Oct 15, 2010
Business booming for Mice sector
20% surge in events due to economic rebound and IRs' opening, say players
By Huang Lijie
THE business events industry is roaring with a 20 per cent surge in the number of meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) and more foreign visitors at these events.
The bullish outlook has even prompted rivals such as Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) and Suntec Singapore to band together and jointly bid for international events.
Mr Edward Liu, president of the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers, said: 'The uptick in Mice events compared with last year is as much as 20 per cent. We are back on an even keel with pre-crisis numbers and, hopefully, it will be even better next year.'
Trade shows such as Communic- Asia2010 and BroadcastAsia2010 posted an 11 per cent jump in attendance from last year and drew more than 55,000 visitors.
The number of foreign visitors to the two shows targeting the infocommunications and media industry also increased by more than 4,000.
And next month, the 18th International Oil and Gas Industry Exhibition and Conference at Suntec Singapore is set to be its biggest ever, with more than 1,500 exhibitors. It is expected to draw 22,000 visitors.
According to the latest statistics from the Singapore Tourism Board, Singapore drew 2.6 million business travellers last year who spent about $4.2 billion. This made up 27 per cent of total visitors and about 33 per cent of total tourist spending.
The rebound, say Mice organisers and venue providers interviewed, rides on the wave of economic recovery and the opening of the two integrated resorts (IRs) - RWS and Marina Bay Sands (MBS).
Ms Angeline Kim-Kyna Tan, director of marketing communications for Fairmont Singapore, which runs the Raffles City Convention Centre, said the resulting buzz for Singapore has 'enlarged the pie for all players' in the market.
The IRs offer a total of 180,000 sq m of exhibition space, adding to the 135,000 sq m previously available for Mice.
The Sands Expo and Convention Centre at MBS has played host to over 100,000 participants and more than 150 events since it debuted in April. A similar number of Mice visitors have attended the more than 290 events held at RWS since its Mice business started in March.
Indeed, despite stiff competition from other Mice venues, Singapore Expo attracted no fewer than 15 new events this year, including the World Cancer Congress and the Asia Investment Banking Conference.
The buoyant Mice market here has even pushed competing venue providers, RWS and Suntec Singapore, to join forces and jointly bid for more than 10 international events happening as far in the future as 2014.
The partnership offers clients the option of holding exhibitions and meetings at Suntec Singapore during the day and continuing with after-hours social functions and entertainment at RWS, whose facilities include Universal Studios and a casino.
The outlook for next year looks bright, industry players say.
New shows debuting here include the inaugural Art Stage Singapore, a high-end art fair at MBS and the World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention at Suntec Singapore.
Mr Chua Wee Phong, executive director of Sphere Exhibits, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings, is similarly optimistic about the future and rolling out 22 shows next year - 10 more than this year.
He said: 'The Mice industry will continue to boom because the economy in Asia is moving up the ladder.'
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