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The MEET TAIWAN program, operated by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and entrusted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, held the 2019 Taiwan MICE & Green MICE Awards on April 26. The ceremony invited a panel of judges and an advisory group, in addition to representatives of two major certification agencies, SGS and BSI, to attend. The number of entries this year broke records, with fierce competition brought on by participants’ excellent qualities and high levels of exhibition industry expertise. In addition to lauding innovative service qualities, the ceremony itself was a green event.

The Taiwan MICE Awards was introduced by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in 1999. It aims to encourage Taiwan’s exhibition industry to innovate, improve service quality, and practice environmental protection. It is an established model for high quality in the exhibition industry, strengthening Taiwan’s exhibition brand, and is considered the Oscar Awards of the convention and exhibition industry. This year, with more than 70 well-known convention and exhibition participants, there was a record high of entries. In the end, seven winners were selected by the panel of judges.

Award categories are summarized into five major features:

  1. Bolstering Taiwan’s industrial value through exhibition activities. For example, the 37th World Federation of Master Tailors in 2017 showed the high quality of Taiwan’s tailoring industry to the world, Marathon Expo in Taipei promoted the development of Taiwan’s marathon industry, and the Taiwan International Machine Tool Show helped the machinery industry demonstrate significant performance in Taiwan’s trade exports.
  1. Effectively applying the latest technologies to assist participants with learning so as to increase the benefits of joining the event. For example, the 11th Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society Scientific Session in 2018 led Asia’s medical techniques by using the latest technologies such as 3D and VR.
  1. Green implementation for exhibitions. For example, EcoMobility World Festival 2017 extended the green concept to environmental education and sustainable urban issues, expanding the idea of ecological transportation.
  1. Focus on corporate social responsibility. For example, 2018 ART TAIPEI integrated art into life, making significant contributions to Taiwan’s art education and the art market.
  1. Enhancing Taiwan’s international convention and exhibition image. For example, the 2018 Bard Pharmaceuticals conference incorporated local cultural characteristics to present Taiwan’s natural and cultural charms. It demonstrated excellence in terms of activity planning and implementation, environmental and social contributions, and improvement of overall international image. It not only set a great example for domestic players but also a new milestone for upgrading the industry.

The awards ceremony also praised organizers who implemented Taiwan’s Green MICE Guidelines in 2018. TAITRA said that, through the green practice of the winners, green elements of MICE support activities, such as cloud technology, mobile vehicles, and the systematic replacement of wood decorations, were observed. Reducing leftovers and integrating social welfare were also important highlights.

In addition, MEET TAIWAN assisted industry practitioners with developing ISO 20121 event sustainability management systems, including Big Dome Event Rental Service Co., Ltd., Willy Event Consultants Co., Ltd., and the 4th Climate Impact On Top Oceanic Predators Symposium organized by National Taiwan Ocean University, while Fullon Hotel obtained ISO 14064-1 carbon footprint verification. Each certification was issued by SGS Taiwan Ltd. and the representative of British Standards Institution (BSI). These achievements not only enable the industry to join the international stage, they brighten Taiwan’s MICE brand by including green sustainability.

According to MEET TAIWAN statistics, there were 279 conferences and exhibitions, 277 international conferences, and 127 corporate conferences and incentive tours last year, attracting more than 280,000 foreigners, creating new deals for Taiwan with an output value of NT$46 billion, and demonstrating the amazing potential of Taiwan’s exhibition industry.