actual turnout,” AEG Chief Operating Officer and Director of Economic Analysis Tyler Theile said in a statement. “Hosting the NFL draft was an exciting win for Detroit and presented invaluable opportunities for the city to showcase its culture on a national stage, fostering long-term tourism and investment prospects.”

Minimal crime reported

The Detroit Police Department, meanwhile, reported two arrests and two juvenile detainments within the footprint over all three days, Chief James White said. The department planned so no one could go 20 yards within the area without seeing a police officer, he added.

"We wanted to be courteous, we wanted to make sure that we were present and that it wasn't over-policed, but you could not go too far without seeing the police and that they were highly engaged," White said.

Police worked closely with the Detroit Fire Department, as well as federal, state, and other local law enforcement agencies including the Oakland and Wayne County Sheriff's Offices, the FBI, and the ATF.

The draft footprint reached capacity on both Thursday and Friday, which required a temporary pause on admissions. There were reports of some people jumping over barriers to gain access, which White said police had expected and for which the department was prepared.

Disaster averted

One potential disaster was narrowly avoided Thursday morning thanks to the help of AT&T, Duggan explained at the news conference.

By 10 a.m. Thursday, fans were already lined up down Jefferson Ave waiting to enter the draft when the mayor received a call from White informing him that DPD's real-time crime center's live camera feed of the draft footprint had gone dark.

"We didn't have the visuals that we needed to ensure the safety and execute our strategy," White said. "We wanted all cameras hot before they walked in, and they were by the way, we were able to get things back up and running."

Duggan then called David Lewis, president of AT&T Michigan, and got the company to install a backup line to the police department's headquarters so the draft could open to the public on time. They later learned that a construction company had accidentally cut through a fiber optic line earlier that morning.

As deconstruction of the draft continues, more downtown will reopen and traffic will return to normal by May 7. The QLine is currently stopping its Woodward Ave route outside Little Caesars Arena but will begin stopping at Campus Martius later this week and resume full service to Congress Street by next Monday or Tuesday.

Will draft be a people magnet?

Over the three-day draft, the People Mover moved 69,211 people, its highest April ridership since the early 2010s. The QLine transported 68,377 people during the draft, and the city moved roughly 18,000 people on fan shuttles.

SMART park and ride shuttles served 29,000 riders over three days. The D2A2 bus that runs from Ann Arbor to Detroit saw the highest use number in its history on Thursday, and transported 2,169 people between Thursday and Sunday, according to officials.

For many local officials, they said the draft is only the beginning. Duggan talked about lasting changes, from freeway cleanups to accelerated blight removal.

"What we needed to do was change our national reputation," Duggan said. "We very consciously built up a national narrative and shared all of that with the national media, and I'm gonna say I was I was really pleased, and I think there'll be a significant lasting effect."

He hopes to see Detroit become a destination for young people starting their careers and businesses looking to expand over the next three to four years,

"That's going to be the real measure, is over the next three or four years, do we see the kind of acceleration in people moving here and businesses expanding here?" Duggan said.

Detroit is just getting started, Molinari said, pointing out that there are 26 days until the Movement Festival, 32 days until the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix and 59 days until the Rocket Mortgage golf classic.

Bill Emerson, president of Rocket Companies, noted that Detroit will host the NCAA men's Final Four basketball tournament in 2027.

"We didn't break, in Detroit style, we shattered the previous NFL draft record by nearly 200,000," Emerson said. "That impact will leave an indelible memory for the world as we continue to experience the upward trajectory of the great American city. But the work is not done."

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The Moscow City Tourism Committee conference for the key stakeholders from Indian MICE market

The moscow city tourism committee recognized the market demands and organized the shaping mice future conference for representatives of the indian mice industry, to introduce them to the tourism strengths of the russian capital..

The event (Moscow City Tourism Committee conference) took place on April 19 in Delhi and brought together over 100 participants from MICE agencies of both countries, corporate customers, representatives of the travel industry in Moscow, Aeroflot and the Indian branches of Sberbank.

Business tourism is one of the most promising directions for Moscow. In 2023, the capital was visited by 3.7 million business tourists – 7% more than in 2022. And India remains one of the leaders among visitors from non-CIS countries in terms of the number of business travelers.

“The Russian capital as a center of business tourism and corporate events is already an established and a strong brand in the international arena,” – commented Anastasia Popova, Deputy General Director for International and Industry Cooperation of Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Hospitality in Moscow. – Now our task is to demonstrate to our Indian partners all the possibilities of organizing high value MICE events in Moscow in combination with already proven tourist programs”.

At the Shaping MICE Future Conference industry experts from Russia and India pronounced statements and speeches on the future of MICE events in these two countries, a presentation of the MICE potential of Moscow was showcased, and an analytical report on the state of the outbound MICE market in India was presented to the visitors.

During the panel discussion participants assessed the current status and interaction peculiarities with the MICE market in India, and developed recommendations for the MICE industry in Moscow during the general brainstorming session. Representatives of the Indian MICE industry participated in B2B negotiations to find new cross-partners in the Moscow business environment and among representatives of the hospitality industry.  

Representatives of the MICE industry took part in the event from Moscow. Among them were DMC (Grand Rus, Academservice, Headed Goose, Satguru Travel, Isba Rus, Hug the Bear, Mellenium Group)) as well as representatives of other partners interested in the development of MICE cooperation between Russia and India: Global transfers provider i’way and hotels Edge Seligerskaya & Edge Vinogradovo Moscow by Rotana.

“In 2024, we have witnessed a significant surge (more than quadruple) in the demand for transfers by Russians visiting India, both for business and leisure purposes. Muscovites are leading the trend, with 80% of transfer bookings originating from the capital since the beginning of the year. Additionally, we observe a growing interest from Indian tourism agencies in exploring Russia, resulting in a substantial increase in our collaboration,” — commented Dmitriy Saraykin, co-founder of Global Transfer Provider i’way. 

The Shaping MICE Future conference allowed the Moscow City Tourism Committee to form a pool of MICE industry representatives in Moscow to prioritize incoming requests for events, clarify India’s requirements for business and corporate events to build mutually effective work. Indian colleagues received up-to-date information about Moscow as a safe and attractive MICE destination, and were able to find potential partners among representatives of the MICE industry of the Russian capital and were able to present the MICE market in India.

“The event (Moscow City Tourism Committee conference) served as a remarkable platform for fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration within the tourism industry. The event (Moscow City Tourism Committee conference) provided us with invaluable opportunities to engage with key stakeholders from the tourism department, as well as tour operators and service providers.

The insights gained during the event (Moscow City Tourism Committee conference) underscored the Moscow City Tourism Committee’s keen interest in the Indian outbound market, and we are optimistic about the promising prospects for Moscow as a destination, particularly in the post-pandemic landscape. We firmly believe that with concerted efforts and strategic initiatives, Moscow has the potential to emerge as a top-choice destination for Indian tourists,” — shared his impressions Mudit Mathur, director of Tours Delite India, representing Academ Service – Russia in India.

The conference also assessed the solutions to foreign demand for non-standard venues and elements in MICE programs, such as museums, parks, theaters and others. Holding MICE events at offbeat locations, such as the State Historical Museum, the Moscow Planetarium and Khudozhestvenny Cinema, is becoming popular. This helps to attract conference organizers and creates a unique experience for the participants. Working in this format, many visitors who came to Moscow on a business trip want to return with their families and spend time as regular tourists.

In 2023, 60 thousand guests from India visited Moscow – a quarter more than a year earlier. This year, according to the results of January and February India entered the top 5 countries in terms of the volume of e-visas issued. E-visa was one of the significant factors in the recovery of demand for hotel services and high utilization (76%) of Moscow hotels in 2023 and, as a consequence, the growth of international tourist traffic, the activation of business and classical tourists from India, China, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and so on.

One of the significant initiatives launched to support the growth of the tourist flow is the Moscow MICE Ambassadors Program – an online certification program for representatives of the Indian market, which aims to create demand for Moscow as a MICE destination.

The Moscow City Tourism Committee and NIMA (Network of Indian MICE Agents) jointly launched the pilot project last year. The first 50 people from the Indian side who underwent the training and learned the intricacies of organizing business events in the Russian capital have received the relevant certificates. In 2024, the program will be made available to other MICE operators as well and is expected to expand to a total of 200 Moscow MICE Ambassadors by the end of the year .

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The Moscow City Tourism Committee Conference for Major Stakeholders from the Indian MICE Market: Key Takeaways

Industry experts from Russia and India spoke at the ‘Shaping MICE Future Conference’ about the future of MICE events in these two nations. Moscow’s MICE potential was also highlighted, and attendees received an analytical report on the state of the outbound MICE market in India. During the panel discussion, participants evaluated the state of the MICE market in India and the unique aspects of its interactions. During the general brainstorming session, they developed proposals for the MICE business in Moscow. To discover new cross-partners in the Moscow business environment and amongst members of the hospitality industry, representatives of the Indian MICE industry took part in B2B negotiations.

Participants in the event from Moscow included MICE industry representatives. Academservice, Headed Goose, Satguru Travel, Isba Rus, Hug the Bear, and Mellenium Group were among the DMCs in attendance, along with representatives from other partners keen on fostering MICE collaboration between Russia and India, including hotels Edge Seligerskaya & Edge Vinogradovo Moscow by Rotana and global transfers provider i’way.

“We have seen a notable increase in the demand for transfers from Russian visitors to India in 2024—more than quadrupling—for business as well as leisure. Since the start of the year, 80% of transfer bookings have come from the capital, indicating that Muscovites are driving the trend. Furthermore, we see that Indian travel agencies are becoming more interested in visiting Russia, which has led to substantial growth in our collaboration,” said Dmitriy Saraykin, co-founder of Global Transfer Provider i’way.

By forming a pool of MICE industry leaders in Moscow, the Moscow City Tourism Committee was able to explain India’s requirements for business and corporate events as well as prioritise incoming requests for events, ultimately fostering mutually beneficial collaboration. This was made possible by the Shaping MICE Future conference. Indian colleagues were provided with current information regarding Moscow as a safe and attractive MICE destination. They also found possible partners among the Russian capital’s MICE industry representatives and showcased the MICE market in India.

“Within the tourism sector, the event presented a remarkable forum for profound discussion and collaboration. Our interactions with important tourism department stakeholders, tour operators, and service providers were made possible by the event. The knowledge acquired from the event confirmed the Moscow City Tourism Committee’s strong interest in the Indian outbound market, and we are optimistic about the city’s promising prospects as a travel destination, especially in the post-pandemic landscape.” Mudit Mathur, Director of Tours Delite India, who is representing Academ Service – Russia in India, shared his thoughts: “We firmly believe that with coordinated efforts and strategic initiatives, Moscow has the potential to emerge as a top-choice destination for Indian tourists.”

The conference also evaluated ways to address foreign demand for unconventional locations and MICE program elements like theatres, parks, and other establishments. It is becoming increasingly common to host MICE events at unique venues like the Moscow Planetarium, the State Historical Museum, and Khudozhestvenny Cinema. This gives attendees a one-of-a-kind experience and draws in conference organisers. While travelling in this way, many visitors who arrived in Moscow on business have expressed a desire to return and spend more time as recreational tourists.

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Moscow city tourism committee organizes conference for indian mice market stakeholders.

New Delhi [India], April 24 (ANI): Recognising market demand, the Moscow City Tourism Committee organized a conference for representatives of the Indian MICE industry, to introduce them to the tourism strengths of the Russian capital.

MICE stands for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions, and is a type of tourism in which large groups, usually plan things well in advance.

The event took place on April 19 in Delhi and brought together over 100 participants from MICE agencies of both countries, corporate customers, representatives of the travel industry in Moscow, Aeroflot and the Indian branches of Sberbank.

Business tourism is one of the most promising directions for Moscow.

In 2023, the capital was visited by 3.7 million business tourists - 7 per cent more than in 2022. And India remains one of the leaders among visitors from non-CIS countries in terms of the number of business travellers.

"The Russian capital as a centre of business tourism and corporate events is already an established and a strong brand in the international arena," commented Anastasia Popova, Deputy General Director for International and Industry Cooperation of Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Hospitality in Moscow.

"Now our task is to demonstrate to our Indian partners all the possibilities of organizing high-value MICE events in Moscow in combination with already proven tourist programs," said Popova.

At the Shaping MICE Future Conference, industry experts from Russia and India pronounced statements and speeches on the future of MICE events in these two countries, a presentation of the MICE potential of Moscow was showcased, and an analytical report on the state of the outbound MICE market in India was presented to the visitors.

During the panel discussion, participants assessed the current status and interaction peculiarities with the MICE market in India and developed recommendations for the MICE industry in Moscow during the general brainstorming session.

Representatives of the Indian MICE industry participated in B2B negotiations to find new cross-partners in the Moscow business environment and among representatives of the hospitality industry.

Representatives of the MICE industry took part in the event from Moscow.

Among them were DMC (Grand Rus, Academservice, Headed Goose, Satguru Travel, Isba Rus, Hug the Bear, Mellenium Group) as well as representatives of other partners interested in the development of MICE cooperation between Russia and India: Global transfers provider i'way and hotels Edge Seligerskaya and Edge Vinogradovo Moscow by Rotana.

"In 2024, we have witnessed a significant surge (more than quadruple) in the demand for transfers by Russians visiting India, both for business and leisure purposes. Muscovites are leading the trend, with 80 per cent of transfer bookings originating from the capital since the beginning of the year. Additionally, we observe a growing interest from Indian tourism agencies in exploring Russia, resulting in a substantial increase in our collaboration," commented Dmitriy Saraykin, co-founder of Global Transfer Provider i'way.

The Shaping MICE Future conference allowed the Moscow City Tourism Committee to form a pool of MICE industry representatives in Moscow to prioritize incoming requests for events and clarify India's requirements for business and corporate events to build mutually effective work. Indian colleagues received up-to-date information about Moscow as a safe and attractive MICE destination and were able to find potential partners among representatives of the MICE industry of the Russian capital and were able to present the MICE market in India.

"The event served as a remarkable platform for fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration within the tourism industry. The event provided us with invaluable opportunities to engage with key stakeholders from the tourism department, as well as tour operators and service providers. The insights gained during the event underscored the Moscow City Tourism Committee's keen interest in the Indian outbound market, and we are optimistic about the promising prospects for Moscow as a destination, particularly in the post-pandemic landscape. We firmly believe that with concerted efforts and strategic initiatives, Moscow has the potential to emerge as a top-choice destination for Indian tourists," said Mudit Mathur, director of Tours Delite India, representing Academ Service - Russia in India.

The conference also assessed the solutions to foreign demand for non-standard venues and elements in MICE programs, such as museums, parks, theaters and others. Holding MICE events at offbeat locations, such as the State Historical Museum, the Moscow Planetarium and Khudozhestvenny Cinema, is becoming popular.

ANI 25th April 2024, 03:27 GMT+10

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