Changsha Offers Price Advantages For MICE

Jiang Xiaoliang, the deputy general manager of Shanghai CIBS tells CHN that the company mainly concentrates on high-end business meetings, and has gradually created its own brand.

What is your opinion of Changsha as a MICE destination?
As a MICE destination, Changsha boasts a price advantage compared with other Chinese cities in holding large-scale exhibitions and conferences. Also, as a city in central China, it is convenient for people to travel to Changsha from other parts of the country. There are also many colleges and universities in Changsha, creating a good platform for communication. Also Changsha citizens are very friendly and hospitable to tourists.

Do you think there any deficiencies in the development of MICE in Changsha?
Despite all these advantages, there are also many deficiencies in the development of MICE in Changsha. First, hotel facilities are not really good enough, and there are not many international brand hotels. Second, the transportation system does not work very well: for example, taxi drivers, and especially those around the airport, often rip off tourists. This is really bad for Changsha's reputation. Third, there is still potential for Changsha to improve its links to the outside world, making it much easier for people to conveniently go in or out. Changsha should learn from Chengdu, Hangzhou, Qingdao, and Dalian in this respect.

What do you look for when inspecting hotels for MICE events?
Brand, hardware facilities and software service, are the three major criteria I look for when inspecting hotels. Currently most hotels in Changsha do not have quality hardware and software, and the city should attract more hotel international hotels to improve the standard of the industry.

Which hotel in Changsha would you recommend?
Of the hotels I have used in Changsha, Sheraton Changsha Hotel's F&B and its service are really worth mentioning.

What about Red Tourism?
Red Tour is the unique brand of Changsha. I think it would be great to use red tourism resources in MICE activities. Yue Lu Mountain, Yue Lu Academy Institute, Hunan Provincial Museum, and Orange Island are all the pride of Changsha. Also it would be great if MICE guests could visit Mao Zedong's hometown, Xiangtan.