Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford, a dual-brand integrated resort incorporating the Raffles City Convention Centre in Singapore’s civic district, is expecting a busy year on the business events front, following on from an eventful 2025.
William J Haandrikman, managing director of both Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford, shared that both the Fairmont and Swissôtel brands, as well as a convenient blend of 2,000 guestrooms, 10,000m2 of meetings space and numerous F&B outlets have helped to attract high-end events to his complex.
Some notable events held at the integrated resort in 2025 included Cvent Accelerate Singapore 2025, which Haandrikman regarded as an important gathering for the events industry, private events hosted by major banks and consultancy agencies, and association congresses.
“The last quarter of 2025 was especially strong for us,” said Haandrikman, who added that corporate bookings are now coming in with short lead times of several months.
“We are still hearing from companies wanting to do their events in September. These are large events. In the past, events of similar scale would book two or three years ahead,” he reflected.
He noted that few companies are comfortable with planning events far ahead due to the current volatile macro environment.
Associations, however, are still planning years ahead and have placed bookings for 2028 to 2030.
Corporate bookings and meetings are strong for 2H2026 even though current geopolitical tensions are disrupting longhaul travel into Asia, and creating uncertainty in business for the coming months.
Haandrikman remains optimistic that a “bright side” remains.
“People who planned trips to and through the Middle East are now diverting to Asia,” he remarked, adding that Singapore has an opportunity to capture more longhaul transits and international visitors now, especially as the island nation is regarded as a “safe and stable” destination while Asia offers “great opportunities” for businesses.
Although Fairmont Singapore, Swissôtel The Stamford and Raffles City Convention Centre are able to offer business and social programming under one roof, Haandrikman said delegates would only make the best memories when they ventured out. As such, his team is “drawing on our strong connections with Singapore’s tourism players” to recommend and create a memorable destination connection.
“Last year, we brought in 50 sidecars for a conference, and delegates went out for a downtown ride. The attendees posted photos everywhere, forming a great memory of the event and Singapore,” he said.
Haandrikman sees more creative opportunities for the business events sector. His team is now working on several experiential ideas that would not only attract leisure guests, but also offer creative social ideas to meetings and events. These activations would also allow the property to better utilise its meeting spaces and hotel facilities throughout the year.
One such experiential idea stems from a collaboration with luxury fragrance house, Amouage and Luxasia, to offer an exclusive fragrance discovery experience for guests of Fairmont Singapore.
The two hotels have also started the ball rolling on Singapore Grand Prix race day specials. Hospitality suite packages for both Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford are now on sale for October 9 to 11, 2026.
Prices start from S$38,000++ (US$29,795++) for two days in Fairmont Singapore’s Deluxe Marina Bay Suite, and from S$40,000 two days in Swissôtel The Stamford’s Swiss Marina Bay Suite. Both are suitable for watch parties for up to 15 guests.
Weiler returns to the company after previously helping build its destinations segment. She most recently served as chief revenue officer at Zartico and has held senior roles at Tripadvisor and Airbnb.
