Convention Centre - Update

[jko]

More funds needed for convention centre

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports will ask for a budget of Bt290 million for additional construction at the Chiang Mai Convention Centre complex and also to market the facility.

Ministry permanent secretary, Suwat Sidthilaw, said it would be part of the 2013 fiscal year budget and requires government approval.

“Bt190 million will be used to build a storehouse for equipment, accommodation for staff, golf vehicles and a waste-storage building, while the rest Bt100 million will be used to hire a professional operator to run the centre in the initial phase.”

He confirmed that the Tourism Authority of Thailand will be responsible for management of the centre and the ministry would not interfere in that task.

The Bt2 billion complex is almost ready to open with interior decoration and finishing work due to be completed by September. It should be ready to host events from December this year.

Under the plan, TAT will form a joint venture with a convention centre operator to run the centre. At first it will host local events to run-in the facilities before bidding for international or regional events.

However, it takes considerable time to create the terms of reference (ToR) and go through the bid process ,which will leave the launch and early management phase entirely in the hands of TAT.

“We would prefer to hand over the project to a professional company to ensure there is a return on the investment over 25 to 30 years,” he said. Earlier, NCC Management and Development Company, that manages the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok, showed interest in the project.

The complex had an estimated build cost of Bt1.8 billion, but during the former Abhisit Vejjajiva government an additional Bt223,340,000, was allocated to the project, 3 May 2011.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports signed a contact with EMC and Power Line to build the Chiang Mai Convention Centre, 1 October 2008.

The project should have been completed by 1 November last year with a construction period of 762 days.

Fact file

Contractor: EMC public Co Ltd and Power Line Engineering Public Co Ltd.

Timetable: 1 October 2008 to 1 November 2011 (762 days).

Property: 326-rais site.

Investment: Bt1,867,150,000.

Facilities: Plenary hall capacity 3,000 people; 32 meeting rooms; space for 476 exhibition booths.

Location: Nong Hor, Chang Puak, Muang district in Chiang Mai close to the 700th Anniversary Stadium and Chiang Mai University.

[Greenside]

I've got to admit that it looks beautiful but I remain very sceptical about the viability of this venture. They've never managed to get any serious takers for Ratchapreuk and the centre of town has plenty of space available for smaller events with Grandview and Central Plaza now online. If they do get a big event, what is projected to happen to the leaving traffic with the junctions at Huay Kaew Road and Chotanna Road and the Superhighway already at saturation for much of the day?

[lannarebirth]

"More Funds Need For Convention Center". Do a little digging and you'll find Yaowapa's or Yaowarat's hand in that. Same like the underpasses.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I've got to admit that it looks beautiful but I remain very sceptical about the viability of this venture. They've never managed to get any serious takers for Ratchapreuk and the centre of town has plenty of space available for smaller events with Grandview and Central Plaza now online. If they do get a big event, what is projected to happen to the leaving traffic with the junctions at Huay Kaew Road and Chotanna Road and the Superhighway already at saturation for much of the day?

You wouldn't cram everything down the Huay Kaew intersection, you'd move a lot of the traffic back through the Mae Rim road and the Middle Ring past the provincial government offices.

[L&J]

The type/size of events needed to fill the Convention Center are usually set-up several years in

advance. Hiring an organization to market it later this year would probably mean even IF successful

in attracting any major conferences/conventions that they wouldn't get here until 2015 at the earliest.

[PETDCAT]

Why do I get the sneaking suspicion that this place will be a casino in a few years?

[lannarebirth]

Why do I get the sneaking suspicion that this place will be a casino in a few years?

Hah! You are far sighted indeed.

[el jefe]

Why do I get the sneaking suspicion that this place will be a casino in a few years?

Hah! You are far sighted indeed.

yes but possibly very, very, very far-sighted. That was the exact prediction given 5 years or more ago when all the new hotels went up on and around Changklan Rd. If and when the casinos come, they're much more likely to be in the big hotels than out on Canal Rd.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

A casino doesn't need to be huge.. In the Chang Klan area there's also the old Saeng Tawan cinema area that can be reused. And many other places I'm sure.

[SoloFlyer]

Theyr're looking for managers but wont let the managers look at the site. How sweet.