Taiwan is often overlooked as a destination for meetings and conferences. The island seems to be the poor relation compared with its north-east Asian neighbours of mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea and in recent years Macau.
Yet the island has much to offer and boasts one of the longest-established purpose-built venues in the region, the Taipei International Convention Centre, or TICC as it is usually called.
Taiwan’s location is a bonus, as Yueh-chyou Wen, the executive director of TICC, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), puts it: “We are the gateway into Asia-Pacific, at the crossroads of three major Asian economic regions (North-East Asia, Greater China and ASEAN nations). Therefore, holding a trade-fair or conference in TICC symbolises the opening of a main door to the Asia-Pacific area.”
While the TICC’s pale pink exterior might no longer stand out amid the skyscrapers of today’s Taipei, the 19-year-old complex has a great location in Hsin-Yi district, in the heart of the city. Touted as the financial district of Taipei, the area is home to the Taipei mayor’s office and Taipei city council.
Together with the exhibition hall, International Trade Centre and Grand Hyatt Taipei, the cluster of buildings form the Taipei World Trade Centre complex. An aerial bridge connects the Taipei World Trade Centre to Taipei 101 Shopping Mall, a one-stop hub for delegates.
Kitty Wong, president of professional conference organiser K&A International, and vice-chair of Taiwan Exhibition and Convention Association (TECA), is a firm believer in the venue.
“TICC is one of the first modern international convention centres in Asia, the staff have worked there a long time and are all very experienced. The place is a great events venue and it’s well-maintained.”
The six-storey building also has an interior that packs a punch, with an ability to accommodate 10,000 delegates in 26 multi-purpose auditoriums.
Wen says: “A conference is not just about the facilities, especially for an international audience, accommodation is an issue. Organisations naturally want their delegates to stay under one roof, but if it’s a huge event for 1,000 delegates, that is impossible. Taiwan hotels are too small.”
TICC also does not have a capacity ballroom for 2,000 delegates to dine together simultaneously.
However, Wong, thinks the bottle is half full. “We focus on international events that are of a smaller scale, using less manpower and smaller facilities. Instead of focusing on one huge event per year, we work on ten moderate-sized events. We work with what we have, focus on a niche market and get returning customers.
KEY FACTS
Capacity
Floor Area: 60,000sqm
Ceiling Height: 45m
Plenary hall: capacity 3,100 in theatre style
Contacts
Taipei International Convention Centre
No. 1 Hsin-Yi Rd., Sec. 5,
Taipei 11049, Taiwan
Tel: +886 2 2725 5200
Fax: +886 2 2723 2589
Email: ticc@taira.org.tw
