Singapore Campaigns For Biz

<B> Singapore Campaigns For Biz</B>

By Judy Jacobs

Singapore has begun a three-year campaign to entice more corporations to bring their conventions, exhibitions and incentives to the Lion City. Known as GlobalMeet 2000, the campaign brings together more than 100 hotels, resorts, attractions and other suppliers that are offering special deals to encourage planners to book their events and programs in the city-state.

Conventions and incentives are on the rise in Singapore, with the number of convention delegates increasing 13 percent, from 52,000 to 59,000 between 1996 and 1997. At the same time, incentive meetings rose 25 percent, from 119,000 participants in 1996 to 149,000 in 1997. The nation hopes its campaign will increase both figures even further.

"GlobalMeet 2000 is intended to enhance the incentive package we already have," said Kevin Leong, director of exhibitions and conventions of the Singapore Tourism Board. "Those who book between now and 2000 for events held at any time will be able to take advantage of a variety of incentives."

There are certain requirements, however. Conventions must be a minimum of three days long, with at least 300 participants. Forty percent of attendees must be from overseas, representing at least five different countries. Exhibitions also are required to last at least three days and have a minimum of 40 percent overseas exhibitors and visitors. At least 20 percent of the net surface area rented for the exhibition must be rented to foreign exhibitors.

Incentive groups, on the other hand, must spend at least four nights in Singapore and have a minimum of 25 participants--excluding staff and accompanying people--with at least 90 percent of them from overseas. The group is required to stay at a participating hotel, have at least one formal event at a participating venue or hotel, and include a full day of activities organized by one of several destination management companies or ground operators that are part of the promotion.

In return, hotels are offering a 25 percent discount on published rates, no extra charge for a second person sharing the same room, one complimentary suite, one complimentary room for every 25 paid rooms and three complimentary room upgrades. In addition, destination management companies are giving complimentary ground arrangements for a three-day site inspection program by up to three people and complimentary handling fees for three delegates out of every 50 (with a maximum of 15 delegates).

The Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau will provide a complimentary lion dance welcome performance and banner. Also, conference organizers are waiving the handling fee for every 21st delegate.

The resorts on nearby Bintan Island--located in Indonesia's Riau archipelago, which stretches southeast from Singapore and can be reached in approximately 30 minutes by ferry--are offering the same discounts and complimentary rooms and suites as the Singaporean hotels.

Another supplier, the Eastern & Oriental Express, is giving all convention and exhibition delegates 10 percent off published fares, as well as a complimentary pillow gift, on its train journeys from Singapore to Bangkok and points between.

As planners are enticed to consider Singapore for their events, the city-state in March will open Singapore Expo, its first purpose-built exhibition center, on a site near Changi International Airport. The facility replaces the World Trade Center and is being redeveloped for other purposes. Singapore Expo will encompass 645,000 square feet of exhibition space and complement the nation's existing major conference facilities--the Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Center and the Raffles City Convention Center.

In other developments of interest to meeting and incentive planners, Singapore is creating a street mall in Chinatown, and enabling the streets of Chinatown to be blocked off and available for theme parties. It also is restoring and developing Kampong Glam, its traditional Malay ethnic neighborhood, and Little India, the commercial center of the island's Indian population.