Northstar

INSIGHTS | EVENT HIGHLIGHT Jul-Aug 2017 53 MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS • MCMAG-ASIA.COM Flight Centre Global Rally ORGANISER: Flight Centre Travel Group EVENT: Flight Centre Global Gathering 2016 DATE: July 14-17, 2016 EVENT SIZE: 3,300 attendees VENUES: Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre (Level 5 Sands Grand Ballroom, Level 4 Meeting Rooms, Level 3 Begonia Main Ballroom & Cassia Main Ballroom, Exhibition Halls A, B, C & D), Sands SkyPark CONTACT: sales@ marinabaysands.com Words Meetings & Conventions Asia Delegates were treated to a live concert. Marina Bay Sands proves its chops once again, having been selected as the host for the annual rally in Singapore. IN BRIEF The Flight Centre Global Rally is one of the most anticipated annual gatherings for Australian-based Flight Centre Travel Group. Last July, 3,300 of its top-performing global achievers were brought to Singapore for a four- day action-packed and fun-lled event. PROGRAMME & PLANNING Prior to the event, the biennial Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) was also taking place at Marina Bay Sands (MBS). To ensure that both went smoothly, MBS pre- installed part of Flight Centre's lighting and audiovisual set-up, and utilised close to 1,000 trucks to clear out the space on the day of Flight Centre's event, which included a leaders' conference, performances, parties, a corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity and culinary experiences at Marina Bay Sands' dining tenants. incorporate this into all future Global Gatherings. Anita Russell, general manager, Flight Centre Foundation, said: "Working with Marina Bay Sands made arranging a suitable, meaningful and relevant volunteer activity for 250 of our delegates so simple." TALKING POINT 250 travel agents volunteered for Flight Centre Foundation's (CSR) event, which saw them and 25 Marina EXPERIENCE "The Fast & The Furious: Experience the Extraordinary" event opened with a welcome party at Gardens by the Bay followed by an after-party atop the iconic Sands SkyPark. Over four days, delegates attended a conference at Sands Grand Ballroom, graced by actress Gwyneth Paltrow and were feted at a gala dinner with live performances by American singer Jason Derulo and DJ Fatboy Slim. The group also stopped by celebrity chef Justin Quek's Sky on 57 restaurant and Flight Bar & Lounge for cocktails, while Spago by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck hosted an exclusive overnight party atop the Sands SkyPark. FEEDBACK Following the strong positive feedback received especially for the CSR component, Flight Centre now plans to Bay Sands sta volunteers packing over 30,000 nutritious meals within a span of 30 minutes. These were distributed by Food Bank Singapore to the elderly and those with low income. Flight Centre also collected over 700 unopened bottles of water from sponsors, as well as unused t-shirts, jackets and caps left over from the Global Gathering and donated them to charity Food from the Heart.

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