Re-starting business events in Singapore
Keith Tan, Chief Executive, STB talks about resuming M!CE activities
Could you explain the strategies taken by STB to resume M!CE activities? Singapore Tourism Board is preparing for the calibrated and safe resumption of B2B events in the coming months. To do so, STB has developed a Safe Business Event Risk Management Framework for business events of up to 50 attendees, based on strict safe management measures. STB will trial this framework with two pilot events before gradually scaling up to other events and event organisers thereafter.
What key outcomes should event organisers look at? Under the framework, event organisers must achieve five key outcomes – infection control measures for every stage of an event attendee’s journey (pre- to post-event); limits on crowd density; limits on close contacts between individuals; ensuring a safe and clean environment; and preparing for emergencies relating to COVID-19.
How has the M!CE industry supported the creation of virtual & hybrid business events? The STB framework was created in consultation with the industry and is aligned with international best practices. It arises from reflections and lessons learnt over the past few months, when businesses in Singapore’s M!CE sector conceptualised and reimagined what a safe event could look like. Apart from adopting best practices in safety, hygiene and sanitisation, Singapore’s M!CE businesses have also experimented with innovative digital solutions such as technology to support the creation of virtual and hybrid business events.
Are there any upcoming hybrid events?
Hybrid formats with a mix of face-to-face and virtual interactions are likely to be the norm for business events in the near future. To prepare for this transition, STB’s framework will be applied to two potential hybrid events, viz., the 2020 IEEE International Conference on Computational Electromagnetics to be held from August 24 – 26, 2020, and the Asia Pacific MedTech Virtual Forum 2020 on September 24. Each event will feature a maximum of 50 onsite attendees, in addition to approximately 1,000 attendees participating virtually across both events.
Are there any measures in place to guide M!CE businesses in Singapore? To provide further guidance for our M!CE businesses, STB and Enterprise Singapore (ESG) are collaborating with the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS) to formulate an Industry Resilience Roadmap – a public-private partnership focused on three strategic objectives – establishing best-in-class standards for new event safety measures; creating agile business models with a focus on digital capabilities; & developing pathways for professional development in the post-COVID-19 world.
STB has developed a Safe Business Event Risk Management Framework for business events of up to 50 attendees