Event Dscoop Asia 2011
Organiser PMG Asia Pacific
Venue Resorts World Sentosa
Delegates 1,300
Date August 22-25

The brief
Digital Solutions Cooperative (Dscoop) is the user-driven community of HP Indigo press users. The annual Dscoop Asia conference began in Seoul in 2001 as an offshoot of the US event, and has since been held in a different city each year. This was its first time in Singapore and organisers needed a large conference venue with on-site options for social functions as well.

Challenges
All activities during the four-day event were held on-site. This included the concurrent 4th Asia Pacific/ Japan HP Digital Print Awards, which were held within the Universal Studios theme park. The park was closed early to accommodate the event.

“One of our challenges was making sure the 1,300 delegates made it from the convention centre to the Pantages Hollywood Theatre for the awards presentation without any difficulties,” says Tarisa Quak, senior project manager for PMG Asia-Pacific. “We had ushers guiding delegates along the route and Resorts World Sentosa provided manpower inside the park to help us contain the group within the theatre area.”

On arrival cocktails and canapés were served while delegates met with characters that included the stars of animated movie Madagascar. “We served food and drink so people were comfortable during the award ceremony, and used the park PA system to announce when it was time to move inside,” says Quak.

While the 45-minute ceremony was taking place, Resorts World Sentosa set up the buffet dinner on its New York City-themed streets. Frankenstein, Betty Boop, Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin mingled with guests during the dinner and there were special performances by Rockafellas, Daddy O’s and Mel’s Dinettes. The evening closed with a special pyrotechnics performance at Lake Hollywood Spectacular.

Execution
The opening cocktail reception was held at Fiesta restaurant in Festive Hotel. “We wanted the reception to be outside and away from the four walls of a function room,” says Quak. “The restaurant was closed off for us and we had a jazz band playing on the poolside area so delegates were able to move around and mingle.”

The conference programme was held at Resorts World Convention Center. Singapore Tourism Board set up a booth at the venue to provide delegates with information about what they could do after hours.

Delegates stayed on-site at the Hard Rock, Festive Hotel and Hotel Michael, as well as at nearby Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, for which a shuttle service was arranged for their convenience.

Comment
“From F&B requirements to audiovisual set up, Resorts World Sentosa provided us the ultimate convenience with all services provided in-house,” says Quak. “This was crucial to our execution of the event as we strived to provide unique experiences with consistent quality across different venues of the resort, from the convention centre to the hotels, as well as Universal Studios Singapore.

“The lively and electrifying atmosphere certainly made the event a great success. The integrated resort is truly one of its kind in providing many surprising venues across its sprawling complex, which suited the varying needs of our programme.”

Timeline
January 2011 Host city selected
February Venue chosen
March Venue finalised
May Entertainment finalised
August On-site preproduction