y2koh
February 9th, 2011, 02:30 AM
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_632795.html
Feb 9, 2011
Expo adds convention wing to up Mice industry share
By Ng Kai Ling
The new convention wing, Max Atria, will see the addition of 23 meeting and functions areas. -- PHOTO: SINGAPORE EXPO
THE Singapore Expo is expanding, including branching out into events management, to better compete in a meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) industry that looks set to grow by 10 per cent this year.
A new convention wing, Max Atria, will see the addition of 23 meeting rooms and function areas. The new facility, which will increase the expo's 100,000 sq m of indoor space by 8,000 sq m, is set to open in the first quarter of next year.
Although the Singapore Tourism Board has yet to release official Mice numbers for last year, the industry's main players say they had seen a year-on-year increase of about 20 per cent in the number of events held last year. This follows a poor 2009 when the industry was hit by a slump brought about by the global economic crisis.
With growth estimated to be 10 per cent this year, industry players said the expo's expansion is timely and will offer more options for event organisers.
Ms Michelle Lim, chairman of media relations and research at the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers And Suppliers, said: 'Expo's expansion is an indication that the industry is continuing to invest and improve so that Singapore remains a top Mice destination.'
Resorts World Sentosa has hosted more than 1,000 events since its Mice operations started in March last year, while Marina Bay Sands hosted some 700 events last year.
Feb 9, 2011
Expo adds convention wing to up Mice industry share
By Ng Kai Ling
The new convention wing, Max Atria, will see the addition of 23 meeting and functions areas. -- PHOTO: SINGAPORE EXPO
THE Singapore Expo is expanding, including branching out into events management, to better compete in a meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) industry that looks set to grow by 10 per cent this year.
A new convention wing, Max Atria, will see the addition of 23 meeting rooms and function areas. The new facility, which will increase the expo's 100,000 sq m of indoor space by 8,000 sq m, is set to open in the first quarter of next year.
Although the Singapore Tourism Board has yet to release official Mice numbers for last year, the industry's main players say they had seen a year-on-year increase of about 20 per cent in the number of events held last year. This follows a poor 2009 when the industry was hit by a slump brought about by the global economic crisis.
With growth estimated to be 10 per cent this year, industry players said the expo's expansion is timely and will offer more options for event organisers.
Ms Michelle Lim, chairman of media relations and research at the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers And Suppliers, said: 'Expo's expansion is an indication that the industry is continuing to invest and improve so that Singapore remains a top Mice destination.'
Resorts World Sentosa has hosted more than 1,000 events since its Mice operations started in March last year, while Marina Bay Sands hosted some 700 events last year.