THE opening yesterday of the Asia-Pacific office of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) – an international organisation in the meetings and events industry – signifies Asia’s growing prominence on the meetings and events landscape and the part Singapore can play in it.
MPI has 22,500 members in 65 countries though its membership in this part of the world is small at just over 100 members in South-east Asia.
It foresees good growth in the region, and Singapore’s strengths at the heart of the scene are among its reasons for basing its fourth office here.
‘An office in the Asia-Pacific will enable our members who are currently doing business in this thriving region to enjoy the same community connections that they already enjoy in other parts of the world,’ said president and chief executive Bruce MacMillan. ‘Singapore’s regional hub position, long-term expertise in the meetings and events industry and multi-cultural workforce, provides the perfect location for our new management structure.’
Mr MacMillan is particularly keen to explore the opportunities in education for the Mice (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) sector. He hopes to build a platform for more educational tie-ups for professionals in the industry through links with schools that have good hospitality programmes like Cornell and University of Nevada at Las Vegas, both of whom have operations here. This ties in with the objectives of the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau, which seeks to strengthen resources in the Mice industry.
‘MPI, with its unwavering commitment to professional development will add impetus to our efforts to develop Singapore’s meetings and events industry players’ skills and expertise,’ said Aloysius Arlando, assistant CEO of STB’s BTMice group.
MPI yesterday also announced the appointment of Michael Tay as director of operations, Asia-Pacific at its new office.
Source: Business Times 26 Oct 07
