In its first event after a two-year break, Network of Indian MICE Agents (NIMA) organized the NIMA MICE Forum 2022 successfully at the Hotel Crowne Plaza in Jaipur from July 29 to July 31, 2022 . More than 150 delegates from 20 Indian states attended the event. Anand Kumar Tripathi, Additional Director (Developments) Department of Tourism Government of Rajasthan, attended the ceremony as the chief guest. It was supported by Rajasthan Tourism as the host state, and Chhattisgarh Tourism as the partner state and Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau as the Principal Sponsor for the event. Around 2000 B2B meetings were conducted in the presence of over 100 member delegates and 20 plus exhibitors.
The event was held with some power-packed knowledge sessions, panel discussions, product showcases, and most importantly, networking opportunities among the Indian MICE fraternity. Highlights included the three sessions where hoteliers like Anup Taneja, Regional Director, Global Sales, India and Subcontinent, JW Marriott, and Nalin Mandiratta, Regional Manager, IHG & General Manager, Crowne Plaza, Jaipur, discussed about how to bridge the gap between hotels and Mice agents in these difficult times?
Other sessions included –
- Meeting the expectations! What are our clients looking for in post pandemic era- Are we future ready? – by Shakeel H. Rizvi, founder of HearU.
- Unveiling a verse! The game changer keeping face with the current times – by Hemant Mehndiratta, One Rep Global.
- Coping with the compliances. Talk on Section 194 R?TDS?GST TCS awareness and its financial implication. Workflow on deductions methodology – by Sidharth Garg.
The Forum had the privilege of listening to the doyen of the Indian tourism industry by Dr. Subhash Goyal, Member, National Tourism Advisory Council, Ministry of Tourism and Chairman STIC Travel Group.
Additionally, STIC showed a presentation on how cruises can be a lucrative business prospect for MICE agencies as it offer clients a one-stop solution to make the MICE events and weddings a memorable one.
Speaking with MICE Showcase, Jagdeep Bhagat, said, “the whole idea with which NIMA started was to build a strong network of MICE operators across India who gets connected to a relevant platform where they can exchange knowledge and ideas constructively and with the support of each other grow in their sphere of activities and businesses.” He further added, “this is the restart of the MICE activity after the pandemic. We officially conceal that now members are ready to serve our corporate lines with all their MICE and business activities. Our intention is not grow big but we always want to remain relevant to our members. In continuation of that our vision is also to focus more on knowledge, education and training. We have already tied up with BLTM and will be conducting one full day training.
Unveiling VISION 2025 for Network of Indian MICE Agents (NIMA), NIMA will soon roll out India specific Certificate program NCMP – NIMA Certified MICE Professional for the industry. “The program curriculum to have all the established processes but customised according to Indian working conditions”, he added. MICE industry is shaping up good. The protocol and the way MICE is conducted has changed. The industry has adapted the change very well post the pandemic.
NIMA to launch Country’s First World class MICE EXPO “I-MICE” in 2025. “Though we do have many Tourism Exhibitions in India, there is a void when it comes to MICE vertical. I-MICE will be the event for the global MICE stakeholders to connect with their Indian peers”, said Bhagat.
Speaking with MICE Showcase, Hemant Mediratta said, “Miceverse is my latest business venture. “Being at NIMA is an incredible pleasure. I think there is a lot of energy behind the event, which is terrific. People have arrived in a really cooperative manner, and I believe we should support such industry-wide activities. The tourism industry in our country is flourishing right now. The window of opportunity for the next decade is there. If we act responsibly, success should be obvious.”
Speaking with MICE Showcase, Gajesh Girdhar, Chairman Emeritus, said, “It is a team effort what NIMA is today. The journey from 2014 to 2022 has been a great. We have been doing events, working together to bring NIMA to this heights. NIMA MICE FORUM is 2nd edition happening in the Jaipur. The 1st edition was held at May Fair Lake Resort, Raipur. At NIMA, we have always been looking for a virgin destination for the events.”
Speaking with MICE Showcase, Rajeev Kohli, Creative Travels said, “I am delighted to be here at NIMA. I think MICE in India and globally is trending very positively. At the beginning of the pandemic everyone had said meetings are finished, they will never come back, virtual is the only way forward but today if you speak to anyone anywhere in the world the meeting spaces are full. Meetings are back with vengeance, meetings are back in all over the world so I think MICE professionals have a very bright future. It’s now for us to improve the value chain, to show our experience. I think trends are healthy when I speak to my DMC friends across the world they are so overwhelmed that they are refusing business. Hope we come to situation in India where we can say no to business as well. It will take a little bit a more time as we have opened late in the game. From what I see is a very bright future for all those specialising in MICE space.”
Overall, the NIMA MICE FORUM shows the true state of MICE activity that is back fully in physical format. It was well organized and well paced, and it ended on a positive note.
NIMA at a glance
Network of Indian MICE Agents (NIMA) is a conglomeration of MICE operators from various parts of the country who work together for the growth and betterment of the industry. Established in 2014, NIMA is the only not for profit network dedicated for the benefit of MICE operators in India and it doesn’t charge any membership fees from its members. Currently it has over 150 members out of which more than 30% are from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
