Suntec Singapore unveils 2015 line-up

News this week: This week, Suntec Singapore released its scheduled line-up of 100 key events for 2015 which included various B2B and B2C events with 18 serving the medical-related industries. The venue reported on a “very strong 2014 performance” since reopening in June 2013 after a period of renovations.

Trade exhibitions to be hosted at Suntec Singapore in 2015 include the Singapore Motorshow, ICMAT and JEC Asia, and new client events such as the CMBE South East Asia, Inside Bitcoins, Expo Inside 3D printing and Parcel-Expo Asia Pacific. The venue also recently launched an online customer portal which features virtual event planning and organisers’ real-time access to booking information.

Arun Madhok, CEO of Suntec, was quoted saying, “This has been a great year for us and we look forward to building on our momentum in 2015. We are pleased to host a growing number of new clients. It has been a pleasure to see the return of many of our existing partners to our new centre.”

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Suntec signs contract extension with IDEM Singapore

News this week: The Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre has announced a contract extension with Koelnmesse to host the next two editions of its dental trade show, IDEM Singapore in 2016 and 2018.

IDEM Singapore was recently held at Suntec from 4^th to 6^th April 2014 attracting 500 exhibitors from 38 countries – a 20% rise over 2012. The dental trade show and conference increased its floor space by 30% this year to cover more than 16,000 m², and featured pavilions from eleven countries. According to Koelnmesse, a total of 7,842 attendees from 61 countries attended the show and conference.

Michael Dreyer, Asia Pacific vice president of Koelnmesse, commented “We will continue to strengthen IDEM Singapore’s position as the preferred platform for companies looking to launch new dental solutions into Asia, by continuing to bring in the key buyers from the region. We hope that IDEM Singapore will grow to become not only a gateway to Asian markets but also a portal to the rest of the world.”

This post is excerpted from BSG's weekly e-newsletter which is part of our subscription research service, BSG Tracker. Visit our website to find out more about this service. You can also follow us on Twitter for all the latest updates.

88 events lined-up for Suntec in 2014

News this week: The Suntec Singapore Convention Exhibition Centre has announced a schedule of 88 events for its 2014 calendar. According to Suntec’s management, the venue will host 88 key events in 2014, including 16 major medical events, 16 trade shows, 19 consumer events and 37 international conferences and special events.

Suntec recently reopened in June this year, following its US$147 million upgrade. Suntec reports its team served 196 events and a total of 780,000 visitors since reopening, which included 56 exhibitions and 124 conferences and meetings. First time events to be held in 2014 will include Blueprint - Asia’s Fashion Gateway, Singapore Art Fair, AAMA-TEX, UROFAIR, and Trans Asia.

Arun Madhok, CEO of Suntec, was quoted saying, “Our event list is a testimony to the confidence in the Suntec Singapore team and the value of the facilities and services that we offer. With so many key events already contracted, and considering how well we’ve traditionally done with corporate events, I fully expect 2014 to be a very successful and busy year.”

This post is excerpted from BSG's weekly e-newsletter which is part of our subscription research service, BSG Tracker. Visit our website to find out more about this service. You can also follow us on Twitter for all the latest updates.

Suntec hosted 96 events since refurbishment

News this week: The Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre reported some 650,000 visitors have attended a total of 96 events at the venue since its reopening in June 2013. Around 60% to 70% of those events were return bookings during the three month period.

According to Suntec’s management, the occupancy rate for October has already reached close to 80% with major trade shows such as IT event Cloud Expo Asia also lined up for this November. The venue highlighted its target to attract more medical and IT industry-related events.

Earlier last week, Suntec soft opened its Suntec City Phase 1 property, which houses more than 120 retail stores and F&B outlets.

This post is excerpted from BSG's weekly e-newsletter which is part of our subscription research service, BSG Tracker. Visit our website to find out more about this service. You can also follow us on Twitter for all the latest updates.

Suntec Singapore reopens after renovation

News this week: The Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre has recently reopened with US$147 million worth of new features and service enhancements. The extensive renovations began in June 2012.

Facilities in the upgraded venue include more than 2,100 m² function space, 36 convertible meeting rooms, six halls covering 12,000 m², and a 10,000 m² column-free hall that connects to a multipurpose hall. Free Wi-Fi is now provided throughout the building, and is capable of handling up to 6,000 devices any given time.

The first event after Suntec’s reopening is the Special Olympics Singapore National Games Closing Ceremony. Suntec Singapore’s CEO, Arun Madhok, mentioned at the event, “Our first event could not have gone better. It is very rewarding to see people enjoying themselves the way they are tonight. We have been working very hard over the past year for this moment and it is a great feeling to welcome visitors to our new centre.”

This post is excerpted from BSG's weekly e-newsletter which is part of our subscription research service, BSG Tracker. Visit our website to find out more about this service. You can also follow us on Twitter for all the latest updates.

Suntec in the running for Darling Harbour bid

News this week: Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Services is part of the ‘VeNuSW’ consortium bidding to design, build and operate the Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct (SICEEP) at Darling Harbour. Suntec believes their strong Asian network will provide the edge needed to win the bid over their biggest competitor ‘Destination Sydney’ led by AEG Ogden.

Ong Wee Min, Suntec’s chief commercial officer, explained they are marketing-driven and their strength lies in the company’s global client network managed by around 40 sales professionals around the world.

The new facilities will include 40,000 m² of exhibition space and 6,000 m² of meeting room space. Convention and banqueting capacity are expected to cater to 10,000 and 2,000 people respectively, along with an entertainment venue capable of hosting at least 8,000.

The ‘VeNuSW’ consortium is led by Plenary Group and Brookfield Multiplex. In addition to Suntec, other members of the consortium include Brookfield Multiplex Services, Life Nation Entertainment and MCI.

Bidding results will be announced at the end of 2012. The expansion project is scheduled for completion by 2015-2016.

This post is excerpted from BSG's weekly e-newsletter which is part of our subscription research service, BSG Tracker. Visit our website to find out more about this service. You can also follow us on Twitter for all the latest updates.

Suntec Singapore posts new records in 2011

News this week: The Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre posted a record number of events and visitors in 2011.

Suntec Singapore hosted 1,600 events last year, a 5% increase over the 2010 figure. In terms of visitor number, a year-on-year growth of 4% was recorded, reaching 7.1 million. The venue also recorded occupancy rates of over 90% in the months of June, July, October and November in 2011.

Pieter Idenburg, Chief Executive Officer, Suntec Singapore, was quoted in the media release, “2011 has been an interesting year. The team has worked extremely hard on all counts to successfully execute and deliver 1,600 events. This is impressive given that the year has been marked by an uncertain global economy amidst chaotic geopolitical factors and natural disasters. I am very proud of our team, our achievements and our ability to overcome challenges. 2012 will continue to be an exciting time for us as we embark on our substantial modernization program in mid-2012 that will provide a fantastic future experience for our clients for years to come.”

This post is excerpted from BSG's weekly e-newsletter which is part of our subscription research service, BSG Tracker. Visit our website to find out more about this service. You can also follow us on Twitter for all the latest updates.

Suntec to receive upgrades in 2012

News this week: A total of US$326 million will be spent on upgrades to the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre (Suntec Singapore) and Suntec City Mall. Funded by ARA Trust Management, the managers of Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust, a US$142 million of the total sum will be allocated to Suntec Singapore. Upgrades planned for the 16-year-old venue will begin in June 2012, and include a two-storey interactive digital wall, a modernised façade and “a slight increase in meetings spaces.”

Over 18,000 events have been hosted at Suntec Singapore since its inception. According to management of the MICE venue, the upgrades will be completed in phases to minimise disruptions to events before adding that the renovations are not in response to increasing competition from other MICE venues in Singapore. Rental rates will reportedly remain flat when upgrades are completed by 2015.

Meanwhile, upgrades to neighbouring Suntec City Mall will reportedly include additional rentable retail space that will feature more F&B and retail outlets and public outdoor space.

Suntec Singapore’s CEO, Pieter Idenburg, commented, “The building has served us extremely well. Suntec Singapore has played a major role in advancing the MICE industry in Singapore and being established as a premier MICE destination. With the implementation of these planned enhancements, we will be well placed to meet the changing needs of our customers and to ensure that our business partners at all points of the supply chain have a fantastic experience and will enjoy the finest of our offerings – well into the next decade.”

This post is excerpted from BSG's weekly e-newsletter which is part of our subscription research service, BSG Tracker. Visit our website to find out more about this service. You can also follow us on Twitter for all the latest updates.