UNIQUELY SENSATIONAL SINGAPORE:

Confirming its credentials as one of the world’s foremost destinations for business travel, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (BTMICE), Singapore will once again wow AIME visitors with its impressive stand packed with a record number of co-exhibitors showcasing the Lion City’s diverse choice of venues and inspiring attractions.

Due to overwhelming industry demand, Singapore’s 2008 AIME stand has expanded to 150 sqm and enhanced to accommodate thirty-six (36) co-exhibitors, highlighting the city’s commitment to ongoing development and innovation to grow its substantial share of the lucrative global MICE market. This year’s booth design will showcase the destination’s harmonious blend of nature and city, mimicking a visitor’s journey into the country – that from garden city to its unique variety of products and experiences, energy and buzz are to be found within. Repeat tradeshow visitors will recognise the similar “Uniquely Singapore” branding and design in other international tradeshows in which Singapore participates.

First time co-exhibitors on the Singapore stand this year include:

Adval Brand Group Pte Ltd (promoting the Singapore Flyer)

BIntan Resorts

City Tours

Jurong BirdPark

Pacific Arena

St Regis Hotel Singapore

Last year set yet another record for Singapore’s tourism sector, generating tourism receipts of S$13.8 billion, representing growth of 11.3 per cent on the previous year. The Lion City also set a new high of 10.3 million visitor arrivals, up 5.4 per cent on 2006. Currently, business and MICE visitors constitute approximately 28 per cent of Singapore’s visitor arrivals and account for about 35 per cent of total tourism receipts.

“The MICE sector makes a significant contribution to our economy, and we are heavily invested in keeping our offering fresh, competitive and enticing,” said Mr Aloysius Arlando, Assistant Chief Executive BT&MICE  for the Singapore Tourism Board.

“The Asia Pacific region is poised to attract more than 100 million business travel and MICE visitors by 2015, up from 40 million in 2002. We will continue to pursue an even greater share of this multi-billion dollar market by constantly re-inventing Singapore to provide an evolving, exhilarating combination of business and leisure activities and unique personal experiences for our BTMICE visitors,” said Mr Leong. “And we’ll continue to build upon our state-of-the-art MICE infrastructure and human capital to ensure every event runs smoothly and efficiently.”

Singapore has a long history of hosting prestigious events, and 2008 continues the trend with the city gearing up to welcome ITB Asia, the first Asian edition of one of the world’s largest tourism tradeshows in October, as well as BioMedical Asia, a week-long business festival bringing together worldwide experts in the rapidly growing field of biomedical sciences.

And with major new attractions launching this year, such as the 2008 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix and The Singapore Flyer, there is real potential to maximise growth not just in the traditional MICE market and pre- & post-event activity, but for all visitors to the Lion City as well.

Being chosen as the venue for the world’s first F1 night race is a major coup for Singapore, and 28 September will see the city’s streets come alive around the Marina Bay commercial and leisure hub in one of the circuit’s most dramatic and atmospheric races.

Asia’s first street race is set to attract visitors from near and far to watch the action along the 5.26km track which offers multiple overtaking opportunities and fast and challenging turns for maximum thrills.

After months of eager anticipation, The Singapore Flyer will complete its first rotation in March. Modelled after the London Eye – but taller- The Singapore Flyer offers captivating, unobstructed views across the city and surrounding areas. Corporate packages will be available where meetings or functions can take place at the on-site facilities, followed by exclusive rides in the capsules for all delegates.

The early anticipated arrival of Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World at Sentosa – Singapore’s two new integrated resorts scheduled for launch in 2009 and 2010 respectively which will incorporate more conference space, theatres, Universal Studios and more – will herald a new era in Singapore’s dynamic product offering.

Singapore is increasingly becoming known for its eclectic mix of team-building activities and funky off-site venues which help personalise business events and create memorable, one-of-a-kind experiences for participants.

Experiential activities include honing culinary skills at schools such as at-Sunrice Cooking Academy and Coriander Leaf, dragon boating along the Singapore River, an Amazing Race through the ethnic districts and using music to motivate teams by creating and performing with an orchestra or drumming up a storm through organisations such as STIX and Human Rhythms.

The Sentosa Imbiah Challenge is an outdoor challenge race-style event where teams use clue cards and maps which take them to Sentosa attractions including the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom, Merlion Park and the Sentosa Luge.

Teams can take on roles including actor, director, scriptwriter and cameraman with Teambuilding Asia’s Mission Impossible, an incentive group programme guaranteed to enliven participants withal the action and suspense of a Hollywood film.

The new Singapore Sports Hub, scheduled to be completed by mid-2011, will be the first large-scale land and sea sports facility in the world – a one-stop-shop for land and water sports in the heart of the city.

This new hub will be the showpiece in Singapore’s efforts to attract and host more major multinational sporting events. It will house a new 55,000-seat National Stadium with a retractable roof, Indoor Aquatic Centre, 3,000-seat multipurpose arena, and the existing 12,000-seat Singapore Indoor Stadium. 

The best of the rest…

Oher new attractions which have enjoyed stunning success since launching recently include:

The National Museum of Singapore, which has re-opened and can cater for small to large groups in its purpose built workshop and seminar rooms, as well as new public gardens and a gallery theatre.

Retail mecca VivoCity and nightlife hub St James Power Station have become Singapore’s latest lifestyle and entertainment attractions located at the 24-hectare HarbourFront Precinct overlooking Sentosa. VivoCity offers a heady mix of 300 retail, entertainment and dining outlets, set over 1 million square feet of floor space.  Nearby, the redeveloped St James Power Station is now the city’s largest one-stop entertainment area comprising 9 outlets all accessible via one cover charge.

The recently revamped Clarke Quay, with its new mix of upscale clubs, bars and restaurants is a favourite for both locals and visitors alike, becoming a “must visit” area in its own right.

“Event planners already know Singapore is hard to beat in terms of its accessibility, excellent infrastructure, and dedicated professional service and hospitality. These exciting new offerings will give them further confidence to choose Singapore – and we look forward to welcoming them all,” said Mr Arlando.

For further information about Singapore’s MICE offers, initiatives and incentive schemes log onto http://www.visitsingapore.com//businessevents or contact the Singapore Tourism Board on (02) 9290 2888.

AIME 2008: SINGAPORE CO-EXHIBITORS incluse alphabetical order:

Amara International Hotels & Resorts Pte Ltd

Adval Brand Group Pte Ltd/Singapore Flyer

Bintan Lagoon Resort

Bintan Resorts

Carlton Hotel Singapore

City Tours

Discover Holidays (Asia) Pte Ltd

Hilton Singapore

Intercontinental Hotel Singapore

Jurong Birdpark Singapore

Luxury Tours & Travel Pte Ltd

Marina Bay Sands

Mandarin Oriental Singapore

Nirwana Gardens

Pacific Arena

Pacific World Singapore

Pan Pacific Singapore

Raffles The Plaza, Singapore (The Fairmont Singapore)

Rasa Sentosa Resort, Shangri-La

Resorts World at Sentosa

RMG Tours Pte Ltd

Sentosa Leisure Group

Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore

Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau

Singapore Expo Convention and Exhibition Centre

Singapore Zoo & Night Safari

St Regis Hotel Singapore

Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre

Swissôtel The Stamford

The Fullerton Hotel Singapore

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore

The Sentosa Resort & Spa

The Traveller DMC Pte Ltd

Tour East Singapore (1996) Pte Ltd

Waterfront Conference Centre

World Express Pte Ltd

A Special on location report from AIME 2008 by The Mole