The 101 storeys and 508 metres of Taipei 101, the world’s second-tallest building in downtown Taipei, stands as a reminder that while mainland China may get the limelight, the small island of Taiwan is still punching above its weight.
Within two generations the island has developed from a backwater into the world’s
12th-largest trading economy. A relative latecomer to the international conventions,
exhibitions and incentives sectors, Taiwan nevertheless enjoys an ever-increasing number of high-profile international and domestic events of all kinds.
Taipei is Taiwan’s only city with a venue for major events. Over the past 30 years Taipei
has established itself as the host city for 20 large-scale annual international trade shows organised by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA).
Among its responsibilities, TAITRA manages the Taipei World Trade Centre (TWTC) complex. Designed as a one-stop shop for convention and exhibition business, TWTC has five major components:
the Exhibition Hall, Taipei International
Convention Centre, International
Convention Centre, International Trade
Building and the Grand Hyatt Taipei.
NEW FACILITY
The US$110 million Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre, TaipeiEx, is nearing completion. The complex is 15 minutes away from TWTC. Its two exhibition halls will accommodate 2,650 standard-size booths, which will give Taipei City 4,659 booths in all — enough to cater for demand for some time. The opening date has not yet been announced, but the complex is expected to be in use late this year or early next year.
A portion of the 2008 Computex show, which is expecting 33,000 buyers, will be held at the venue next June.
Other major conventions held in Taipei this year were last month’s 10th Asian Congress of Nutrition, which drew 3,000 delegates and the 21st Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics in July, with 1,200 attendees.
With the government’s policy of supporting the industry, the sector is forecast to grow to US$300 million next year. “But Taipei needs more hotels,” says Alice Chou, director at the department of information services, Taiwan Institute of Economic Research.
“At the moment there are not enough rooms to accommodate the growing MICE
industry. We need more properties to get ready for the opening of the Nangang
Exhibition Centre.”
Chou says there is talk of a new Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons and Le Meridien – none of which will be ready before 2010.
REGIONAL MEETINGS
Taiwan is both a picturesque and pulsating island where history meets hyper-reality. This unique mix is impressing regional meeting and incentive planners, reports Kate Nicholson
