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The Taipei MICE Office, commissioned by the Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government and executed by TAITRA (Taiwan External Trade Development Council), staged the 2020 “Discover the Beauties of Taipei” MICE Professional Experience Tour on July 31. A total of 20 domestic professionals were brought on a tour of Taipei City MICE venues and other facilities. In the morning the focus was on international-caliber cultural-creative centers: Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, the Taipei New Horizon building, and the eslite hotel. Lunch was at the Dian Shui Lou restaurant, a Michelin Bib Gourmand recommendation, for enjoyment of award-winning xiaolongbao and engagement in an opinion exchange workshop. The afternoon was kicked off with an unveiling of the Taipei Music Center, and in addition the professionals were taken on an in-depth visit to the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2 and the Skylight Convention Center, the largest of its kind in Taiwan.  
   
The Taipei New Horizon building is home to cultural-creative offices, cultural-creative exhibit and performance spaces, a cultural-creative shopping mall, cultural-creative hotel, etc. There is an avant-garde architectural design, and matching the brand-new cultural life spaces are 8 small meeting rooms and a multifunction hall that can accommodate more than 1,000 people. On the building’s top floor is the Event Space, which can accommodate 300~600. It features an exhibition hall with a height of 9 meters, an aesthetically pleasing long curved corridor, and an open-sky green space. A beautiful panoramic view is provided, with the Taipei 101 tower off in the distance. The Event Space is appropriate for the staging of a wide variety of activities, including art, performance, fashion, and dinner party events.
 
The Taipei Music Center is not just a place for pop music performances. Building on the pop music industry as its starting point, it is also a multifunctional park combining pop culture and lifestyle aesthetics. The architectural inspiration here is the ancient Roman Forum, and up to 6000 people can be accommodated. A large annular space is utilized, combining art, commercial, market, and performance activities. The music center’s Concert Hall, a venue for medium and large-scale performances, is located in the North Base. In the south base is the Exhibition Hall, in which a thematic curation approach is used to present the glorious history and myriad faces of Taiwan pop music. The South Base is also the Creative Area, a nursery for Taiwan musical talent. The Taipei Music Center is located in a convenient Nangang transportation area where three railway systems interconnect, forming a new East District Gateway.  
  
The Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2 is the first dedication exhibition hall in Taiwan to be awarded the "Green Building Label - Golden Level.” It has a national-grade double-level exhibition hall, multifunction activity spaces, and on the 7^th level are the Skylight Gallery and Sky Garden, both unique in Taiwan. These are complements to the Skylight Convention Center, the largest meeting space in Taiwan free of pillar obstructions, with a length of 72m, width of 52m, and height throughout of 9m, able to accommodate 3,600. Compartmentalization enables the creation of spaces of 10 different sizes, breaking through the traditional image of meeting venue functionality in terms of both design and practice. A “smart audio/visual/lighting environmental control system” has also been installed to provide guests with a better visual and auditory experience.    
 
Target Market – High-Potential Operators Invited for On-Site Experience
  
This experience tour was open for free registration. A total of 20 professionals from exhibition, conference, and incentive travel enterprises were invited to participate. In addition to Taipei City, professionals from Kaohsiung and Yilan also took part. On the tour Deputy Commissioner Lee Li-ju of the Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government personally led the group on their visits, and a special workshop was also part of the itinerary, to engage in exchange with the professionals. The workshop was hosted by Simon Wang, Executive Vice President of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council and director of the “2020 Taipei City MICE Short-Term Execution Plan.” The guests participated enthusiastically, with much positive and agreeable idea interchange.
  
Using the mixing and matching of MICE resources, an itinerary with three major themes was organized with a focus on a city cultural experience and fine-food feasting. This provided full understanding of Taipei City’s new MICE energy and its special blend of diverse characteristics for the participating industry professionals. Preparing to welcome international MICE visitors in the post-pandemic era, the expectation is that these professionals will bring more MICE activities to Taipei as the future unfolds.  


Deputy Commissioner Lee Li-ju of the Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government (seventh from left) and Executive Vice President Simon Wang of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (fourth from left) led the group of industry professionals to the Taipei New Horizon building’s top floor to enjoy the splendid Taipei City views


Deputy Commissioner Lee of the Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government (fifth from left) and Director Li Jerchin of TAITRA’s Taipei International Convention Center (fourth from left) during the visit to Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2.


The industry professionals engaged in a DIY session making xiaolongbao, having fun and checking out each other’s craftsmanship