ST : Early boost to Sentosa IR

Nov 23, 2009
Early boost to Sentosa IR



The biggest event, the 11th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention, will see 4,000 business leaders gather at the Sentosa integrated resort. -- PHOTO: RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA

IN AN early boost ahead of its opening, Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) has secured 30 bookings for events to be hosted at the integrated resort starting next year.

The biggest event, the 11th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention, will see 4,000 business leaders gather at the Sentosa integrated resort for a corporate pow-wow from Oct 5 to 7.

Securing such business events, known in the industry as meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice), are important as business travellers are bigger spenders and a target group that Singapore Tourism Board wishes to grow.

RWS director of Mice Elena Arabadjieva, said: "As the world's economy recovers, we are getting strong interest from organisers for events from 2010 to as far ahead as 2014 and that gives us great confidence in Singapore's meetings and incentive travel sector in the mid to long term."

Events secured by RWS include the Asia Pacific Retailers Convention in 2011 and the 10th Asia Pacific Congress of Endoscopic Surgery in 2011. Besides inking the 30 contracts, the IR is also in talks with another 150 organisers for events up to 2015.

Marina Bay Sands, too, has been signing up Mice events. The events being lined include the 3rd Sea Asia Conference and Exhibition in 2011, the Industrial Fabrics Association International Expo Asia in 2011 and the 77th UFI Congress by the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry next year.