Showcasing Singapore

The Singapore Tourism Board, together with Singapore Airlines and the Changi Airport Group, recently unveiled the latest products and experiences and incentive programs targeted at the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry.

In line with efforts to promote travel to and through Singapore, the three provide travel trade and corporates in the Philippines tailored MICE packages featuring land and air components at great value.

Be in Singapore 2 (BEiS2) aims to provide a customized level of support for corporates and organizations who are considering staging events in Singapore.

Meanwhile, the Singapore MICE Advantage Program or SMAP, a collaboration among STB, SIA and CAG, provides organizers with exclusive privileges and support covering marketing, maps and collaterals, complimentary welcome arrival desks at Changi Airport, assistance in venue recommendations and facilitating introductions with vendors and suppliers, and financial grant as well as complimentary and/or preferential rates for airfare and accommodation for site inspections. Applications for SMAP are being accepted until Dec. 31, 2016 for events taking place by Dec. 31, 2017.

There is also the SIA-CAG MICE incentive where, for all new MICE bookings to Singapore made on SIA and SilkAir from Aug. 5 to Oct. 31, 2015 for travel before Jan. 1, 2016, the organization will receive a travel incentive per participant ranging from S$20 to 25.

Travellers also have the option to buy the one-day SIA Singapore Explorer Pass (SGEP) for only $36. This will allow travellers complimentary access to over 20 destinations, worth S$420, including the Singapore Zoo, Sentosa, Jurong Bird Park, Singapore River Cruise, and Gardens by the Bay.

The MICE industry plays a significant role for the tourism sector and Singapore in general. In 2012, the industry accounted for 1.1 percent of Singapore’s GDP. In 2013, around 3.5 million visitors cited business/MICE as their purpose for visiting Singapore.

Strong trade and investment has made Singapore the second most competitive country in the world, and Asia’s most competitive. The country is hosts to more than 7,000 multinational companies, of which 4,000 have their regional headquarters there.

Singapore has more than 390 hotels and over 55,000 rooms. And more are being put up to this date.

What’s the gameplan

The presidential race in this country has become the biggest “kalyeserye,” with everyone eagerly awaiting the next twists and turns in the respective stories of each of our presidentiables.

For candidates Mar Roxas and Vice President Jejomar Binay who have already announced their definite plans for the presidency, Filipinos are just waiting for these plans to become official this October. And of course, we still do not know who will be their respective running mates. Roxas, the Liberal Party standbearer and President Aquino’s anointed one, is still reportedly wooing a number of prospects for his vice-presidential candidate. Among them are Batangas Governor Vilma Santos, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, Health Secretary Janet Garin, and most notably, Senator Grace Poe.

On the other hand, we have yet to hear from the Vice-President who his running mate will be. He is said to be considering Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

But the real suspense is in trying to find out what the plans are of Senator Poe, who currently leads all the surveys in the presidential derby by a significant margin. It is beyond doubt that questions about her residency and citizenship have given her free exposure in tri-media, practically on a daily basis, while Binay and Roxas are already spending on their respective advertisements.

In the meantime, a disqualification case has been filed against her by one Rizalito David. In the case filed with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), David claims that Poe misrepresented certain material facts pertaining to her qualifications when she ran for the Senate. These are her being a natural-born Filipino citizen, her period of residence in the Philippines before May 13, 2013, and her being eligible for the office she sought to be elected to.

Hasn’t Poe made up her mind? Even her present and would-be supporters are hungry for answers. Is she or isn’t she? If she is, for what position? What’s the game plan? Let her detractors run out of bullets?

The 36th Agora Awards

Now on its 36th year, The Agora Awards of the Philippine Marketing Association (PMA) continues to inspire.

According to The Agora director-in-charge Alpha Allanigui, The Agora Awards are a testament to the passion, dedication, brilliance and commitment of excellent individuals and companies in the marketing industry, giving the younger generation professionals to emulate and Filipino companies to be proud of.

The first Agora Awards had three categories, namely Marketing Management, Marketing Education and Entrepreneurship. Through the years, additional categories were added to include Marketing Company, Advocacy Marketing, Overseas Marketing, Export Marketing, and, last year’s new category, Marketing Communication. A category on Entrepreneurship has also been introduced.

The Honorary Agora Award is also given to individuals who have made great contributions to nation-building.

Meanwhile, this year’s Agora Awards will showcase the return of the Agora Circle Conference. Former Agora Awards winners will share to attendees their own success stories, and what inspired them to create their winning marketing campaigns. They are also expected to discuss latest marketing developments and trends.

Happening on Oct. 21, the Agora Circle Conference follows the theme “Fifty Shades of Marketing Darker.” It will also feature some of the country’s best speakers, members of the academe, industry professionals and students discussing topics that are of interest to the local marketing industry such as branding, entrepreneurship, social responsibility, and technology. All talks will be made available online to serve as a resource for marketing professionals and students.

Nominations for The 36th Agora Awards are being accepted until September 8. 2015. For details and nomination requirement, visit www.theagora.ph.

The 36th Agora Awards will happen on Oct. 22, at the Marriot Grand Ballroom.

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