STB unveils 21 Finalists for Inaugural Singapore Business Events Awards

On Tuesday, the Singapore Tourism Board unveiled the 21 finalists who are shortlisted for the inaugural Singapore Business Events Awards which will be held on 2 August 2007 at The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore. These finalists have been selected by an international panel of judges for their business and service excellence, creativity and innovation across all segments of the meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) sector. The finalists will vie for seven awards in four categories – event excellence, suppliers excellence, industry achievement and individual award.

The Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau (SECB), developed the Awards to profile Singapore as a leading destination for business events through showcasing the professionalism and skills of the business events industry. In its inaugural year, the Awards aim to recognise the contributions of the business events industry players that have galvanised Singapore’s standing as a premier business travel and MICE destination.

The Awards will highlight exemplary industry partners that have consistently met the needs of event organisers and participants by demonstrating business savvy that cuts across international borders, having experienced professional and qualified staff who are committed to deliver quality business events.

During the seven-week nomination period, the SECB received entries from a wide spectrum of MICE partners. After a month-long judging process by an international panel of judges, a total of 21 finalists were shortlisted for the four award categories. The finalists range from Professional Conference Organisers (PCO), Professional Exhibition Organisers (PEO), Destination Management Companies (DMC), venues (such as exhibition/conference venues, hotels), freight forwarders and other related companies such as stand contractors, AV, production and staging companies.

The finalists were assessed by a judging panel consisting of 16 judges who are industry experts as well as association and academic leaders, and representatives from the corporate sector. The international judging panel lent a global perspective to the Awards, and nominees were assessed on how innovative they are in organising world-class business events and how their level of service and expertise have exceeded clients’ expectations. Nominees were also assessed on how their event or company has contributed to raising Singapore’s profile as a MICE destination.

Business Travel and MICE is identified as one of the key drivers of tourism in Singapore, with visitor arrivals constituting approximately 25% of total visitor arrivals in 2005, contributing over 30% or more than Sin$ 3 billion of total tourism receipts. The STB aims to substantially raise BTMICE contribution to at least 35%, or Sin$ 10.5 billion of total TR by the year 2015.

“We are very heartened by the quality of the nominations. The industry players have put in great effort to highlight and give tribute and due recognition to the nominees’ accomplishments and competencies. We appreciate the industry’s support for the Singapore Business Events Awards which we hope will spur our MICE industry partners to aspire towards greater heights of excellence, thus elevating Singapore’s position as a leading MICE destination well-renowned for its service standards, professional expertise, innovative customer-focused solutions, quality infrastructure and venues and creative approaches to the staging of exceptional business events,” said Mr Aloysius Arlando, Assistant Chief Executive, Business Travel and MICE Group, Singapore Tourism Board.

The Singapore Business Events Awards will be held at The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore on the night of 2 August. The event will be officiated by the Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Lim Hng Kiang as the Guest-of-Honour.

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