Northstar

16 Jul-Aug 2016 meetings & conventions • mcmag-asia.com Left-right: Participants on a tour at Little India; Bright lights illuminating the streets of Chinatown. MULTICULTURAL. EFFICIENT. ACCESSIBLE. CUTTING-EDGE. GREEN. These were some of the words associated with Singapore, as shared by a group of 17 US buyers, who visited the city from 14-18 March 2016. Consistently ranked as Asia's Top Convention City by the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA), Singapore continues to be the choice destination for meeting and event planners. A curated five-day itinerary around Singapore left US buyers intrigued and inspired by the myriad meeting and incentive possibilities in the city. The S Factor: AN ECLECTIC BLEND OF EXPERIENCES Uncovering the best of Singapore During the five-day trip organised by the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau ™ (part of Singapore Tourism Board), in partnership with Northstar Meetings Group, the group – consisting of executives from US-based meeting and incentive planning companies – was able to get a taste of the multifaceted experiences the compact city has to offer. Participants went sightseeing at cultural precincts like Little India and Chinatown and also visited the new National Gallery Singapore, the world's first public museum dedicated to modern Singapore and Southeast Asian art. They also visited hotels that would serve as potential meeting spaces for their clients. Besides the requisite trip to Marina Bay PHOTOS (TOP AND MIDDLE): AHLAMB/ISTOCK Sands ® , home to the renowned rooftop infinity pool, they went to Capella, one of three Singapore hotels with the acclaimed Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Hotel Award, and new lifestyle hotel JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach, which was designed by famed architect Philippe Starck, and boasts "incredibly unique meeting rooms", according to Jim Bjorkes, director of sales, PRIME Strategics Inc.

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