The organiser of SIBEC Asia 2005 has announced that the event is to be relocated to Pattaya in Thailand from Phuket following the devastation to the resort caused by the recent Tsunami.

Pelican Events has said that the business meetings forum for the Asia Pacific health, fitness and spa industry will now take place at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Pattaya.

The date of the event – 3-5 March 2005 – will remain the same.

SIBEC Asia 2005 was due to be held at the Le Méridien Beach Resort in Phuket, but the considerable damage suffered by the hotel has forced it to close for the foreseeable future.

Jonathan Needs, Pelican Events director, said: “We are very sorry not to be able to support the people of Phuket in their time of need, but we will bring our events back to Phuket just as soon as they can take us.

“For this year, we believe that by moving to a location which has already successfully hosted previous events of ours – and still within Thailand – there will be minimal disruption to our delegates.”