Marina Bay Sands (MBS) in Singapore has launched a state-of-the-art hybrid event broadcast studio at its Sands Expo and Convention Centre.
Designed to accommodate a live studio audience with a maximum capacity of 50 persons at any one time, the hybrid broadcast studio – which offers broadcast-quality live-streaming capabilities and hologram functionalities – will help event planners looking to produce hybrid meetings.
“Hybrid meetings will help enable the return of large-scale events in a virtual manner amid the Covid-19 situation and we want to set the stage for these shows by providing planners with a suite of useful and innovative solutions which are relevant for the times,” said Paul Town, senior vice president of resort operations, MBS.
The studio’s centrepiece is a three-dimensional stage fitted with an immersive backdrop and floor that can be reconfigured. Replacing the conventional green screen backdrop are two six-metre by four-metre right-angled LED walls which can show high-resolution 360-degree visuals, while a plexiglass LED floor to display floor projections.
The three-dimensional stage is designed to provide presenters with a better perspective of their surroundings, helping them to visualise and deliver their presentations in a more immersive environment. Stage lighting systems can be customised, designed and operated to fit an event’s needs. The studio is also able to beam someone from a different part of the world ‘live’ into Singapore through a holographic presence.
MBS currently offers three virtual conferencing options – full virtual webcasting and live streaming events; hybrid events with in-person and online audiences; and hybrid events with holographic telepresence. Clients can also look forward to an enhanced suite of event tech capabilities incorporating Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Extended Reality (XR) solutions.
Earlier in July, MBS soft-launched the hybrid broadcast studio in collaboration with PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association), where attendees of the inaugural PCMA Asia Pacific Community Conversations were afforded a preview of the studio’s capabilities. For example, the virtual kick-off session’s welcome address demonstrated to attendees how holographic telepresence could be used in a hybrid event setting by beaming in one of the presenters onto the set.
MBS has also partnered PCMA and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to launch PCMA’s Digital Event Strategist (DES) accreditation to a select group of international clients.
In addition, over 30 sales and MICE team members will be undergoing PCMA’s DES certification, as part of the integrated resort’s continuous focus on staff training. The course will arm the team with the requisite skills, knowledge and proficiency to help clients conceptualise, plan and co-create new hybrid meeting and event designs.
“As the event landscape continues to evolve, event planners will place greater emphasis on building digital events into their next meeting strategy. Future conversations will revolve around effective programme augmentation to drive the client’s brand value and online presence. We aim to future-proof our MICE team to better navigate this ever-evolving landscape, together with our clients and partners,” said Ong Wee Min, vice president of conventions & exhibitions, MBS.
