Hangzhou, a rising star in China becoming an international meetings city

26th Sep, 2016
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Under the theme of "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy" the G20 Summit was held from September 4-5 in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.

More than 700 years ago, Marco Polo visited Hangzhou via the Maritime Silk Road, and described it as “the most beautiful, magnificent, and heavenly city in the world”. Today the city is still known for its picturesque views of mountains, lakes and tea fields as well as its culture. And now it’s more famous all over the world because of the G20.

Praised as a paradise on Earth because of its natural beauty and enchanting culture and history, Hangzhou is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites, the West Lake and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.In addition, the city has enjoyed rapid economic growth over the past few decades and is now one of China’s leading e-commerce centres.

Ranked seventh on the list of the world’s 16 best places to visit in 2016 by the New York-based Travel + Leisure magazine, Hangzhou is aiming to become the nation’s leading destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, also known as the MICE industry.

According to the latest ICCA statistics, Hangzhou held 27 international meetings, and ranked 3rd among all mainland cities in China, 24th among Asian cities and 100th in the world. The city is committed to catching up with its counterparts in the meetings industry: it has all the necessary infrastructure, including 22 five-star hotels. The newly opened hotels, most of which house meeting spaces, such as Sheraton Grand Hangzhou Binjiang Hotel, Midtown Shangri-La Hotel and Diaoyutai Hotel Hangzhou are providing multiple choices for meetings and accommodation to meeting organizations. 

As the host of the G20 Summit, Hangzhou is building on its legacy and developing its MICE industry: for instance, the launch of the “2016 Hangzhou Mice Special Offer Year” is allowing companies, organizations, associations, etc. headquartered outside Hangzhou to have a maximum discount of 27 000 euros on meetings rates - a well-designed incentive for them  to organize conferences and meetings in the city.

Also, Hangzhou Tourism Commission first presented “Panorama venue” function for long-distance clients to view the venues, by using VR shooting technology to show the sources of meeting venues in Hangzhou. 720° rotational panorama view gives the real impression of standing the scene in personal!

To follow the official Hangzhou MICE on Wechat, enter the map of Hangzhou by clicking “MICE assistant”-“Panorama venue”. Well as entering www.micehangzhou.com, choosing “Meeting organizers”-“Hotels&Meeting Sits Query”.

The 1st 10 hotels which joined the “Panorama venue” team are JW Marriott Hotel Hangzhou, The Dragon Hotel Hangzhou, Hyatt Regency Hangzhou, The First World hotel Hangzhou, Haiwaihai Crown Hotel Hangzhou, Taixuhu Holiday Hotel Hangzhou, Zhejing Narada Grand Hotel, Haiwaihai Holiday Hotel Qiandao Lake, Sheraton Qiandao Lake Resort, Four Points by Sheraton Hangzhou.

Experienced MICE service teams are available in Hangzhou to ensure that every event meets the highest professional standards.

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