Throwback to PCMA APAC The Business of Events and The Meetings Show APAC in April

Discover how the MICE industry was supercharged from 13 to 17 April

For the second consecutive year, Marina Bay Sands hosted two pivotal events, one after the other, convening MICE professionals across the region for rich learning, engagement and networking opportunities.

Highlights from the events reflected a blend of luxury, travel trends and wellness to enhance the delegate experience, reaffirming Marina Bay Sands’ commitment to cementing Singapore’s position as the World’s Best MICE city.

Kicking off the festivities from 13 to 15 April, the Professional Convention Management Association Asia Pacific (PCMA APAC) brought its flagship conference, The Business of Events (BoE), to Singapore. This is part of a three-year partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board, formalised during the PCMA Convening Leaders 2025 conference in Houston, Texas in January.

The three-day conference invited professionals to harness forward-thinking strategies to navigate today’s complex business landscape, through a series of keynotes and breakout sessions led by industry leaders. Ong Wee Min, Vice President of Sales & MICE at Marina Bay Sands, contributed his expertise to a session on cultivating strategic thinking – a timely discussion on staying competitive through innovation and resourcefulness.

Genevieve Lim, Executive Director of MICE Management at Marina Bay Sands, delivered opening remarks at the breakout session for ‘People are our Business’. She spoke about Marina Bay Sands’ firm foundation – a culture where client centricity takes centre stage – and how it drives the team to continuously push the envelope by staying on the pulse, listening to clients, and innovating with game-changing experiences for clients.

Over the years, Marina Bay Sands has stayed ahead in the business events industry with fresh ideas and upskilling. The Bay Precinct Strategy, for example, goes beyond singular-venue events and taps into the rich tapestry of offerings spread across the Marina Bay area to broaden the appeal for international delegates, while the certification of over 100 of Marina Bay Sands’ Team Members in event design methodology has armed the team with the knowledge and confidence to lead clients in delivering events that are more structured and outcome-driven.

Over at the next room, Meridith Beaujean, Executive Director of Sustainability at Marina Bay Sands, recharged the audience with opening remarks at the breakout session for ‘Small Steps, Big Impact: Achievable Sustainability for Events’. She shared about the integrated resort’s best practices in environmental stewardship. Delegates learnt how food waste is dealt with through myriad solutions, from artificial intelligence technology to help chefs with portioning during the preparation process, to a series of food digesters that have contributed to diverting up to 12,000kg of food waste daily to landfills.

Marina Bay Sands also showcased a commissioned artwork at the entrance of PCMA APAC BoE – a mural that celebrates Singapore’s icons from Marina Bay Sands’ architecture, Gardens by the Bay and the Merlion, to the smooth-coated otters that reside around Marina Bay.

Created through a partnership between Marina Bay Sands, the Singapore Tourism Board and PCMA, the artwork was designed by Houston-based David Maldonado, recognised for his community-focused murals and designs. Thereafter, over 600 delegates at PCMA Convening Leaders 2025 painted the mural with the artist using limewash, a paint that absorbs carbon dioxide from the air as it cures, with an effect lasting for about 30 days after the paint is applied. Every 100 square feet of the mural absorbs as much carbon dioxide as a mature tree does annually, transforming creative expression into environmental action. This innovative technology reflects an active commitment to a net-zero future where business events and sustainability work in harmony.

Throughout the conference, attendees were invited to experience various sessions of THRIVE, a suite of wellness experiences aimed at boosting delegates’ focus during events and helping them build resilience. From 13 to 15 April, delegates at PCMA APAC BoE were invited to attend various sessions, such as Energy Forecasting, Empathy Mapping, Sound Meditation, Soul Flow and Yoga Flow Stretch.

Hear from Andrew Everingham, CEO and Founder of CAPITAL e-Marketing & Events, as he shared his thoughts on this unique experience.

The Meetings Show APAC (16 to 17 April)

In the same week, attendees convened with the wider MICE and travel industry at the second edition of The Meetings Show APAC, which returned to Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre from 16 to 17 April. Over 1,000 top executives, innovators, exhibitors and travel and MICE professionals explored a vibrant roster of exhibitors from key MICE sectors, including destinations, hotels, venues, event technology providers and industry associations. They also gained valuable insights from a series of education sessions exploring trends such as event design, sustainability, wellness and tech innovation.

Together with Marina Bay Sands’ sister brand Sands Lifestyle Macao, the team brought back the Sands Lifestyle booth that debuted at The Meetings Show APAC 2024, meticulously designed with networking and engagement in mind. Offering a vibrant ‘home away from home’ setting, the experiential booth welcomed attendees to network over drinks and locally inspired canapés like chicken satay pies while exploring bespoke experiences with the team.