Laguna Phuket entertains some MICE
A glass of Champagne in one hand, a scarlet woman in the other, and all at 9 am. Life could be worse.
Laguna Resorts & Hotels (LRH) has held its first function in its new Latitude convention and exhibition facility – a demo for the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (M.I.C.E.) industry of what’s possible in the giant tent.
The visit was organised by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), who took several dozen MICE big shots from Bangkok and the region on a swing around the country, including the visit to Latitude.
Laguna rolled out the red carpet, literally, with an Oscar-themed reception for the delegates, which also aimed to demonstrate the versatility of the huge, air-conditioned tent.
On arrival, the delegates were escorted along the red carpets, “paparazzi” blazing away at them (Laguna must have hired most of the island freelance shooters for the occasion). Each was outfitted with appropriate garb – the ladies with boas and the gents with “faux tuxedos” – bibs with bow ties printed on them. They were then propelled into a reception at one end of the tent, with Mimosas or Champagne. This was at about 9am. There are worse ways to start the day.
Dotted around the reception area were cutouts of famous movie stars for the delegates to hobnob with, though the conversation was rather less than sparkling. Rather more lively were the Thai models brought in for the party. Most lively of all was MC Michael Massey, who insisted on asking the MICE people about movies they had never been in.
The tent can be configured many different ways. In this case, part of it was an exhibition area.
The visitors, now warmed by the Champagne and the movie star welcome, moved into the next section of the tent, this one set up as a theatre. Here they were treated to the première of Laguna’s new promotional video, and a lesson in how not to do a voice-over, by Phuket’s Hollywood refugee Ed Vaughan.
Finally it was into the third section of the tent, where a couple of dozen hotels and other tourism businesses had booths set up to tempt the visitors.
Latitude is in the Elephant Park area, on the left of the road into the Dusit Resort, opposite the entrance to Canal Village. Go here for more information.
