Northstar

S P E C I A L F E A T U R E Jul-Aug 2016 17 meetings & conventions • mcmag-asia.com Visit to the food capital of the world Any visit to Singapore would not be complete without taking in all that it has to offer, from a culinary aspect. The Late Night Supper Crawl with street food advocate and expert and CEO of Makansutra, KF Seetoh, saw participants trying out delicious local favourites such as Chilli Crab, Ice Kachang and Tiger Beer. To further augment their experience, participants were taken on a cruise down Singapore River, before being greeted with cocktails and dinner at Clifford Pier, a historic restaurant at The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore. "It was a special experience," said Erika Rodrigues, senior buyer, creative development, Meridian Incentive Consultants. "I liked that we got to enjoy spectacular views of Marina Bay at night too." An insider access Participants were delighted at the opportunity to understand the inner workings of Singapore Airlines during a tour of the Singapore Airlines Training Centre. This was "hands-down" the favourite programme for John Crowe, president, Metracon Travel Group Inc. He said: "To have such exclusive access was unique, especially since Singapore Airlines is continually ranked as one of the top airlines in the industry… It's a great tie-in for any groups coming here for a behind-the-scenes perspective and will make them feel like VIPs." A slice of authenticity Beyond the usual celebrated aspects of the island city-state, the trip offered a glimpse into the less glitzy side of Singapore with an abbreviated version of The Secrets of the Red Lantern, an award- winning The Original Walks Series by Journeys that takes participants to the colourful back alleys of Geylang, where night-time activities (think trendy clubs, hidden bars and racy streetwalkers) flourish. During the walk, the delegates also tried exotic food like crocodile and turtle soup. Enriching learning opportunities The trip also provided educational tours such as a visit to NEWater Visitor Centre, which showcased how Singapore solved the problem of a lack of natural water resources and turned it into a business profit. "The tour would be great for a client whose firm is stuck in the rut," said Rodrigues. "Seeing how Singapore has overcome the odds is truly inspiring." To help buyers translate what they have experienced into tangible outcomes, organisers put together an education session led by President of Maritz Travel Company David Peckinpaugh, who discussed trends in incentive travel programmes. The fulfilling trip left an indelible mark on the buyers, who departed with a better appreciation of this modern Asian city. For more information on organising incentives and meetings in Singapore, visit www.yoursingapore.com/mice. Supper crawl with prominent local foodie KF Seetoh. "(Singapore) is a fascinating blend of old and new, a futuristic city on the edge of Asia… it's highly concentrated, but it never feels crowded." – Jim Bjorkes Selling Singapore: What's your view? "A great layover or dual destination as most of our business is usually incentive-based." – John Crowe "A very safe destination. I think this will be an advantage moving forward, in light of the current state of affairs.' – Erika Rodrigues "A fascinating blend of old and new, a futuristic city on the edge of Asia, sans pollution and crime commonly found elsewhere; it's highly concentrated, but it never feels crowded." – Jim Bjorkes "An excellent destination on its own, but also as a base to the rest of Southeast Asia. Its uniqueness, cultural diversity and reliability make it suitable for numerous meeting and incentive clients." – John Maguire, president, CIMAX

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