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Chiang Mai Next stop on our TCEB tour was a visit to the northern city of Chiang Mai , a city of bleisure and more relaxed than Bangkok and an already thriving destination for incentives . The Intercontinental Chiang Mai The Mai Ping was the host hotel this time , and offered full five-star comfort and a beautiful terrace area where our group enjoyed a reception on the lawns .
Workation is a big thing there , with many workers relocating to this beautiful part of the country to work remotely .
There is Lanna food to sample , elephant sanctuaries to visit and if you are keen to take a massage , the cost is minimal , around $ 4 for half an hour for a head , shoulder and back massage .
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Chiang Mai is also a UNESCO Craft City and has 30 Michelin certified BIB Gourmand restaurants .
Chiang Mai is building back its airlift and offers 67 international flight connections a day . The city has 70,000 hotel rooms and two exhibition centres , as well as a population of 1.7m .
It boasts a community-based MICE offer , and we saw that in action at the Skugga coffee plantation , where the group got to see how entrepreneur and founder Anthony McDonald and his sons have built an estate that offers coffee masterclasses and venue space for groups , as well as insights in how to build a business in Thailand . It was a great thrill to do the coffee tasting of the home-grown product and see how investment has benefitted the local
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Left : Coffee tasting at the Skugga estate , Chiang Mai |
people via employment . A short drive from the estate is Wat Pa Dara Phirom , an amazing complex of Lanna architecture temples which provides a calm oasis of contemplation as well as a huge photo opportunity .
From there groups can proceed to the Measa Elephant Camp , one of the largest elephant assemblies in northern Thailand . You can feed the elephants in this sanctuary , which has animals from six months up to 86 years old . You can even take a river shower with them and one kindly elephant even put my hat back on my head ( you can see that video clip on my LinkedIn page ).
Smart venues back in town included the Chiang Mai Marriott , located in the vibrant Night Bazaar District and the Melia Chiang Mai , another oasis of calm offering some Spanish influences and very tasty tapas .
The Oxygen Dining Rooms were also sampled , an establishment voted the best restaurant in Chiang Mai for its Michelin-rated culinary journey . And if you like your art with your food , then the Woo Café catered easily for our group of 60 for a relaxed lunch .
The visit to Thailand ended with a swing – at the Topgolf driving range back in Bangkok , where competitive teambuilding instincts were allowed to rise to the surface The driving range is popular and has good venue space too .
Our farewell dinner was in the Kesakomol Building where an evening of Royal Thai Cuisine was presented in this ornate venue .
Thailand can be a pleasant assault on the senses and the good value , hustle and bustle of yesteryear is now overlaid with a vast selection of high-end MICE products , all still at good value . Chiang Mai is a relaxing contrast to Bangkok although getting around the capital can take time , so plan accordingly .
The depth and beauty of the Thai MICE menu , however , ensures that if you do plan well , you can cook up quite an incentive or meetings programme to impress ( See more photos , p58 ). n
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