Singapore supplement Feb-Mar 2013

Revealed

Singapore your choice business events destination

Produced by Business & Tourism Publishing Asia Pte Ltd and Singapore Tourism Board

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As Asia’s leading destination for MICE, Singapore offers plenty of solutions to cater to incentive groups and large scale conventions and exhibitions across the nation.

Home to a large number of conventional and unconventional event spaces, Singapore has close to 50,000 hotel rooms with more hotels scheduled to open in 2013.

The award winning Changi Airport serves some 100 airlines flying to over 250 cities in about 60 countries and territories worldwide. More than 6500 flights land or depart from Changi each week, with more than 50 million passengers passing through the airport every year.

Singapore has consistently earned accolades for being a dynamic meetings and events destination including the Union of International Associations’ (UIA) Top International Meeting Country and Top International Meeting City (2011), the International Congress and Convention Association’s (ICCA) Asia’s Top Convention City for the 10th consecutive year and 5th Top Convention City in the world for the 2nd consecutive time (2011).

MICE organisers can expect Singapore to deliver one of the highest service standards in Asia. The country’s infrastructure and communications networks are designed to meet business needs. Singapore has been ranked the World’s Second and Asia’s Most Network Ready Country by the Global Information Technology Report 2011/2012.

The Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau (SECB), a group of the Singapore Tourism Board, is a member of the BestCities Global

Alliance – the world’s first global alliance of convention bureaux with 10 partners in five continents. SECB actively provides customised support to the industries and associations in an effort to provide an unforgettable and unique business event experience.

With a proven track record of successfully securing inaugural events to the country, the SECB has been equally successful in bidding for returning events like Swift International Banking Operations Seminar (Sibos) 2015. At a press conference held in Singapore in July 2012, Sibos head Kris Hendrieckx told micenet ASIA that “Singapore was selected because of its strong reputation as a respected financial hub, its security, location and infrastructure.

It certainly ticked many boxes and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has been helpful during the whole process.” It is worth to note that the SECB provides funding support to qualified businesses, companies and associations through the Business Event in Singapore (BEiS) scheme.

For more information, email secb@stb.gov.sg or visit stb.gov.sg

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Upcoming Key Conventions in Singapore

2013 • 52nd ACI World Congress • 79th IFLA World Library & Information Congress (inaugural to Singapore) • CICILS IPTIC World Pulses Convention • 37th Annual International Association for Philosophy and Literature Conference 2013 • World Engineer’s Summit 2013 (inaugural to Singapore) • Global Security Asia Conference 2014 • 22nd IAHR International Symposium on Ice • 15th Annual Conference of the International Speech Communication Association (inaugural to Singapore) 2015 • Swift International Banking Operations Seminar (SIBOS) 2015 • World Congress of Cosmetic Dermatology (WCOCD) 2015 2016 • International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) Annual Meeting 2017 • IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation 2017 2018 • International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) World Congress 2018 • International Symposium on Homogeneous Catalysis 2018

Suntec Singapore poised to make a grand

comeback Excitement runs high as the countdown begins for the unveiling of the newly modernised Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre. As one of Asia’s pioneering and most awarded international venues for meetings, conventions and exhibitions in almost two decades, the ongoing S$180-million-dollar modernisation program has raised a lot of interest on how much of a makeover can be expected from the sprawling venue by the time it reopens in June 2013.

Arun Madhok ,Suntec Singapore’s Chief Executive Officer, has been instrumental in developing and overseeing the modernisation programme. He

Arun Madhok, Chief Executive Officer, Suntec International Convention & Exhibition Services

provides a preview of the extent to which this iconic structure is being transformed and the principles that guide its metamorphosis. He explains, “Suntec Singapore’s new design pays particular attention to flexibility, functionality and convertibility while integrating a high degree of advanced technology. The interior of the building has been conceptualised to adapt to the evolving needs of our clients while maintaining consistent quality across the board.”

From the exterior, the most visible changes would be the modernised façade that includes an impressive three-storey interactive video wall at the entrance.

Inside, the conversion is nothing short of massive. “We are changing a large portion of our building,” reveals Mr. Madhok. “It is being stripped bare and extensively remodelled. Level 1 and most of level 2 will offer new retail spaces to offer increased accessability for MICE delegates and visitors. Level 3 will consist of 36 convertible meeting rooms that will be able to accommodate a variety of requirements, from small meetings and exhibitions to large conferences and corporate events.

Level 4 provides a unique opportunity for the exhibition halls to be converted into premium entertainment spaces

Exterior of Suntec Singapore.

through sophisticated lighting and other design features.

“The building has served us well over the past 17 years. With the implementation of these planned enhancements, we will continue to shape the MICE industry in Singapore, well into the next decade.”

Where experience meets innovation Suntec Singapore has played a major role in advancing Singapore’s MICE industry since it opened in 1995. Strategically located right in the middle of the central business district, it sits at the heart of Asia’s most integrated meetings, conventions and exhibitions hub. Beyond the Centre’s 100,000 square metres of meeting space, a 15-minute stroll around its environs also provide visitors convenient access to 5,200 hotel rooms, 1,000 retail outlets, 300 restaurants, six museums and a world-class performing arts centre. Three MRT stations and two major express ways also serve the area, making for ease of mobility and transport.

“A key aspect of the modernisation program of Suntec Singapore is to provide more control to our clients over their events and budget,” Mr. Madhok points out. “We are developing a state-of-the-art Suntec

technology suite to improve processes, connectivity and control. For example, the new Centre will be offering free high-speed wireless LAN connectivity to all delegates.

Clients will also be taking control of the room configuration for their events via new customer portal. We will also give clients ‘real time’ control over their meeting space environment such as lighting and climate control.”

Over and above the physical makeover, much consideration is also extended towards preparing the Suntec Singapore personnel for the fresh challenges that lie ahead. According to Mr Madhok “The modernised Centre will require a different way of selling, marketing and operating the business. Our staff are going through a rigorous training and development program that includes more than 100 hours of intensive training for each employee with reputable local organisations such as the ITE College West for Food Production, the Temasek Polytechnic School of Hospitality, as well as other industry associations such as the Singapore Tourism Board. We are assisting our staff to improve and expand their proficiency level so as to be 100 per cent operationally ready for the new Centre.”

Taking on the future of MICE Over the years, Suntec Singapore has hosted 18,000 events spanning a vast breadth of industries, including some of the world’s largest exhibitions and conventions.

In 2011 it welcomed over seven million guests from all over the world and proved its ability to raise the bar by achieving occupancy rates as high as 98 per cent.

Partners, old and new, have expressed their growing anticipation in exploring what the refurbished venue and upgraded facilities can do for their business events.

One of the Centre’s loyal clients is ITB Asia, which has consistently held its annual travel market tradeshows at Suntec Singapore since 2008 until it closed for renovation, and is now poised to make a comeback in October. “Suntec Singapore offers the optimum business environment for ITB Asia exhibitors and buyers and we look forward to experiencing the new and improved centre,” says ITB Asia executive director Nino Grüttke. “We are

excited about the new hardware in terms of facilities and we expect that the software — the people — will be as excellent as we remember them. Based on our excellent years at Suntec Singapore, we’re anticipating to return to a winning team, a winning format and a winning location.”

Similarly, long-time exhibitor Messe Düsseldorf Asia looks forward to coming home to its venue of choice for almost two decades. “In fact, we were one of the early companies to have chosen the venue once it was operationally ready,” recounts general manager Ms Shirley Lim, citing one of the company’s most successful medical exhibitions which was first held at Suntec Singapore in 1997 and continues to exhibit there. “For an established exhibition organiser to repeatedly return to the same venue over a span of 15 years is testament to Suntec Singapore’s expertise, professionalism and high support standards in delivering on our operational requirements for our international exhibitions,” she says. “Our long-term relationship with them has evolved into a successful business partnership that has seen their steadfast commitment in meeting our changing needs over the years. We are confident in the new and improved Suntec Singapore and it remains our venue of choice as a leading exhibition facility and MICE venue.”

In the same way that Suntec Singapore is upgrading its physical facilities and product offering, it will also liven up its brand with a new logo and a more vibrant image that reflects its readiness to meet the ever-evolving needs of its customers.

“Our vision is to be a positive influence to the convention and exhibition business of the future,” says Suntec Singapore CEO Arun Madhok. “We will continue to be the preferred place to meet in Singapore and in Asia. We have the perfect location, the right space, a high level of flexibility, cutting-edge technology and a team of exceptional people. Leading by example, we aim to inspire positive change in the MICE industry and transform the way people look at the convention and exhibition business altogether. We look forward to welcoming you all to the new Suntec Singapore Exhibition and Convention Centre.”

Suntec Singapore Statistics Total Space: 100,000 square metres Total MICE Space: 60,000 square metres • Level 1: Commercial space • Level 2: Commercial space • Level 3: Maximum 36 meeting rooms • Level 4: 12,000 square metres of convertible exhibition/banquet halls • Level 6: 10,000 square metres of multi-purpose exhibition halls and meeting rooms • Level 7: Four meeting rooms

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Revitalise Mandarin Oriental Singapore.

Asia’s foremost convention destination heralds a revitalised precinct.

Singapore’s original convention destination – Suntec Singapore and its surrounding five-star hotels: Conrad Centennial Singapore, Marina Mandarin Singapore, Mandarin Oriental Singapore, Pan Pacific Singapore, and Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore, continue to integrate and collaborate to strengthen their reputation as Asia’s foremost convention destination.

With continuous upgrading of existing infrastructure happening in every major property within the precinct, the group’s vision to market Singapore as the top choice for conventions in Asia looks set to stand firm. Suntec Singapore’s senior director, sales, Ms Bibiana Lau, shares, “Suntec Singapore is at the heart of a self-contained convention city that offers convenience that is hard to match. You get access to 100,000 square metres of meeting space, 5200 hotel rooms, 1000 retail outlets, 300 restaurants, 6 museums and a world-class performing arts centre. In short, everything an event planner will ever want, and all within a 15-minute stroll.”

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What’s new

Pan Pacific Singapore recently completed an S$80 million transformation after a five-month closure. “Plans for the hotel’s transformation started in 2010 and we wanted to include sensorial elements.

The burst of orange colour in the interior is a representation of the sun and sea.

The meeting spaces in the second level now have more light,” shares Pan Pacific Singapore general manager, Mr Scott Swank. “The transformation of Pan Pacific Singapore comes at the back of comprehensive research on the evolving needs of our guests and associates. As Singapore continues to remain a top destination globally, our transformation ensures the delivery of quality hospitality experiences synonymous with the Pan Pacific brand, thereby enhancing our competitive advantage locally as a premier hotel of choice for discerning business and leisure guests.”

Mandarin Oriental Singapore unveiled its stylish new swimming pool, set against the spectacular views of the Singapore harbour skyline,

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as well as a luxurious and holistic spa that earned the prestigious Forbes Five Star rating. Ms Suzette Deveau, director of sales and marketing shares, “Our stylish new swimming pool, complete with floating sun beds and resort-like cabanas, provides private outdoor venues for events of up to 450 guests. The Marina Bay area has become the place to be and our recent renovations are certainly in keeping with Suntec and the renewed energy within the neighbourhood”.

Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore’s general manager, Mr Peter Mainguy, also revealed that their property “offers 608 newly-refurbished guest rooms and unique meeting facilities configuration which offers meeting planners the option to organise the events and breakouts within two private floors. This makes us an ideal MICE venue. In addition, we have four floors of breakout rooms which provide clients the opportunity for intimate meetings for up to 10 guests.

Furthermore, iconic visitor attractions like Gardens by the Bay and Singapore Flyer can not only be viewed from our guest

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rooms but are within easy walking distance from the hotel too.”

Marina Mandarin Singapore is the first hotel in the precinct to use a fully integrated mobile technology to enhance customer experience at their food & beverage outlet.

Its ‘OneGuest Mobile Solutions’ fully integrates order-taking, customer service management and real-time updates to provide customers faster service and more accurate information on their menu selection items. According to its director of sales and marketing, Ms Serene Law, “With new and refurbished MICE facilities around the Marina Bay area, the hotel also has plans to refurbish our ballrooms as part of the strategy to keep ourselves competitive in the market.”

Marina Square is also reinventing itself. According to its general manager, Ms Chan Yien Mei, “Marina Square is undergoing redevelopment and refreshing its tenant mix to offer more exciting options for shoppers. In the first phase of redevelopment, to be completed in the second quarter of 2013, shoppers can expect a new gourmet precinct of 50,000 square feet with a new external façade facing Raffles Boulevard. By the end of 2014, a new retail wing of 200,000

square feet will be developed facing Marina Bay and Esplanade Theatres offering two levels of shopping and roof top dining options.”

Having done a major modernisation revamp, Suntec Singapore will offer a modernised façade, impressive threestorey interactive video wall, and a new entrance, accessed by express escalators from the current ground-level entrance to the reception at Level 3.

Collaboration is key Suntec Singapore and its surrounding hotels realised in the 1990s that their combined strength and collaboration was key in successfully marketing their precinct and in attracting events. This resulted in the founding of the Joint Marketing Alliance (JMA) in 1995.

Commenting on the alliance,

Conrad Centennial Singapore’s general manager, Mr Heinrich Grafe, shared, “I personally believe this marketing alliance is far more important now than it has ever been.

Because as a single hotel, we wouldn’t be able to represent ourselves at all the big shows.”

He added, “The advantage of having this precinct is you have a major convention meeting facility, complemented by five hotels in easy walking distance and you are not one of 2600 in room 2025.

Pan Pacific Singapore.

organisers, through conceptualisation, planning and management of MICE events which includes technical planning and set up. Pico Art International director, Trevor Soh, shared, “We are in a strong position to advise organisers who are exploring Singapore and the Suntec precinct for their events. To show our commitment and hedge their risk, Pico also offers joint venture partnership opportunities or underwrites the financials for selected companies in some cases.”

With the JMA, interdependence becomes a natural and welcome outcome.

The strength of the alliance lies in being able to work with people towards a common goal, which is to keep Singapore a top destination for conventions with the Suntec precinct as the favourite host and venue.

New hotels to look out for

Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore.

Conrad Centennial Singapore.

You’re in individually smaller hotels, which can probably cater more personal, more hospitality and not so en masse basis.”

Pico Art International and Pacific World Singapore Marina Mandarin Singapore.

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are part of the JMA to make the Suntec precinct, a premier convention destination.

Pico offers turnkey solutions to MICE

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• Bay Hotel Singapore www.bayhotelsingapore.com • Beach Villas at Resorts World Sentosa www.rwsentosa.com • Capri by Fraser www.capribyfraser.com • Days Hotel Singapore at Zhongshan Park www.dayshotelsingapore.com • Equarius Hotel at Resorts World Sentosa www.rwsentosa.com • Parkroyal on Pickering www.parkroyalhotels.com • Ramada Singapore at Zhongshan Park (opening in Q1, 2013) www.ramadasingapore.com • Sofitel So Singapore (opening in Q3, 2013) www.sofitel.com • The Westin Singapore Marina Bay (opening in Q4, 2013) www.starwoodhotels.com • W Singapore – Sentosa Cove www.wsingaporesentosacove.com

Meeting for convenience

Facade of Grand Park Orchard.

When selecting a venue, a central location and high-standard service count a lot.

While huge meeting venues have their own merits, an efficient and centrally-located one has its advantages, too.

Located at the heart of Orchard Road, Grand Park Orchard provides an ideal meeting venue for any social or business function. There are two meeting rooms with a combined seating capacity of 150 that are ideally located on level four. They allow meeting delegates the same floor access to the main lobby, business centre, all-day dining restaurant – Open House, outdoor swimming pool and the champagne bar – Bar Canary. The meeting rooms are well equipped with state of the art technology, including a built in LCD projector. An IT specialist is on hand for any technical hiccups or support that a client might need.

The venues offer flexibility to hold events such as seminar, board meetings, cocktail events and training sessions. The outdoor swimming pool deck and adjoining champagne bar offer perfect settings for intimate events and pre-gala dinner cocktail functions.

The hotel’s professional planners can take much of the event organising load from the clients to create an event that perfectly captures the required style,

spirit and expectation of the clients.

Open House With a seating capacity of 150 that includes a private dining area for 10, Open House delights with a magnificent view of Singapore’s prime shopping and entertainment district. Its chic and vibrant design complements its open-dining concept where one can be spoilt for choice from a vast spread of international cuisines.

The floor to ceiling glass window of Open House gives a spacious vibe and a view of the lively Orchard Road that can spark some great conversation.

Grand Park Orchard.

Bar Canary Right at the outdoor pool on level four but away from the dazzling views of Orchard Road, Bar Canary provides the right venue for some great party in a cool atmosphere. With a resident DJ that can spin an eclectic mix of House, R&B and Top 40s – this is the right place to hang loose after a full day of serious meeting and planning. There’s a diverse array of beverages for anyone to fancy – from premium cocktails and drinks to acclaimed wines.

Open House.

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Reinvent

Singex adopts a strong peoplecentric approach, focused on good governance, operational excellence and innovative solutions. Partnership and customer focus are priorities.

Singex believes in adopting industry best practices and aligning itself to global standards, including: • Adopting international standards like ISO and BCM standards for service quality assurance • Dual certification for business continuity management in Singapore and the UK (first in Asia)

Garnet at MAX Atria.

Singapore offers world-class meeting venues that make every get-together, successful and memorable. Meeting planners have a vast selection of globally recognised and highly equipped venues for all their event needs – from the most elegant gala dinners, to light hearted or more formal business conferences. With a host of recreational and lifestyle amenities all a stone’s throw away, you’re on your way to hosting an outstanding business event that will always be remembered.

Singapore EXPO Centre of Excellence

The new MAX Atria @ Singapore EXPO reaffirms the centre’s status as one of Asia’s best event facilities In March 2012, Singapore’s largest meetings venue unveiled its newest offer: MAX Atria @ Singapore EXPO. The event space is the epitome of the modern

MAX Atria @ Singapore EXPO.

Topaz at MAX Atria.

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convention experience and just one reason why Singapore EXPO, managed by Singex Venues Pte Ltd, is one of Asia’s top-rated event facilities.

MAX Atria features 32 column-free rooms with spacious foyers, a garden courtyard and rooftop space. The 12,700 square metre convention wing can accommodate more than 3500 people in a variety of versatile spaces configured for meetings, banquets, exhibitions and product launches.

The venue is ideally suited to cater to the growing trend of integrated events, which include co-located exhibitions, conferences or award ceremonies. It has already attracted a large number of events since its inauguration. This increasing popularity for co-located exhibitions and conferences is a result of both delegates and event organisers’ desire to maximise their return on investment (ROI).

Adjoining Singapore EXPO boasts a staggering 123,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor space, featuring ten exhibition halls, four conference halls and a variety of meeting rooms, making it a onestop event hub.

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• MAX Atria, the first MICE venue in Singapore, to attain the Building and Construction Authority’s Green Mark Platinum award. Eco-friendly measures include the use of energyand water-efficient technologies, and recycled materials for the fixtures and fittings.

• MAX Atria as the first venue in Asia to roll out complimentary high-performance Wi-Fi coverage in partnership with Xirrus (sustainable and scale-able as the number of events and delegates increases) • Strong partnership with new business hotels in the Changi precinct (Capri, Park Avenue Suites and Crowne Plaza), collaborating in cross-promotion activities, competitive rates and in providing exclusive customised services and experiences i.e. shuttles could be arranged to transport event attendees to Singapore EXPO for their respective day-to-day meetings and exhibitions or conference events.

MAX Atria @ Singapore EXPO is located in the vibrant eastern part of Singapore, at the doorstep of Changi Business Park, home to many technology firms and multinational companies, only five minutes drive from Changi Airport and 20 minutes drive from the city centre.

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SIngapore SuppleMent CASE STUDY

Name Of Event: Young Presidents’ Organization World Leadership Summit 2012 Organiser: Young Presidents’ Organization Type: Annual event for CEOs and invited guests from around the world Venue: Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center When: February 26 March 01, 2012 Pax: More than 2000 Budget: Undisclosed

Young Presidents’ Organization World Leadership Summit 2012 Event overview The Young Presidents’ Organization Global Leadership Summit 2012 is the largest gathering of CEOs in the world. Held for the first time in Asia at the Marina Bay Sands, the prestigious annual summit in Singapore saw its largest attendance of CEOs in its event history. More than 2000 CEO members, and invited guests from over 77 countries came together to network and discuss challenges, opportunities, and other issues influencing today's CEO. Highlights of the 2012 event included hearing Nobel Peace Prize laureates Aung San Suu Kyi and Professor Muhammad Yunus share their personal experiences with delegates.

Aung San Suu Kyi shared her hopes for Myanmar via live telecast, while Professor Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank shared his experiences on revolutionising the microcredit system.

Event outcome

YPO Event Plaza Opening Dinner.

The welcome dinner was held at the Event Plaza at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) under a huge white purpose-built marquee with a local hawker theme where guests dined under the stars.

As networking was a vital component of the Summit, a YPO Marketplace that consisted of over 30 booths was also set up for the duration of the entire event to facilitate casual interaction and catch up amongst leaders. The unique booth design and set-ups were carefully tailored to replicate a relaxed environment, conducive for networking. This included a function room that was turned into a wine cellar that allowed leaders to catch up over a glass of wine, and a virtual golf booth that provided leaders the chance to chat over a simulated game of golf.

The closing gala dinner saw celebrity chef, Justin Quek of Sky on 57, creating a custom menu for guests to sample a variety of fusion flavours. The Sands Grand Ballroom was transformed into an extension of Justin Quek’s renowned Sky on 57 restaurant for an unforgettable dining experience for the 1800 guests.

Challenges and triumphs YPO Marketplace.

YPO Closing Gala.

Due to the scale of the event, Marina Bay Sands ensured sufficient catering and conference managers were assigned to the YPO event. Close to 100 YPO guests with special dietary requests had dedicated catering and conference managers working to coordinate their various meal schedules. Despite various requests for spin-off meetings while the main sessions were still ongoing, staff managed to organise smaller meeting venues by working in close coordination with each other.

A coach check-in service from the airport to the hotel was arranged for close to 1000 guests who completed their check-in process smoothly, before they even reached the hotel.

Attendance at the networking events was also unpredictable and varied. At one of the events, attendance ballooned to almost 30 percent more than the original figure planned for the venue. Organisers overcame that with flexible back up space planning arrangements and logistical arrangements.

Marina Bay Sands consistently exhibited over the top service, from providing room keys to guests riding in from the airport, to excellent catering on two large socials and other meals on-site, to providing very personal care to one of our staff members who was ill… all done in a spirit of service and hospitality. Marina Bay Sands was vested in our event from top management down to the line staff, and the results were truly amazing.” young presidents' organization – World Presidents’ Organization, executive director of the International Events and Global Leadership Conference 2012, David Cook 42

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SIngapore SuppleMent CASE STUDY

XXXI World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress Event overview The International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) chose Singapore to host their 31st Congress from May 18-20 in 2012. East West Planners was appointed to assist INC in managing their conference, social functions as well as dinner functions for an estimated 900 delegates from all over the world.

Event outcome Highlights of the event included the opportunity to sample the local delights of Singapore, a chance to network amongst friends and to make new ones, and an enjoyable evening of entertaining and interesting activities.

Challenges and triumphs The challenge was to organise an offsite social and interactive evening where guests could experience Singapore’s cuisines, culture and entertainment. There were limited options for dinner venues in Singapore as many venues could not accommodate a delegation of 900 pax. The unpredictable rainy condition poised some planning challenges, too.

The client insisted on having a non-hotel ballroom venue for the casual dinner function.

The number of delegates rose to 1000 and given the venue requirements, the newly opened Maritime Experiential Museum & Aquarium (MEMA) was proposed.

The venue’s maritime-themed environment, with replicas of treasure ships and other nautical exhibits, provided a refreshing new waterfront venue, or an ideal setting for themed events. Set against the backdrop of Admiral Zheng He’s mighty Bao Chuan (Treasure Ship), the museum offered a waterfront promenade setting with breathtaking harbour views which has been popular for cocktail receptions and dinners, as well as outdoor parties. Dining options abound, as food can be selected from across Resorts World Singapore’s (RWS) celebrity-chef restaurants.

I just wanted to Guests may also choose to adjourn and be thank you for your enthralled in the latter part of the evening, by the help in organising the animatronics spectacle Crane Dance, right at congress, and from the museum. what little feedback Initially, the client expressed concerns about we have had so far, it the time needed to travel from the city to Sentosa seems to have gone island, as well as possible traffic build up getting very well. Overall, into Sentosa. However, the concerns were there is no doubt addressed by mapping out travel times from the that this was one of hotel, and also highlighting MEMA’s location, which our most successful was at the tip of Sentosa Island. A site inspection congresses in terms was also done to simulate and demonstrate the of turn-out and management of the traffic flow. Coordinated execution.” logistics planning for the scheduled 25 coaches International Dried Fruit entering and exiting to and from Sentosa was also and Nut Association, INC Congress 2012, Chairman, managed. A different pathway was chosen as Giles Hacking entrance to the MEMA for convenience, privacy, and to ensure exclusivity for each arriving delegate.

“Excellent work.

Working in close partnership and coordination It was a great and with MEMA & RWS, the Museum staff provided successful congress. guests relevant information on the exhibits and Thank you for the directed them through their experience in the great job done.”

Typhoon theatre, a 360-degree multimedia theatre OLAM International , INC that takes visitors on a voyage on board a 9th Congress 2012, Hosting Chairman, Asho k Krishen century Chinese junk.

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Name Of Event: XXXI World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress Dinner Organiser: East West Planners Type: Casual buffet dinner for the senior management and owners of the fruit and nut growers, manufacturers, traders, and business operators in the industry.

Venue: Maritime Experiential Museum and Aquarium, Resorts World Sentosa When: May 19, 2012 Pax: 1000 Budget: Undisclosed

Contact: fatsin@eastwestplanners.com www.eastwestplanners.com

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Redesign

Universal Studios Singapore, New York Street.

An essential component to any incentive or conference, the choice of venue provides the perfect backdrop for an interesting and enjoyable get together. Singapore offers many of the world’s most amazing unconventional venues that allow you to turn your most creative ideas into reality.

The Star Performing Arts Centre Opened in November 2012, The Star Theatre with The Star Performing Arts Centre is the first and only 5000 seat performing arts venue in Singapore. Within the complex are flexible event spaces like The Star Gallery that holds 770 seats in a theatre style set up or 490 on rounds for banqueting events. The Star Gallery breaks into five sizable breakout rooms. www.thestar.sg

Universal Studios Singapore Transport your guests onto Sentosa island and into the creative world of the movies. Universal Studies Singapore offers entertainment, attractions and cuisine under one roof. Surprise your conference delegates with a New York Street undercovered dinner party within the 1500-banquet capacity zone of New York whilst mingling amongst the Universal Studios Singapore cast of characters. www.rwsentosa.com

Gardens by the Bay The 54-hectare Bay South Garden within Gardens by the Bay offers event planners a number of unique spaces. Nestled within the Flower Dome with magnificent waterfront views and the ever-changing flower display is the 1200 square metre Jubilee Hall. This enclosed purpose-built event space is perfect for a 700-guest banquet. For outdoor enthusiasts, consider having an evening cocktail party for 500 guests at the Silver Leaf tucked under a cluster of the famous Supertrees overlooking the Dragonfly Lake. www.gardensbythebay.com.sg

Sands SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands Host your next private event up high on the Sands SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands.

Perfect for cocktail parties, the South Garden and North Garden can take 200 and 250 guests respectively. The 500-guest capacity Observation Deck, the restaurants namely Sky on 57 and KU DE TA as well as

Get out of the box and go for unconventional venues!

• Chinatown Food Street For bookings, please contact Chinatown Business Association www.chinatown.org.sg • Goodman Arts Centre www.goodmanartscentre.sg • Marina Barrage www.pub.gov.sg/marina • Merlion Park – For bookings, please contact Singapore Tourism Board www.yoursingapore.com

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• National Museum of Singapore www.nationalmuseum.sg • Singapore Botanic Gardens www.sbg.org.sg • Singapore Flyer www.singaporeflyer.com • Singapore Turf Club www.turfclub.com.sg • The Arts House www.theartshouse.com.sg • The Jewel Box on Mount Faber www.mountfaber.com.sg

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Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore.

the SkyBar are popular choices with event organisers. www.marinabaysands.com

Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore Opened in mid-2012, the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore is located in Marina South next to the Marina South Pier.

The centre is known for its breathtaking ocean views. Perfect if you are looking for an experience with a difference when holding your next event within this iconic building with more than 11,500 square metres of events space. www.mbccs.com.sg

Cavenagh Bridge Popularly called the Grand Old Lady of the Singapore River, the Cavanagh Bridge, built in 1869, is one of the oldest bridges in Singapore. Whether it is an award presentation or an informal banquet, the bridge can transform itself to suit your purpose, as the entire bridge can be booked for evening events. www.sla.gov.sg

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Rediscover Here’s a sample itinerary, courtesy of Pacific World, that unravels the story behind urban Singapore.

Set out on a journey to explore urban Singapore like you’ve never seen before.

Discover the key role of urban planning in the rise of the Lion City and wander at its never-ending architectural developments.

A step ahead Start off your expedition with a visit to the Singapore City Gallery, where a

guided tour will take you through the city’s interesting history of planning and development. Stunning interactive exhibits will transport you back to Singapore’s olden days and astonish you with details of the city’s remarkable growth. Build your knowledge further with a tour at the Marina Bay Gallery to learn more about our city’s recent innovations.

Take in the marvels of Marina Barrage’s architecture and be captivated by the technology behind this stateof-the-art reservoir as you tour around Singapore’s first and most urbanised water catchment area.

Enter the residential complex Pinnacle@Duxton to have a closer look at Singapore’s first skypark 50-storeys high, made affordable to all. This one-of-a-

The Fullerton Bay Hotel.

kind building successfully brought unique architecture into the “heartlands”, a term locally used to refer to the suburban towns where majority of the Singaporean population lives.

Top your urban adventure with a special tour on architectural insights into the Marina Bay Sands development project! Exclusive sessions can be arranged for your group upon request.

Sleeping over The W Singapore Sentosa Cove is one of Singapore’s newest and trendiest hotels.

Enter into a world where colours and textures mingle with top-notch service and design.

At the Wangz Hotel, step into an urban jewel of sophisticated architecture.

The design is daring yet classic, for your guest’s best comfort and awe.

Conveniently located by the iconic Singapore River, the Gallery Hotel is a quiet retreat from the city’s hustle and bustle, featuring a unique one-of-a-kind cantilevered glass sided rooftop pool.

The sky’s the limit The Fullerton Bay Hotel recently launched floating event pods as a top end meeting venue. Ideal for C-Suite level meetings for 20 pax, these new meeting rooms are truly floating our boat.

At Swissôtel The Stamford, Equinox restaurant’s private dining room can be arranged as a venue for your meetings or events. The outstanding view through the glass-panel window will enchant your most exclusive guests.

In the mood To wrap up your day of architectural wonders, enjoy one of Singapore’s trendy rooftop bars and restaurants.

Prelude atop the Fullerton Waterboat House, Loof or 1-Altitude which are some of our favourite picks.

Try the recently opened Zafferano restaurant serving contemporary Italian cuisine in a stylish setting with the option of alfresco dining on the terrace.

Singapore: Thought provoking, exhilarating and unexpected!

Marina Barrage.

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W Singapore Sentosa Cove.

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Contact: singapore@pacificworld.com www.pacificworld.com

SIngapore SuppleMent

food history and its culture so teams can get a full download of what’s making their tummies so happy.

Alternatively, try your hand at cooking some of our local dishes. Culinary schools like Coriander Leaf, Palate Sensations and ToTT offer team bonding cooking classes. Strengthen your team members’ bond as they go through different cooking challenges to whip up mouth-watering local dishes such as chilli crab and chicken rice.

Appreciation Courses Enjoy a wine appreciation course at Wine & Co. Consulting or learn more about the art and science behind brewing the perfect cup of coffee with a coffee appreciation class at Highlander Coffee Academy.

Build your teams.

We’ll help strengthen them

Adventure Tours

Teambuilding activities can serve as ice-breakers, motivating attendees to get to know each other better and to create stronger bonds while delivering meaningful experiences. With Singapore’s world-class infrastructure, efficiency and accessibility, team building activities can go well beyond the ballroom and across the island.

Takashimaya or Paragon to perform mandatory tasks and to purchase items from specified product categories, within an allocated shopping budget. The day will culminate in a high profile fashion show in a glamorous venue that will see participants parade their wares where the most creative team wins!

The Great Singapore Shopping Challenge

Ethnic Precinct Amazing Race

For fashionistas, hone your shopping skills by searching for the best bargains along Orchard Road and Marina Bay. Teams can race to designated malls such as ION Orchard, Mandarin Gallery,

Understand Singapore’s diverse cultures by embarking on a scavenger hunt around our 3 cultural precincts. Visit places of interest in Singapore’s unique cultural precincts and identify special monuments, relics or objects that contribute to the rich culture in each precinct. Alternatively, purchase souvenirs that would best represent each precinct. For example, pick up a garland of flowers from Little India, a chapteh toy from Kampong Glam or even egg tarts from Tong Heng Bakery in Chinatown.

Culinary Tours/ Courses

Wine appreciation.

No trip to Singapore would be complete without sampling our mind boggling variety of local dishes. Embark on a Makansutra Food Safari Tour, which takes the participants on a food tour around Singapore. Dine at some of the best eateries and get a taste of the authentic dishes that have been created on our little island. A Food Host will be present to provide the story of Singapore’s rich

Outdoor lovers can look forward to 34 different exhilarating obstacles at the tree top course at Forest Adventure. Try out combat laser shooting with Combat Skirmish Singapore, a situational warfare game where strangers become friends, accelerating the team-building process and developing strategic thinking at the same time. Break the mould of predictable corporate outings with advenTOUR Singapore by kayaking to a kelong (floating hut). Embark on a survivor experience on Pulau Ubin, a small island off Singapore where teams can experience a night out with nature. Be surrounded by the lush flora and fauna on the island and experience rustic Singapore.

Island Adventures Take part in Sentosa’s Imbiah Challenge where participants race against time to complete assigned tasks at various attractions throughout Sentosa’s Imbiah Lookout. The activities are designed to help encourage and cultivate values such as teamwork, communication and courage amongst employees.

Participate in a mission that will provide teams with the chance to navigate the streets of New York to the pyramids in Ancient Egypt! Held at the region’s first world-class movie theme park, the Scavenger Hunt Team-Building Programme at Universal Studios Singapore creates a unique and dynamic team bonding experience unlike any other.

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Indulge at Singapore’s Lifestyle Havens after Hours Singapore provides the perfect mix of work and play In need of some downtime after business? Surrounding Singapore’s financial centre is a variety of leisure havens perfect for kicking up those business shoes and letting your hair down after hours. Regardless of preference, there is something for every executive in the city ranging from shopping to dining, to nightlife and entertainment once meetings are completed for the day.

GET YOUR SHOPPING FIX

FLAVOURFUL ESCAPES

THE NIGHT’S ALWAYS YOUNG

Indulge in some retail therapy at

Those seeking the pleasures of fine

Chill out and let your hair down after

the myriad malls along Singapore’s

dining can savour the delights of

a hard day’s work. On the bank of

famed shopping belt, Orchard Road.

Singapore’s culinary establishments.

the Singapore River is Clarke Quay,

Look out for ION Orchard with its

Check out the Singapore outposts of

whose cluster of clubs, bars and

stable of flagship and concept

Michelin-starred chefs which include

lounges are always vibrant and

stores, ranging from luxury labels to

Joël Robuchon and Guy Savoy. Also

worth a visit. Robertson Quay, the

high street brands, iconic time piece

savour the gastronomic creations

most laidback of the three quays

boutiques to classy art galleries. Of

of celebrated home-grown chefs at

along Singapore River, is also

note is the mall’s Jewellery Street in

Restaurant Andre and Iggy’s.

home to some of the most popular

Basement 2 with some of the island’s finest fashion jewellers.

Find your way down to the hip

bars among the local and expat

cluster of restaurants at Dempsey

community. The largely residential

Hill and dine amidst the lush, quiet

estate is bustling with unique whisky

Orchard is another shopping

surroundings just five minutes from

and wine bars, and even a popular

sanctuary, Paragon Shopping

Orchard Road. Formerly the site

chocolate bar.

Centre, home to Gucci’s only duplex

for the British army barracks in

flagship in Singapore. Across the

colonial times, this little enclave of

iconic Zouk at Jiak Kim Street, voted

side street from it is Knightsbridge

Singapore has seen art galleries,

among the top 10 clubs in the world

which houses Malmaison and the

antique furniture stores and

by DJ Mag. For quiet unwinding,

region’s only Abercrombie & Fitch

weekend farmers markets call it

soak in the panoramic view of

boutique, which stocks the full range

home in recent times. Choose from

Singapore’s city skyline at LeVel33

of the brand’s aspirational casual

a wide selection of chic restaurants

— world’s highest urban brewery, or

luxury offerings. Do also check out

like The White Rabbit, PS Cafe,

1-Altitude — planet’s highest alfresco

retail hotspot The Shoppes at Marina

and Au Petit Salut. For the local

bar, towering at 156 metres and 282

Bay Sands, noted for Louis Vuitton

favourites, check out Samy’s Curry

metres respectively.

Island Maison, the fashion house’s

and Long Beach hidden within

first floating flagship boutique in the

immaculately conserved colonial

Siang Hill and Club Street, once the

world, and its collection of street

black and white buildings that

home ground of traditional Chinese

wear labels such as new-to-market

evoke old world charm. To really

clan associations and exclusive

Zadig & Voltaire and multi-label style

understand Singapore food, one

social clubs. Now home to a variety of

emporium The Society of Black

has to sample the mouth-watering

chilled out drink spots, alfresco cafes

Sheep.

hawker fare such as Chicken Rice

and quirky shops, it is the perfect

and Bak Kut Teh (pork ribs soup) at

place to watch the world go by.

Just a walk down from ION

If you’re a tech junkie, Funan

A stone’s throw away is the

Soak in the cosy charm of Ann

DigitaLife Mall is the place to head

the Singapore Food Trail and Newton

to for its gamut of electronic and

Food Centre. A not-to-be-missed

scene at Timbre@The Substation

Get a taste of the local music

photographic products conveniently

Singapore signature is the Chilli

located at Armenian Street, where

located under one roof.

Crab, which can be enjoyed at No

different groups of local musicians

Signboard Seafood or Palm Beach

play live every night. Check out the

Restaurant.

other bars in the vicinity where The Arts House and Mount Sophia are located.

For more on how to mix business with leisure in Singapore, visit yoursingapore.com/morethanjustbusiness

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