HS Seoul seeks to emerge as Asias top convention center

By Lee Hyo-sik

Seoul City has joined a league of cities across the globe that are popular locations for commercial meetings, rising a rung in becoming Asia’s choice meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (MICE) destination.

In a press conference held at the Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul, Monday, the Seoul Tourism Organization (STO), the tourism promotion arm of the Seoul Metropolitan City Government, announced it has signed an agreement with six cities ― Durban, London, Abu Dhabi, San Francisco, Sydney and Toronto ― to set up a joint entity to promote themselves as attractive venues for a range of commercial meetings and conventions.

The seven-member ``Future Convention Cities Initiative’’ (FCCI) will pursue joint marketing and research activities to advance each of its members to become the foremost MICE destination on their respective continents, meaning that Seoul will be promoted as Asia’s top convention center.

``Seoul City has been making an all-out effort to build an extensive overseas network in the international convention industry. The establishment of the FCCI shows that our effort has paid off. The city will gain a strong foothold in Asia’s increasingly-competitive MICE sector,’’ STO President Samuel Koo said.

Koo said he will work closely with his six counterparts and gain know-how from them so the MICE sector can be a viable new growth engine for Korea.

``Hosting international conventions and other commercial meetings not only creates new income and jobs in hospitality-related businesses, but also sends positive ripple effects throughout the economy. Seoul aims to be ranked among the world’s top tourism and commercial convention destinations,’ the CEO said.