Its launch demonstrates a strong showing of the city state’s readiness as a choice MICE destination while global travel recovers amid the pandemic
Brought to you by the Singapore Tourism Board
Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS) launched the world’s first safe events certification last year to assure event organisers and attendees that stakeholders in the MICE industry observe and uphold hygiene benchmarks and safe distancing best practices.
The SG SafeEvent Certification is based on the Technical Reference 84 (TR 84), which provides best practices for conducting events in a safe and responsible manner beyond what is covered under the government-mandated Safe Management Measures (SMM) and complements the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) Safe Business Events (SBE) framework.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, the first-of-its-kind programme creates a competitive edge for Singapore as an events destination, as it enables enterprises in the MICE sector to re-calibrate their business operations to pivot, strengthen resilience and source opportunities for recovery.
TR 84 lays out industry guidelines and best practices in hygiene and sanitisation, safe distancing and emergency management for event organisers, venue owners and other suppliers.
For instance, organisers are required to have a risk management plan and document identified hazards and the necessary control measures that have been implemented before and during events. Venue operators also have to ensure that a routine disinfection plan for periodic cleaning is developed. Where feasible, the MICE specialists are also encouraged to deploy contactless technology.
STB has also been working closely with SACEOS to support the industry-led accreditation programme, where more than 90 organisations have already registered interest. As of March this year, nearly 70 organisations have been certified and 3,800 SG SafeEvent Ambassadors have been trained.
One of SG SafeEvent-certified organisers, Unearthed Productions, assisted prominent trade fair organiser Koelnmesse in providing event support services, such as the hybrid set-up, stage and production management for gamescom asia 2021.
Billed as the region’s first hybrid convention for video games since the start of the pandemic, more than 2,000 in-person and virtual attendees from over 60 countries graced the event.
Adam Esoof Piperdy, chief experience officer, Unearthed Productions, said: “I think gamescom asia 2021 was pretty symbolic, not just in terms of the positive response of the audience, but also in terms of the sheer amount of exposure Singapore got just from being the host of this event. This highlights the robustness of TR 84 and the attractiveness of Singapore as a MICE event destination.”
In October 2021, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore also hosted the first-ever physical gathering of global leaders and event organisers at the Joint Leadership Summit 2021 co-organised by SACEOS, Association of Event Organisers (AEO), Society for Independent Show Organizers (SISO) and UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.
Both The Fullerton Hotel Singapore and The Fullerton Bay Hotel are SG SafeEvent-certified venues.
Gino Tan, country general manager of The Fullerton Hotels and Resorts, said: “In the current environment where safety and hygiene continue to be top of mind, the SG SafeEvent Certification is a valuable mark of assurance that our guests’ safety and well-being are our top priority, especially as international and business travel start to resume.”
He also told TTGmice that the hospitality player has witnessed a welcoming level from clients who are keen to organise events in both hotels.
Ong Wee Min, vice president of conventions and exhibitions, Marina Bay Sands (MBS) which is also a SG SafeEvent-certified venue, said: “The successful hosting of pilot events in Singapore since October 2020, from the initial 50 pax to 250 then to 1,000 pax and larger, is a good showcase of the scalability of the safe management measures in a business events meeting setting.”
MBS’ innovative Sands Expo and Convention Centre’s hybrid event broadcast studio, complete with broadcast-quality live-streaming capabilities and hologram functionalities, staged the PCMA Convening Leaders 2021 to a physical turnout of close to 300 delegates.
“This is crucial in positioning Singapore as a safe MICE destination to host international events, thus regaining the trust and confidence of the global MICE community,” he added.
Interested companies who wish to be certified or enquire about the SG SafeEvent Certification can register their interest for the industry briefing with SACEOS at secretariat@saceos.org.sg.
For more information on TR 84, visit SACEOS.
To learn how Singapore can support your next business event, visit Singapore Tourism Board.
