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The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has introduced multiple initiatives aimed at enhancing sustainability within the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector while solidifying its status as the ‘World’s Best MICE City’.
In its push for a greener MICE industry, the STB unveiled the Legacy Toolkit, initiated the Singapore MICE Industry Carbon and Waste Baselining Study, and set goals for carbon-neutral participation at international tradeshows.
“Since unveiling the MICE Sustainability Roadmap in 2022, our commitment to advancing a sustainable and impactful MICE sector has been unwavering,” said Mr. Yap Chin Siang, Deputy Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board. “The initiatives introduced today not only guide the MICE industry toward sustainability but also offer practical means for event organizers and planners to create significant, enduring benefits in Singapore. We will persist in our collaborative efforts to maintain our status as the World’s Best MICE City.”
Empowering event organizers with a Legacy Toolkit
Launched in March 2024, the ‘World’s Best MICE City’ campaign underscores Singapore’s leading role in sustainable MICE practices and promotes the positive, long-lasting impacts of business events. Committed to fulfilling the impact ambitions of these events, Singapore invites event organizers and planners to collaboratively design business events that deliver meaningful results. The Legacy Toolkit helps stakeholders understand and generate their own legacy and impact, providing a structured approach known as ‘FIRM’: Frame, Ideate, Realise, and Measure.
The toolkit includes case studies that illustrate potential legacies in Singapore and seeks to enhance collaboration among event organizers, venues, local communities, and stakeholders. This involves partnering with established local organizations like the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, which offers networks and expertise to foster an inclusive and caring community. The STB encourages meeting planners and event organizers to use the toolkit to maximize the long-term positive impact of their events.
STB is dedicated to both understanding and minimizing carbon and waste emissions within the MICE industry, implementing a dual strategy to achieve these goals. Initially, Singapore pioneered a national assessment in 2023—the MICE Industry Carbon and Waste Baseline exercise—to evaluate the sector’s environmental footprint, thus fulfilling a component of the MICE Sustainability Roadmap unveiled by STB in 2022. This analysis established a comprehensive baseline of sustainability metrics concentrating on Energy, Water, and Waste, aligned with the international Net Zero Carbon Events Methodology. Key findings include an average carbon emission of 14.13 kgCO2 per MICE attendee and that 94% of these emissions stem from energy usage.
These metrics will enable STB and the industry to consistently monitor and update carbon emission baselines, leveraging these insights to foster waste reduction and decarbonization strategies for enhanced environmental impact.
Moreover, STB is taking a leadership role in carbon management at international MICE tradeshows, targeting carbon-neutral participation at major events such as IMEX Frankfurt, IMEX America, and IBTM World starting from 2024. This initiative represents a proactive commitment to significantly lower its carbon footprint as an exhibitor.
IMEX Frankfurt 2024 will mark the first event where STB commits to rigorous standards in its quest for carbon neutrality, adhering to the ISO14068 standards introduced in December 2023. These standards offer a framework for achieving and demonstrating carbon neutrality, emphasizing emissions reduction and removal before considering offsets. As an early adopter of this standard, Singapore showcases its dedication to responsible decarbonization.
STB’s focused efforts to design a sustainable pavilion and accurately monitor its carbon profile will inform and enhance its strategies for reducing carbon emissions at future tradeshows. For specific examples of emission reduction and removal initiatives planned for IMEX Frankfurt 2024, please see the Annex.
Singapore Enhances MICE Program to Bolster its Status as a Premier Event Destination
In March 2024, Singapore launched an upgraded Singapore MICE Advantage Program (SMAP) to attract MICE organizers and provide a comprehensive, integrated event experience. The program now includes a variety of new and enhanced benefits, thanks to collaborations with partners such as Singapore Airlines, Changi Airport Group, and various tourist and dining establishments.
This year also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau (SECB), part of the Singapore Tourism Board. The SECB remains dedicated to maintaining and enhancing Singapore’s esteemed reputation in the business event sector.
Singapore’s commitment to excellence in the MICE industry is evident as it achieved its highest-ever ranking in 2023, securing the 2nd position in the ICCA Worldwide City Rankings, a significant leap from the previous year. Moreover, Singapore continues to be the top meeting city in the Asia Pacific for the 21st consecutive year, confirming its top-tier capabilities and appeal in hosting global meetings and events. This achievement underscores Singapore’s role as a key Global-Asia node for business, enabling MICE events and participants to generate substantial and enduring outcomes.
According to the International Congress and Convention Association’s (ICCA) 2023 Meeting Needs Survey, 44% of international associations plan to update their RFPs to include sustainability and legacy criteria.
Data was sourced from six major venues, including the Changi Exhibition Centre and Resorts World Convention Centre, among others.
A key goal for the Singapore MICE industry is to start tracking waste and carbon emissions by 2023, with aims to align with the Singapore Green Plan by reducing waste and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, consistent with national objectives. Further details are available on Singapore’s official MICE sustainability roadmap website.
Prior to the establishment of ISO 14068, there was no global consensus on a standardized approach for achieving and demonstrating carbon neutrality beyond mere quantification.
The post Singapore Tourism Board Advocates For Sustainable Practices In MICE Industry With Innovative Legacy Toolkit appeared first on Travel And Tour World.
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