Following the recent conclusion of the Asian MICE Forum in Taiwan, we at Travel Daily Media had the opportunity to see for ourselves some of the country’s major MICE venues.
Interestingly, these were not all centred in the capital city of Taipei, but were located in the major southern Taiwanese cities of Tainan and Kaohsiung.
The beauty of these venues is that they serve as more than just places in which to stage events: these are also areas where participants can get a greater understanding of Taiwan’s unique culture and heritage.
Tainan: A sustainable venue in one of the country's oldest cities
Taipei may be the capital of Taiwan, but the city of Tainan which is just a little over an hour away by high-speed rail is actually one of the oldest human settlements in the country.
Tainan’s history is essentially that of Taiwan in a nutshell: occupied by the Dutch in 1624, then again by the Japanese towards the end of the 19th century, it has a truly unique cultural identity that is reflected in the aesthetic of its largest MICE venue.
Indeed, those who come for an event at the International Convention and Exhibition Centre (ICC) Tainan will be awestruck by the mix of Dutch influences as seen in the meeting room names Zeelandia and Orange, Japanese nuances as seen in the artwork lining the walls, and local Taiwanese flavour that calls to mind Tainan’s heritage district of Anping.
While it’s a fairly young venue in that it only opened in 2022, the ICC Tainan has already hosted 576 meetings, 66 events, and 46 exhibitions, welcoming over 2.6 million visitors in the past three years.
The venue also prides itself on the use of various technological innovations to make events more engaging and impactful.
Where sustainability is at work
This dynamic venue is also a bastion of innovation and sustainability not just for the Taiwanese MICE sector, but also for MICE on the regional level.
The Centre is equipped with measures for carbon emissions monitoring within the premises, along with solar panels that help power the venue without becoming too reliant on the local grid.
Even the venue’s design was developed with sustainability in mind: its roof is supported by high-performance steel cable trusses, which effectively reduces steel consumption and construction materials by up to 20 percent.
This amounts to reducing the carbon emissions equivalent to those absorbed by 35,000 trees per year.
Likewise, ICC Tainan has planted 34,375 plants in the surrounding hinterlands, 77 percent of which are Taiwan’s native species.
As a result, its total carbon sequestration is equal to 7,060 metric tonnes, creating an ideal environment for the local fauna and flora to flourish within the surrounding area.
Indeed, ICC Tainan’s mission statement says it all: “We want to be a catalyst for growth and change by bringing people and businesses together, celebrating the fusion of heritage and progress.”
Kaohsiung: Two distinctive venues
The southern port city of Kaohsiung is one of the most dynamic locations in Asia in terms of trade, tourism, and culture.
It is a heady mix of ancient traditions and contemporary design; old school and new school working together to create a dynamic city that draws everyone in from those in trade to those seeking a truly unique cultural experience.
In which case, Kaohsiung has two particular venues to suit a diverse range of requirements.
A touch of history at the Ciao Tou Sugar Industry Culture Park
Built in 1901 and completed in 1902 when Taiwan was a part of Japan, the Ciao Tou Sugar Factory was the first sugar processing plant in the country to use modern machinery in production.
Since its production days came to an end, however, it is now home to 19 heritage sites, including key structures which are now being used as venues for everything from corporate retreats to family milestones like reunions and weddings.
Likewise, its open-air spaces serve as venues for weekend markets that offer homespun specialities made with local produce, and even workshops on traditional arts and crafts.
The old Sugar Factory also hosts cultural performances by local and foreign artists who keep the area’s creative spirit alive with their work.
The Kaohsiung Exhibition Centre: Asia’s ultimate smart venue
In contrast to the charmingly archaic venues at Ciao Tou is Asia’s first-ever 5G-enabled smart venue: the Kaohsiung Exhibition Centre (KEC).
Located in the city’s Asia New Bay Area right on the shoreline, the KEC opened in 2014 as the Interplan Group’s first-ever multifunctional waterfront venue.
The Group’s objective for the KEC was for it to become the premier event venue in Taiwan and one of Asia’s leading sites for MICE.
Offering more than 25,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor exhibition space, this venue boasts of several conference rooms that can easily hold groups as small as 20 members to massive gatherings of up to 4,000 individuals.
Likewise, its massive exhibition halls have hosted numerous large-scale events, including the Asian Games, and even trade shows for automobiles and yachts.
Today, thanks to its focus on technological innovation in terms of facilities and services, the KEC is now a 5G high-tech multifunctional event site that can host a range of events and gatherings that is every bit as diverse as the city it calls home.
