Marina Bay Sands became the first hospitality and MICE venue in Singapore to be conferred the ‘Exceptional Achievement’ award at the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) annual Singapore Tourism Awards, 9 May.
Oliver Chong, executive director, Communications and Marketing Capability, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “We are pleased to recognise Marina Bay Sands for their exceptional achievement in consistently delivering outstanding experiences for business events and visitors.
“We hope that more industry players will be inspired by this recognition to create even more enriching experiences for event attendees and contribute to Singapore’s appeal as a top business destination.”
Marina Bay Sands hosted over 3,500 events in 2017, which collectively drew over 1.4m delegates, and the integrated resort has also brought in over 610 new events to Singapore since opening.
In March 2018, the integrated resort played host to YPO Global Leadership Conference (GLC) – the global platform for chief executives to engage, learn and grow. Marina Bay Sands is the only venue in the world to host YPO more than once, while Money 20/20 Asia, also held in March, is set to return to the integrated resort in 2019.
Over the past four years, Marina Bay Sands’ annual average of repeat events is 34%, which has, in part, been attributed to its business model as well its MICE team’s track record of co-creating memorable experiences for clients.
Marina Bay Sands will once again welcome healthcare event Medical Fair Asia for its 12th edition following the show’s debut in 2016., while the 28th World Congress on Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology comes in October year 2018; and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Congress in 2019.
Further 2018 events include: ConnecTechAsia (encompassing CommunicAsia and NXT Asia); the eighth Singapore International Water Week; and ITB Asia, which will be holding its fifth consecutive show at Sands Expo. Global media, digital and creative communications leader Dentsu Aegis Network, held their Asian Global Leadership Conference for the first time in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands in March this year. In June 2018, more than 1,000 C-level executives from over 70 countries are expected to gather at Marina Bay Sands for the Consumer Goods Forum Global Summit, which returns to Singapore after 20 years.
Marina Bay Sands hosted a record number of 50 association meetings in 2017, up from the annual average of 40. This increase in demonstrates Marina Bay Sands’ growing position as an innovation hub.
The integrated resort hosted five major new-to-Singapore association meetings – three of which were held under the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) umbrella and two others by the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS) and the World Congress on Safety and Health at Work organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Marina Bay Sands has also made two key senior leadership appointments to lead the MICE team into its next stage of growth.
Ong Wee Min, who joined Marina Bay Sands in 2012, expands his role as the newly appointed vice-president of Conventions and Exhibitions and is responsible for the overall management of Sands Expo and Convention Centre.
The integrated resort has also promoted Ailynn Seah as vice-president of MIC and Association Sales to oversee the regional and MIC sales team, with an added focus on growing the integrated resort’s Association Meetings portfolio.
