Constellar, one of Asia’s largest tradeshow and exhibition organisers and manager of Singapore Expo convention and exhibition centre, has taken a team to IMEX Frankfurt this week to highlight its festivalisation-as-a-service forte to the community of European event planners.
Elaborating on this specialisation, Khoo Yew Jin, vice president, brand & customer experience at Constellar, told TTGmice: “This is where we help organisers design, curate, and bring to life unique event experiences. From concept services like one-of-a-kind F&B zones and food trucks; unique networking areas; branded activations; alfresco spaces for open-air events, and more, we have a suite of products that are easily customisable and scalable according to the needs of each event, extending visitor experiences beyond our exhibition halls.”
“We know European event planners are expected to increase budgets and are looking to hold large-scale in-person events in the coming years,” said Khoo, adding that a Cvent study also found that European event organisers included hybrid event tools, sustainability, and the ability to offer attendees a unique and unforgettable experience among their venue considerations.
“Singapore Expo has the capability to meet such demands and deliver the holistic experience needed for a successful event,” he added.
Singapore Expo offers organisers with flexible options for interconnected spaces spanning 10 halls, 32 meeting rooms and three atriums, covering 123,000m2, with additional alternative spaces providing creative event possibilities. Its outdoor atrium that stretches from Hall 4 to 6, for example, is a blank canvas for a wide range of activations, be it for networking beyond show hours or themed dining functions.
Constellar recently added the multipurpose Arena @ Expo (Hall 7) to its venue mix. Arena @ Expo has so far “generated increasing interest among European event planners and organisers”, with most complimenting its “versatility, high-quality acoustics and tech systems, and customisation capabilities”.
Khoo also expects Apex @ Expo (Hall 1) to do well with European event organisers, as it features advance technology in an immersive space that accommodates a plenary hall, broadcast studio, and a configurable screen of 54m by 5m.
Additionally, Constellar’s 18-seat K2 chef’s table, where a farm-to-table dining concept is presented in a private venue, may appeal to planners who appreciate a unique dining experience that can easily transition from meetings. The venue is flexible, with an opaque mobile wall transforming K2 from a boardroom into a dining hall with live cooking presentation.
Furthermore, with a greater focus on sustainable venues, Constellar is confident that Singapore Expo will rank high in the minds of European event organisers.
The venue is Building & Construction Authority (BCA) Green Mark Platinum-certified; is powered by on-site solar panels the size of eight football fields; and has various urban farms providing sustainable harvest to its kitchens.
“Through plastic-free packaging and eco-friendly F&B offerings, we aim to help event organisers integrate sustainability throughout their event planning process,” said Khoo.
When asked how else would Singapore Expo stand out as a venue of choice for European event planners, Khoo pointed to the Expo Advantage Program, where organisers can leverage exclusive partner privileges to enhance their event. For example, the programme’s discounted rates with local media partners will enable international event organisers to better plan and execute their event promotions in Singapore.
Through her interactions with European buyers at IMEX Frankfurt this week, Eileen Quek, head of international sales, said confidence in Singapore’s stability and support from a knowledgeable CVB team were also crucial in shaping decisions.
She said: “Singapore is still one of the top cities for European associations and event organisers. Many of them learnt through Covid that many things have changed… and some relationships with suppliers today have become less flexible. Several buyers have told me that relationships with venues and CVBs in Asia have, however, remained strong.
“And within Asia, Singapore stands out favourably because of good governance. When planning meetings three or four years in advance, organisers want to be sure that their plans will remain valid down the road, that the government, the CVB, and how things are in the destination will still be the same.”
Quek said she has seen good leads at the show, with one association head making a swift decision by the second day to bring her international congress to Singapore Expo in 2028.
