Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, Sri Lankan Airlines, Thomas Cook India target strong MICE market opport

Thursday, 4 August 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka Convention Bureau partnering with Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., India’s leading integrated travel and travel related financial services company, hosted an exclusive corporate event in collaboration with SriLankan Airlines to harness the significant demand for MICE travel to Sri Lanka, across both mid and large Indian corporates and SMEs.

The exclusive, by-invite only corporate event, held at St. Regis in Mumbai, was graced by the crème de la crème of the corporate world and important dignitaries including Consul General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai Saroja Siresena. A special invitee was the Sri Lankan-born Bollywood celebrity Jacqueline Fernandez.

The evening commenced with a welcome address by Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. President and Country Head – Leisure Travel, MICE Rajeev Kale. Sri Lanka Convention Bureau Chairman Prema Cooray then highlighted the exciting array of Sri Lanka’s MICE opportunities in his passionate presentation; followed by SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ajith Dias. LuxeAsia, Sri Lanka (a Thomas Cook India subsidiary), Managing Director Chaminda Dias then detailed the on-ground MICE USPs offered by Destination Sri Lanka.

Commenting on the partnership, Rajeev D. Kale said, “The MICE business at Thomas Cook India has been a powerful growth engine with strong YOY growth of over 25% over the last 5 years. Sri Lanka is a land steeped in history, with an exciting diversity of spectacular experiences coupled with easy access of an under five hour flight and a simple evisa/visa on arrival; equally, deluxe accommodation options and MICE facilities, making for a viable short-haul favourite. Our partnership with the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau is hence a strategic initiative to tap into India’s high potential corporates to ensure strong impetus to MICE movements from India.”

He added, “This exclusive corporate event is a first step towards a deeper corporate engagement: our holistic approach will include both product development-training and corporate outreaches to showcase the true potential of Destination Sri Lanka.”