The Meetings Show Asia Pacific, the region's leading event for the MICE industry, launched its highly successful inaugural edition this week at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. The show brought together more than 1,000 meeting professionals from around the world on April 17-18 to learn, connect and do business.
TMS APAC is the largest organic event launch ever organized by Northstar Travel Group, the parent company of Northstar Meetings Group, featuring more than 160 exhibitors from destination bureaus, meeting venues, hotels, technology providers and more. The agenda was comprised of topical education sessions provided by industry influencers, a Technology Campfire Showcase, networking receptions, and one-on-one appointments between hosted-buyers and suppliers.
"The Meetings Show Asia Pacific represents a watershed moment for the MICE industry throughout the region and globally," said David Blansfield, executive vice president and group publisher of Northstar Travel Group. "Never have so many influential MICE industry professionals come together in one place at one time in a leading Asian destination to connect, share best practices and do business together as they have this week."
Many industry associations, including the Global MICE Collective — made up of Meeting Professionals International, the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events — the International Congress and Convention Association, the Professional Convention Management Association, and the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers contributed education opportunities. The Events Industry Council also offered for the first time in the region introductory sessions for their Sustainable Event Professional Certificate Course.
Event education
Attendees also gained insight on the latest in sustainability, technology, workforce management, experience design and wellness, delving into topics such as:
- The great MICE rebound and potential risks in tourism in the global economy
- How the future of business events is impacted by geopolitical tensions, shifts in technology and the rise of the Gen Z workforce
- Event marketing trends
- Elevating event experiences with the power of luxury
- Behavioral learning for sustainable wellness
All of the content shared at TMS APAC will be made available through the use of Snapsight, a new AI content analysis and translation tool developed by Gevme, a Singapore-based omnichannel event management platform.
"The inaugural edition of The Meetings Show Asia Pacific offered a hub of networking and sourcing opportunities for event planners, bringing together leading MICE partners from meeting destinations and venues, to hotels and technology solution provides across the Asia Pacific region," said Ong Wee Min, vice president of sales and MICE at Marina Bay Sands. "With wellness and sustainability being a priority amongst delegates, it was also the perfect platform for us to showcase our new Wellness in MICE program and share our best practices."
The core deliverable of the event was its curated buyer-seller appointments. Meeting planners who are sourcing business in the region in the near future met with destinations and hoteliers suitable for their programs.
"I love the intimacy of the event and the 20-minute appointment format. It's fantastic, as it allows you to really learn about the destinations, companies and individuals that you're speaking to," said Timothy Glanzer, founder and CEO of Elevated Meetings Solutions. "The quality of appointments is better than some of the other trade shows I've been to. The level of vendors in the appointments is really nice and I've had the opportunity to make some really useful connections at the show."
Global suppliers
Exhibitors included Meet Taiwan, the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines and Tourism New Zealand.
"As New Zealand actively pursues association conference business in the Asia Pacific region, we are happy to share our expertise, events infrastructure and unique culture with key decision makers at The Meeting Show Asia Pacific," said Bjoern Spreitzer, general manager of New Zealand and business events for Tourism New Zealand. "It has proven to be a great platform for us to build on and enhance our relationships and connections, whilst growing our presence and share of conferences in the region.
Following its successful debut, The Meetings Show Asia Pacific will return to Singapore and the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre on April 23-24, 2025.
For more information, visit themeetingshow-apac.com or contact Whey Whey Ng.