A Singapore-based start-up will soon launch TAB, a booking platform for personalised venues and activities.
Directed at meeting planners and business travellers, TAB will address the meeting industry’s need for information and access to unconventional meeting facilities.
Set to launch by the end of this year, TAB will start off with venues and activity add-ons in Singapore, with plans to expand to other countries in the region in the future. The platform currently has some 20 partners and growing, Gregory Yap, its founder & CEO told TTGmice.
The platform will comprise restaurants and ancillary services, which include transportation, artisanal gifts and activities like vintage champagne tasting, whisky-and-chocolate pairing sessions and personalised chef’s tables. TAB is also working on roping in more services like teambuilding activities, revealed Yap.
“Today, it’s no longer just about good food or being able to book a table at the restaurant. That should be a given. Now, people expect an experience. It’s all about customisation as corporates want a special menu different from what’s displayed,” observed Yap.
He added that current dining reservation platforms do not meet the needs of corporate event hosts, as most limit booking group size.
Yap pointed out: “Corporate events are typically for larger groups of 15, 20 or even 30. Beyond booking a table, you still have to manually enquire about private rooms, set menus or customisation.”
Another challenge that TAB aims to address is the lack of a seamless platform for booking and arranging venues, as well as ancillary services ranging from transportation to gifts.
Yap explained: “During my engagements with the industry, I found that planners and business travellers face a few key challenges. Most of the time, planning events and meetings is not their day-to-day job, and even when it is, it can be stressful. Planning for an event not in your city can be even more difficult.”
He also asserted that the platform will serve a “complementary” function for PCOs, planners and DMCs who already have an established supplier network.
He said: “Their experience and knowledge is very valuable for larger events with elaborate productions and coordination. TAB’s role comes in for smaller events or business travellers that need to put together a small dinner or client meeting without the large budget to hire a professional.”
TAB will be marketed digitally as well as through partnerships with conference organisers by integrating the platform into conference webpages, aiding delegates in planning offsite events and meetings.
