SLCB’s MICE training programme

The Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB), together with International Congress and Convention Association, recently held its 5th ICCA-SLCB MICE Professional Development programme at Eden Resort and Spa from June 21 to 23.

This was a residential programme conducted by international experts in the MICE industry, a SLCB press release said. The panel of lecturers comprised Roslyn McLeod from Australia, Jenny Salsbury from Hong Kong and Hans Friis from Denmark who were specially flown down to conduct the programme in Sri Lanka.

Anuruddha Bandara of Eco Team (Pvt.) Ltd. and Chandra Wickremasinghe of Connaissance Holdings Ltd. joined the local panel to cover ‘Opportunities in Door Adventure & Mice’ and ‘Incentive Travel’, respectively.

The ICCA-SLCB programme covered a wide area of the MICE industry including Introduction to Association Meetings, Marketing a Destination and PCO Services, Promotion/ Marketing of a Congress, Role of Research in MICE, Sponsorship, Creating a Project Plan, organizing Social Programmes, Scientific Programme & Abstract Handling, Congress Registration and On-site Arrangements, Financial Planning & Budgets, Critical Path, Exhibitions and Venue Management, Crisis Management in Today’s climate, Communication & Technology, Role of the National Airlines and Group work on Project plan.

The participants for the programme represented ministries, departments, national tourist organization, colombo hotels, resort hotels, professional conference organizers, destination management companies and conference centres.