Impact owners plan new exhibition centre on Srinakarin Road

Managing director Paul Kanjanapas said last week that the firm believed it was time to open a new medium-sized site, because the flagship convention centre at Muang Thong Thani can no longer cater to the growing demand for mid-size events.

"We've lost many medium-sized exhibition and convention projects to our competitors. So, we're thinking about creating the second centre in Bangkok," he said.

If the plan goes ahead, the second exhibition and convention centre will be about 30,000-40,000 square metres in size, located on 1,000 rai of land the firm already owns in Pattanakarn district near the Unico Golf Club.

Impact Muang Thong Thani covers 140,000 square metres.

Paul said the Srinakarin Road location was favourable to that of any competitors, as it was not far from Suvarnabhumi Airport and would have many entrances.

The company plans to finance the project entirely through its existing cash flow, he said.

Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre, currently the only convention centre located on Bang Na-Trat Rd, is also in the proximity of both Srinakarin Road and Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Impact has not decided when construction will begin.

Impact Muang Thong Thani managed to avoid a decline in the number of events it hosted this year from last year, staging roughly 300 events, but expects revenue and net profit to stay at the same levels as 2008. The sluggish economy has forced the company to offer its exhibition and convention facilities at lower prices, Paul said.

He declined to disclose last year's revenue and net profit figures.

Government projects have helped the company maintain project numbers at Impact Muang Thong Thani, with revenue from such projects increasing to 30 per cent of the total this year from less than 20 per cent last year.

Impact Exhibition Management began construction on Impact Hotel, located near Impact Muang Thong Thani, this month, Paul said. The firm is investing Bt3 billion in the four-star hotel, which will have 381 rooms with prices ranging between Bt2,000 and Bt2,500 per room.

The hotel is expected to be complete within two years, and will focus on wedding ceremonies and bookings from participants in meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition events at Impact Muang Thong Thani.

Commencement of construction on the hotel was delayed by the need to obtain an environmental-impact assessment from the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, Paul said.