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MITEC subscribes to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 3 promoting health and wellbeing which is extended now to the safety of it visitors through the standard operating procedures undertaken by the venue during this COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is embedded in our Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) protocols to safeguard everyone at our premise and to eliminate and minimise any environmental or significant hazards and risks,” said Gunther Beissel, chief executive officer.

The venue’s comprehensive venue’s strict standard operating procedures include: staff training;  public awareness and through multi-media displays; social distancing at public areas and event venues; QR code for e-health screening and declaration form; temperature checks; hand sanitisers; ISO 22000 advanced food safety measures; routine surface cleaning; reduced touch points; air quality control; and daily monitoring systems.

At the same time, the venue also offers face masks, gloves and other hygiene protective gear for purchase at its medical clinic.

MITEC is the only trade fair venue in Malaysia with its own in-house medical clinic including an isolation room if needed, providing the community with peace of mind and support whilst at its venue. The facility also has an ambulance stationed at the South entrance during business hours and extended hours during events.

Reed Travel Exhibitions announced it has postponed the inaugural edition of IBTM Asia Pacific in Singapore to April 13 and 14 in 2021.

The decision has been taken following the latest advice from partners regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) and, as a result of in-depth discussions with customers and hosted buyers from the region and globally.

Commenting on the announcement, Shane Hannam, portfolio director of IBTM Events said that the decision made by the organiser was not taken lightly for its customers, partners and team in Singapore, have worked hard on the event.  While it is disappointing to postpone, it’s imperative that the organiser prioritise on the health and safety of everyone involved.

The decision to reschedule the show is also supported by the Singapore Tourism Board. Its executive director of conventions, meetings and incentive travel, Dr Edward Koh mentioned STB, will continue to work closely with Reed Travel Exhibitions and other partners, to provide the assistance required during this time.

IBTM he added is a valued partner and the Asia Pacific show remains a key highlight in Singapore’s event calendar and look forward to extending a warm welcome to all attendees and exhibitors in 2021.

ICCA’s Research Division is monitoring the status of all 1,065 meetings in the ICCA Association Database currently scheduled in Asia Pacific for 2020: Only 44 meetings scheduled for Asia Pacific are affected by COVID-19 (4.1 percent) – 44 meetings, 34 are postponed, five cancelled and five relocated. Outside Asia Pacific, two meetings in Europe and one in Africa are postponed.

James Rees, ICCA president said: “When facing uncertainty or crisis, identifying reliable and timely sources of information is critical to making responsible decisions. We have put together our COVID-19 liveblog to help global meetings industry professionals to find reliable information about the novel COVID-19 outbreak and to share meetings industry-related resources with the global ICCA community of meeting suppliers and associations.”

“We believe the international meetings industry can play its part in finding a solution to the current COVID-19 outbreak. International meetings represent the best possible vehicle for addressing this and many other global issues. As an industry, we must demonstrate resilience and confidence by maintaining to the greatest extent possible our ongoing schedule of activities – and where this is not possible, by working collaboratively to develop alternatives that help maintain the exchange of information and insights that account for the benefits we believe to result from this kind of engagement.”

COVID-19 Meeting Solutions

ICCA has received requests for alternative meeting facilities from associations, is reaching out to associations who are looking to relocate their meetings, and to help them find new meeting facilities.

The business events industry in Sarawak, a state located in East Malaysia considered to be a second-tier conference destination, has secured the highest number of business events in a single year in 2019 – estimated to anchor more than RM90 million in direct delegate expenditure (DDE) from the spending of flights, accommodation, meals and entertainment.

Aside from assessing the economic value to Sarawak, the secured collective of meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions were also assessed under its Legacy Impact Assessment which pointed 965 potential impacts for Sarawak.

The Legacy Impact Accessment introduced by Business Events Sarawak or BESarawak, the state’s convention bureau is for the business events industry to fulfill a bigger purpose than just putting value on business and financial benefits, but also to leave a legacy.

Events are assessed against the 7 Key Focus Areas (7KFA) of urban development and re-development, industry development, social, environmental, agricultural and service and digital economy.

In addition to celebrating the triumphant wins and scoring, BESarawak has also announced that the figures associated with the bid wins such as delegate attendance, days and expenditure has surpassed the bureau’s expectation and target. According to their survey, 72.4 percent of delegates extended their stay post-convention with a satisfaction scoring of 98.4 percent.

Stated by the chairman of BESarawak, Tan Sri Dato Sri Dr. Muhammad Leo Toyad last year’s success in securing the highest number of business events indicate the actual strength of this industry on the state’s economy and is confident that the figures will increase exponentially.

Membership is open to all stakeholders in association meetings throughout the world. According to ICCA, by joining the community, associations have access to education, connections, tools and resources to organise more effective meetings.

Also through the ICCA Association Community, associations can make their voice heard in ICCA’s global community for the international meetings industry on: how their association and their meetings will make a difference in the future.

Associations will have access to ICCA’s Association Meetings Intelligence as well as to ICCA’s events and enjoy peer-to-peer networking, expertise and education.

“The launch of the ICCA Association Community will integrate associations with our membership, helping to shape ICCA’s future and provide opportunities for ever-closer collaboration,” remarked ICCA president James Rees.

While, Thomas Reiser, executive director of the International Society on Thrombosis and Homeostasis (ISTH) said: “Networking with international associations among each other is critical for the success of our activities as the peer-to-peer sharing and learning is one of the most powerful aspects.”

He added by doing this on a well-established platform like ICCA and, combining it with the community of destination partners is even more beneficial for ISTH particularly, in their joint efforts to professionalise the way to collaborate in planning and executing successful events.

This is why ISTH said the executive director, is happy to be part of the ICCA Association Community and look forward to the benefits such as access to data, sharing new ideas, thought-provoking education and peer to peer networking.

Associations can sign up through a form on the ICCA website.

Citing the business events industry’s vast potential for taking care of people and communities, PCMA president and CEO Sherrif Karamat announced a pan-industry initiative to raise USD 250,000 to help those affected by the bushfires in Australia and the earthquakes in Puerto Rico.

“Doing good for people and communities in crisis is doing good for all of us,” Karamat said. “The business events industry has a rich legacy of stepping up and coming together to do good when disasters strike. This is another way of demonstrating how business events can be a catalyst for economic and social transformation.”

Three years ago, the PCMA Foundation created the Industry Relief Fund to unify the business events community to aid of members of the industry who were suffering from disasters wherever they may be.

In addition to direct financial support through the Industry Relief Fund, PCMA will also collaborate with leaders in the affected communities to provide messaging support through PCMA’s global networks and channels.

Donate and find out more at:foundation.pcma.org/industry-relief-fund.

The Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS) is now in its 40^th year.   Since its inception in 1979, SACEOS has established itself as an active voice of the meetings and events industry in Singapore, providing a platform for innovation and has become a key player within the region’s events industry.

“I believe this sector will advance faster in the next 10 years than it ever has before. New technologies are enabling greater efficiency and more collaborative operating models. They are also re-shaping the marketplace. New entrants such as start-ups or the industry’s own customers and suppliers, are also shaking up the sector to allow new applications, create new interactions, and empower people even more,” said Alousius Arlando, president of SACEOS.

Now home to more than 5,000 Asia Pacific headquarters of SME and global MNC companies, SACEOS has aided in boosting the expansion of the regional market over the past four decades. It has facilitated and solidified regional and global partnerships, advanced knowledge and industry best practices while advocating for advancement and a better business economy for Singapore.

At Singapore’s EXPO & MAX Atria where a dinner celebration was held to mark the 40^th anniversary, a new logo of SACEOS was unveiled of a brand new visual identity that represents the growth and transformation of SACEOS.

“Its smarter visual identity is a hallmark for the next phase of our growth. The improved logo has evolved by enhancing the colour and font while still retaining a distinct reference to our former branding and origins,” the association’s president commented.

This year, Singapore will be hosting some of the biggest business events in the region from the Singapore FinTech Festival, Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology, Singapore Media Festival, Food and Hotel Asia to the Singapore Air Show

Understated in style and grandeur, the hotel is ideal for business and leisure travellers. The hotel opened its doors in December last year and recently organised an appreciation night for the hotel’s travel agents and media.

The property has a total of 345 spaciously designed and furnished guestrooms of deluxe and executive, family-style suites, studio and junior suites. In terms of accessibility, the hotel is within walking distance to many of the city’s popular attractions, banking institutions and historical landmarks.