Those who have done well in the 2010 Singapore Experience Awards attributed their slow-burn success to years of solid effort combined with consistent industry support.
Winners of the 2010 Singapore Experience Awards, like Sea Asia 2009 and Web In Travel, are benefiting from the acclaim. But it’s taken years of effort and the support of industry associates to achieve such success.
Organiser, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) relaunched the awards programme last year, turning it into the most prestigious event in Singapore’s tourism industry, judged by an independent panel of experts.
Melissa Ow, STB’s assistant chief executive, industry development (II) group, says: “We salute our partners in the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) industry who worked with STB to deliver exceptional experiences for our clients.
“The Singapore Experience Awards recognises organisations and service providers for their efforts to improve Singapore’s competitiveness as a leading business destination.”
The International Conference on Materials for Advanced Technologies (ICMAT) is a good example of a small conference that has grown into an international forum. ICMAT 2009 was named Association Conference of the Year.
Distinguished guests
Its last five conferences have attracted more than 10,000 delegates when combined, including 16 Nobel laureates, and ICMAT has become the largest conference of its kind held outside the US.
Professor BVR Chowdari, president, Materials Research Society of Singapore, says: “Recognising ICMAT 2009 as Association Conference of the Year acknowledges the efforts of a large number of my colleagues, and it motivates us to work harder.”
Chowdari has the double honour of being named Business Event Ambassador for his significant contribution to the development of business events.
Major exhibition
Sea Asia 2009, organised by Seatrade and the Singapore Maritime Foundation, won the Exhibition of the Year award. Launched in 2007, the event is now a major international exhibition and conference, and contributes an Asian perspective on world shipping.
Chris Hayman, chairman of Seatrade, says: “A strong profile in an expanding industry sector and a clear buyer/seller proposition are essential ingredients of a successful exhibition.”
Excellent local partnerships are also vital, he adds, together with extensive knowledge of the sector, high brand recognition, a global network, and the marketing, organisational and sales skills necessary to host a first-class event.
“Seatrade is very fortunate to have the Singapore Maritime Foundation as co-organiser of Sea Asia,” says Hayman.
Comprehensive experience
In the corporate sector, Ernst & Young Asia Pacific Tax Symposium and Transfer Pricing Forum won the Meeting of the Year category. Russell Aubrey, head of tax services, Ernst & Young Solutions, says: “Our event provided guests with a comprehensive experience. Apart from updates on tax trends delivered through the technical agenda, clients were also able to discuss their issues privately with our tax experts.”
Networking dinners were arranged for guests to network with their peers and to further strengthen relationships with Ernst & Young staff.
Different perspective
Yeoh Siew Hoon, producer and editor of Web In Travel, winner of the Trade Conference of the Year, offers another perspective on this event’s success.
“It is not about what you do, or how you organise a conference. Anyone can do that as we all have access to the same venues, tools and expertise. It is about why you do it that gives it purpose, personality and point of view,” says Yeoh.
“Web In Travel’s purpose is to spread the love of travel and to take people to new places. The programme is structured to allow personalities to shine and points of view to emerge, setting the pace for travel distribution, marketing and technology.”
It seems clear direction, strong partnerships, industry support and dedication are key elements for success in these awards.