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Singapore City Guide

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Singapore Meeting Planning

Downtown Singapore and Padang

A global hub for both business and leisure, Singapore is a natural choice for meetings and events. With first-class convention centers and over 37,000 hotel rooms, Singapore has not surprisingly earned a lengthy list of accolades when it comes to meetings. It was ranked the Top Convention City in Asia for 23 consecutive years by the Union of International Associations and the World's 3rd Top Convention City by the International Congress and Convention Association. With no plans to slow down, Singapore continues to reinvent itself with new event venues and attractions such as the Marina Bay Sands Singapore, a hotel, museum, retail, dining, entertainment and casino destination scheduled to open in 2009.

Headlining Singapore's large-scale facilities is the impressive Singapore Expo. With over 100,000 square meters of exhibition area, the Singapore Expo is well suited to hosting presentations for over 9,000 people in its largest theater; seminars for over 4,500 people in its largest classroom; and receptions for up to 6,760 guests in its largest banquet venue. Located five minutes from the airport and within walking distance of five hotels, the Singapore Expo is understandably a favorite choice for business events of all kinds.

Meanwhile, the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre offers 12,000 square meters of exhibition space in the heart of downtown and the marina area. Located near 35 hotels, the centre's 26 function rooms, professional staff and world-class amenities have quickly made it a favorite for meeting planners since its opening in 2005. In fact, Suntec Singapore was named the Best Convention & Exhibition Centre in the 2008 TTG Travel Awards and Asia's Leading Conference Centre 2008 by the World Travel Awards.

Singapore Skyline

Supported by a wealth of unique venues, Singapore proves that business and pleasure can in fact be mixed. Host an unforgettable gala at the Asian Civilisations Museum, where a backdrop of Chinese ceramics and Buddha statues captivate guests. The glass restaurant Lodge on Flamingo Lake at Jurong BirdPark is a stunning setting for receptions and dinners. Or, take luncheons of up to 500 people outdoors at the pavilions at Orchidville, the largest orchid farms in Singapore.

Even after the work day is done, guests find many of Singapore's over 100 hotels an attraction in themselves. From luxury resorts to historic properties, most hotels offer fully-equipped business centers, meeting rooms, Internet access and more. The legendary Raffles Hotel, a national monument since 1987, offers more than five venues suited to events ranging in type and size. Dominating Singapore's Marina Square are the Mandarin Oriental, Hotel Pan Pacific and Meritus Mandarin, each offering extensive facilities for meetings and conventions and boasting a collective room count of nearly 2,000 rooms.

Lucky for foreign travelers, Singapore makes it easy for guests to reach any and all meeting venues and attractions with its clean, inexpensive transportation system. An extensive network of trains, buses and taxis connect travelers to nearly any point in the city, with public transportation fares often averaging under S$2. Getting to the city itself is also hassle free thanks the  Changi AirportChangi Airport
Changi Airport, located about 30 minutes from downtown. Operating flights to over 180 cities in more than 50 countries, Changi Airport is consistently ranked as one of the best in the world.

Singapore's economy is based heavily on manufacturing, an industry diversified into electronics, chemicals, mechanical engineering and more. Singapore is also a major oil refining and distrubtion center and a financial center of Asia with over 130 banks. Singapore is home to three Autonomous Universities: the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, and Singapore Management University.

Key Statistics

About Singapore / Additional Info

Boat Quay

The first mention of Singapore can be found in a Chinese written record dating to the 3rd century, when it was described as "Pu Luo Chung," or "island at the end." Though modest, the description centers on what would hold great importance for the nation in years to come. Its location at the tip of Malay Peninsula made Singapore a hub for sea routes and trade throughout the centuries. However, it was not until the 1819 that Sir Stamford Raffles established modern Singapore as a British trading post, spurring population growth from 150 to 10,000 people in just five years.

Today Singapore continues to thrive with over 4.8 million residents. Though it is the smallest nation in Southeast Asia at 710.2 square kilometers, it remains the largest of the three remaining sovereign city-states in the world. It also holds the impressive title as the 5th wealthiest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita, thanks to a solid economy based heavily on manufacturing. It is also the busiest port in the world with over 600 shipping lines that coordinate the tankers, container ships and passenger liners filling the surrounding waters.

For visitors, Singapore's bustling waterside has many advantages as well. Actually made up of a main island with 63 surrounding islets, Singapore has plenty of scenic recreation options with which guests can enjoy the year-round warm climate. Enjoy pond fishing, biking or kayaking at the increasingly-popular Pasir Ris Park, also home to a large mangrove forest. Golf or play tennis at the popular East Coast ParkEast Coast Park
East Coast Park. Or, inhale the sweet aroma of 20,000 orchid plants on display at the Singapore Botanic GardensSingapore Botanic Gardens
Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Marina Bay

A wealth of attractions await guests indoors as well. Delve into the vibrant culture and heritage of Singapore at the National Museum of Singapore, the largest and oldest museum in the country. Explore over 7,500 20th century Singapore and Southeast Asian art pieces, including those by pioneer artists Liu Kang and Georgette Chen. At the Asian Civilisations Museum, guests can see batik, embroidery and beadwork collections along with silver and porcelain artifacts representing the rich tapestry of Asian cultures.

Visitors can easily explore these diverse cultures on the streets of Singapore as well. Shop for silk saris and wood carvings on the streets of Little India, or enjoy Peking duck and dim sum in Chinatown. The neighborhood of Kampong Glam was once the seat of Malay royalty in Singapore. Today, guests can explore its many historic attractions, including the Malay Heritage Centre and Sultan Mosque, the largest mosque in Singapore.

When the sun sets, the streets of Singapore take an entirely different character. Savor satay at the 24-hour Lau Pa Sat Festival Market, or hit the dance floor at the Ministry of Sound. Chill out at Wala Wala bar, where a laidback atmosphere attracts visitors of all kinds to enjoy live music nightly. Guests can even shop at any hour of the day, thanks to the 24-hour, six-story Mustafa Centre, which boasts some of the lowest fixed prices in Singapore. Day and night, Singapore's varied attractions keep guests making memories.