The Meetings Show Asia Pacific returned to Singapore last week with resounding success, further establishing itself as a key anchor event for the MICE industry in the region. Building on the momentum of its 2024 debut, the second edition convened meeting professionals from Asia Pacific and beyond for two vibrant days of business exchange, networking and knowledge-sharing.
Held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre on April 16-17, the event featured a dynamic show floor with nearly 300 exhibitors, a strong hosted buyer program and a thoughtfully curated series of knowledge sessions. TMS APAC 2025 was co-located with the inaugural Business Travel Show Asia Pacific, which brought together corporate travel professionals, senior buyers and leading suppliers.
Together, TMS APAC and BTS APAC welcomed 1,773 attendees from more than 72 countries, including 347 hosted buyers. For TMS APAC specifically, the 2025 edition recorded 35 percent growth over its debut year, reflecting broader participation, richer programming and deeper regional involvement.
The opening ceremony was graced by executive leadership from the organizer and strategic partners, including Northstar Travel Group's CEO Jason Young, chief commercial officer and president Bob Sullivan, executive vice president of international and meetings David Blansfield and vice president/group publisher for Asia Irene Chua. Also in attendance were the Marina Bay Sands' vice president of sales and MICE Ong Wee Min, as well as the Singapore Tourism Board's executive director of exhibitions and conferences Poh Chi Chuan and the assistant chief executive of the Industry Development Group and chief sustainability officer, Ong Huey Hong.
In his remarks, Northstar Travel Group's CEO Jason Young emphasised the industry's enduring relevance and the company's commitment to supporting it: "For more than 80 years, our brands have been the trusted voice of the travel and tourism industry. Our market-leading events and media products are relied upon by the most important professional audiences that drive the US$2 trillion travel market across the MICE, corporate and leisure segments. We truly embrace our role as the champion of travel."
He continued, "Right now, the geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties make travel, we believe, more important and more essential than ever before because travel brings communities together. Travel makes business happen, and that's why we are here this week — to bring communities together and to make business happen. We couldn't be more bullish and excited about the opportunity that TMS APAC brings."
Ong Huey Hong of the Singapore Tourism Board expressed her enthusiasm at the show's opening: "It is with great pleasure and excitement that we get to witness not only the growth of the second edition of TMS APAC, but also the inaugural launch of BTS APAC in Singapore. The co-location of the two events will form an even stronger gateway to quality connections and insightful sessions tailored to the meetings and corporate travel sectors."
She added: "Singapore aims to triple our MICE tourism receipts by 2040. The global economic outlook may appear uncertain for now, but it is too early to determine the impact on our business. In the meantime, we will continue working towards our target by building on our leadership position and unwavering commitment to excellence. We have a robust pipeline of events leveraging the range of vibrant industries in Singapore, and will refresh our hardware and software to support this growth."
A cornerstone of the event's success was its curated hosted buyer program, which facilitated more than 8,000 scheduled appointments, maximizing business opportunities on the show floor. In addition, more than 30 hours of high-value education content were delivered across multiple stages, offering timely insights into macro trends, event design, technology, sustainability, workforce development and wellness.
"This year's edition has demonstrated just how vital and vibrant the MICE industry is in this part of the world," said Northstar Travel Group's David Blansfield. "We have seen a tremendous increase in buyer participation and industry engagement, which cements TMS APAC as the go-to event for professionals who want to understand and shape the future of MICE in the region."
Both exhibitors and buyers highlighted the relevance of the content, the quality of connections and the continued growth of TMS APAC.
"In a short span of time, TMS APAC has overtaken many MICE and travel trade shows in Singapore and beyond, emerging as one of the top business travel shows in Asia Pacific," said Vincent Tham, director of D'Event Tree. "The energy is electrifying and infectious, and there's nothing quite like sharing ideas and discussing exciting possibilities amidst such good vibes. It is a dynamic, incredible and creative setting to connect with hoteliers and reunite with friends in the MICE community worldwide."
Building on the strong momentum of this year's edition, TMS APAC will return to Singapore's Sands Expo & Convention Centre on April 14-15, 2026. Industry professionals can register their interest and view details on the event website.