Creating a marquee platform for global fintech community

ASIA'S strong economic growth has helped Singapore's Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (Mice) industry maintain its stride even amid the global uncertainty in today's current climate.

Like others, the Mice industry is in the thick of a disruptive era fuelled by the digital economy as well as the increased sophistication of today's customers.

As a result, business events are evolving into more engaging, personalised and multi-disciplinary experiences. Community inclusiveness and collaboration from the intersection of industries are therefore crucial in capitalising new and emerging opportunities for business growth and success.

APPROACH & PRINCIPALS

Today's business events require omni-channel engagement, linking themes of commerce and creativity, while integrating education and entertainment content.

This is what SingEx refers to as "festivalisation" of a business event. This hybrid of key elements enhances the delegate experience - in which the delegates create their unique, personalised experiences - and allows individuals to be fully plugged in.

SingEx, through decades of venue-management and event-development experiences, has established strong regional networks and global links with key stakeholders, government and industry. This allows for active listening within the communities, understanding their unique needs and therefore enabling customised business solutions.

Organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Singapore FinTech Festival 2017 is produced in collaboration with SingEx and in partnership with The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS).

With MAS spearheading the overall festival content, SingEx drives the venue management, event curation and trade show development. Together with ABS's banking community outreach, the partners focus on delivering a meaningful and personalised festival experience that will meet the varied needs and expectations of the participants.

S'PORE FINTECH & THE WORLD

As the world's economic powerhouses in Europe and North America jostle to be the next big thing in financial technology, Singapore has been steadfastly working to grab pole position in the global fintech event space.

Singapore FinTech Festival, the world's largest of its kind, debuted in 2016 and welcomed more than 13,000 participants - with 30 per cent C-level - across 60 countries, and received rave reviews.

EXPERIENCE & DESIGN

Singapore FinTech Festival 2017 will be a week-long celebration, staged in the largest purpose-built trade show venue, the Singapore Expo and Max Atria. The festival promises to foster the seeding of new ideas and collaborations, and engage the senses.

In planning the Singapore FinTech Festival, SingEx moved away from a "one size fits all" approach to a delegate-centric experience. This is evident in how content from different domains are delivered through different components of the festival - a visitor's journey through more than 300 exhibitors in at least 10 theme-based zones, as well as the food and beverage trail at the festival.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Helmed by SingEx's chief culinology officer chef Richmond Lim, the F&B is a masterclass in SingEx's approach in quality delivery and delegate personalisation. The dining experience is curated based on the fusion of Singapore's local favourites and international cuisines where old classics and modern flavours meet.

The festival introduces an all-day dining concept in which delegates have the freedom to choose from delectable selections within local-inspired design architecture and ambience.

THEME & CONCEPT

Renowned home-grown creative curator Daniel Boey brings his flair to the festival's design as SingEx's creative architect.

The spatial design in the conference and exhibition area is a multi-sensory feast. From all-day dining, showcase and lounge areas to layouts for plenary stages and open mic presentation spaces, participants are able to experience the journey of the Singapore story. In line with the 'nostalgia meets future' theme, two of the three showcase areas are transformed into Singapore's favourite hangouts: Tiong Bahru estate and East Coast Park. The third area will feature a technology concept.

Open areas normally used as informal content-sharing zones now become creatively-designed spaces to provide conducive settings for the exchange of ideas and solutions. The Cloud features a flowing Matrix-like background animation on three-sided walls for a fully immersive experience, while visitors can expect real sand in the iconic dragon-shaped playground at The Sandbox.

In recognition of innovative financial technology solutions, the FinTech Awards ceremony will also showcase live acts and performances from a stellar cast of local celebrities and entertainers.

From embracing global winds of change and truly understanding its customers, SingEx has illustrated through the Singapore FinTech Festival on how it takes pride in innovatively designing an event that invigorates both the Mice industry and the delegate experience.