MICE industry roadmap launched to guide resumption of business events

Singapore

THE meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) and events industry will have a clearer path to resuming business events safely and pivoting to hybrid events, with the launch of an industry roadmap by the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS) on Thursday.

The Event Industry Resilience Roadmap (IRR) was launched with the support of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG). It will provide guidance on implementing safe business events, solutions for hybrid events and an overview of new capabilities needed to transform the industry.

The IRR is a "living" document that will be updated in line with the evolving pandemic situation and health and safety standards. This first release, known as IRR 1.0, will focus on SG SafeEvent Standard, an industry-led national accreditation programme for business events to be launched later this year, as well as hybrid events.

The SG SafeEvent Standard will be awarded as a mark of assurance to events that meet necessary requirements for safety, compliance and well-being. Event organisers, venue operators and suppliers will also be able to attain SG SafeEvent certifications for their respective businesses.

SACEOS also signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) on Thursday to establish the MICE & Events Capability Building Network. Supported by STB, ESG, Workforce Singapore and SkillsFuture Singapore, the effort will bring together public and private sector entities and educational institutions to develop new and refreshed career paths for MICE professionals, including freelancers and self-employed individuals, and create relevant training programmes.

Aloysius Arlando, president of SACEOS, said the IRR provides checklists of best practices adapted from global MICE associations.

"We hope that the IRR will help companies think about what capabilities and solutions are going to make the safe conduct of events effective both in terms of health and safety, and across platforms," he noted.

He added that even as events move towards a hybrid of physical and virtual formats, the focus must remain on creating captivating, cinematic and collaborative content to keep audiences engaged. The IRR will elaborate on ways that organisers can hybridise their events successfully, incorporating aspects like community building, digital engagement and defined practical outcomes.

SACEOS has put together a microsite with resources for companies following the roadmap, including a list of Singapore-based event technology companies that offer hybrid event solutions, a checklist of key aspects for a successful hybrid event and the grants available to help businesses in the MICE and events industry.

Hassan Abdullah, NTUC representative for hospitality and consumer, said NTUC looks forward to working with SACEOS and industry partners to help companies and professionals prepare for new and future trends, as well as to move ahead with business plans. "In the longer term, we hope to map out training needs and relevant courses for the workers and work with training providers to bring across such training for them."

STB deputy chief executive Yap Chin Siang said the IRR will be a "valuable guide" to the industry as it works to rebuild and recover from the crisis.

Dilys Boey, assistant chief executive officer at ESG, thanked SACEOS for leading the industry in building resilience and new capabilities. She said: "Together with SACEOS, STB and industry partners, we look forward to strengthening our enterprises through innovation and capability development so as to emerge stronger from the pandemic."