Northstar

VIEWPOINT | EXPERT 40 MAR-APR 2018 MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS • MCMAG-ASIA.COM What's your muse? Words Esther Faith Lew Sentosa island's myriad attractions and venues provide inspirational ideas for planners looking to impress with experiential events. CMO Lynette Ang of Sentosa Development Corporation shares more. W hat's new? What else? How can my event be dierent? These questions are often asked of a planner, and with creativity being a precious commodity, they need to nd the sparks to ignite novel ideas. Recycling themes and ideas may be the norm, but the skilful planner will upcycle ideas instead. The dierence? By presenting them in dierent settings and with dierent treatments, they become totally dierent experiences. Dierent destinations and venues will ensure the everchanging ambience and backdrop that makes it new. Planners need a buet of options to switch things around and to mix and match to create the tempo for fun engagement. Sentosa island has a vantage point in this respect. Its portfolio of lifestyle and entertainment attractions, accommodations, dining outlets and event venues are staggering and range from local to international appeal and from budget to ve-star categories. "Business travellers are often on the lookout for unconventional and experiential MICE events and venues – this is a demand that Sentosa matches perfectly, with our array of unique leisure experiences all located conveniently on an island-in-the-city. An unparalleled Sentosa MICE experience, for instance, could feature our various themed attractions, golden beaches, and nature trails, alongside dierentiated dining experiences and some 15 hotels," says Lynette Ang, CMO, Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC). Such collaboration enhances the seamless planning experience that planners value in adhering to time constraints, budget restrictions and compliance. The value-add of a single Sentosa proposal also means that planners are able to tap into Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) INSPIRE programme, of which Sentosa is a participant. "Currently, a few Sentosa venues gain rebates, incentives and/or value-adds when they bring their delegates to the island. We are in the midst of adding more venues into the programme and following closely markets in which STB is including their INSPIRE programme. Intermediaries may also touch base with the Sentosa team to explore a strategic partnership to drive MICE arrivals," adds Ang. A one-stop shop Convenience is one thing, but novelty is another, and the opportunity to put together an array of seamless experiences is the icing on the cake for planners. When delegates are able to go from conference session to team-building activity to dining and social interactions with ease and in minimal time, it frees up planners to focus more on the event details that make it special and memorable. memorable. "Business travellers are "Business travellers are often on the lookout often on the lookout for unconventional and for unconventional and experiential MICE events and venues – this is a demand that Sentosa matches perfectly..." LYNETTE ANG, CMO, SENTOSA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SDC Ang recognises this need and stresses: "Our strength is the ability to curate customised meetings and social experiences for corporate clients and meeting buyers, thanks to our close relationships with our island business partners. SDC is a one-stop solution provider, working in collaboration with destination marketing companies and event planners and organisers to gather individual island business partners to curate just a single Sentosa proposal, as opposed to multiple submissions individually."

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