Panutporn Ruangchoengchum, Numpung Sripui
Many meeting, incentive, convention, and exhibit (MICE) events organized in medium size hotels generate substantial income in Thailand. Among the classified groups, medium size hotels represent the major group, but they cannot operate the business really well to support MICE events. This study aims to explore the efficiency of medium size hotels in operations management to organize MICE events. This study applies the mixed methods of questionnaire and in-depth interview to gain crucial information from participants who have worked in medium size hotels. The collected data are analyzed with Data Envelopment Analysis program. Results show that medium size hotels need to prepare operational cost, offer more conference rooms, hire more staff, provide more parking areas, create certain facilities, lend conference accessories, and arrange airport transferring vehicles. To improve efficiency as competitive advantage in MICE events of the medium size hotels in terms of operations management, lean management is suggested. The results of this research can be useful to medium size hotels in Thailand and other countries with similar business culture and beneficial to entrepreneurs in the business service sector.