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There are few places in the world where you can bump elbows with a lion dancer, strike a deal with a Slovenian incentive planner, and sip kopi with a keynote speaker raving about AI—all before lunch. But this is Singapore, after all, and The Meetings Show Asia Pacific 2025 (TMS APAC) is no ordinary trade show. It’s business, yes—but with a side of theatre, a dash of diplomacy, and a generous serve of sambal.

Returning for its second grand outing at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, TMS APAC 2025 proved that last year’s debut was no flash in the pan. With nearly 1,800 attendees from 72 countries, 300 exhibitors, and more than 8,000 appointments booked in advance (thank heavens for organised calendars), it’s safe to say the region’s MICE industry is not just recovering—it’s waltzing into the spotlight with a fanfare.

This year’s event had a new trick up its sleeve: co-locating with the inaugural Business Travel Show Asia Pacific (BTS APAC). Picture this—jet-lagged corporate travel buyers mingling with sharp-suited MICE strategists, all doing their best to look lively after too many canapés and not enough coffee. But it worked. Like laksa and lime, the two shows complemented each other beautifully.

Kicking things off with a lion dance (because no one does understated quite like Asia), the opening ceremony was graced by top brass from Northstar Travel Group and Singapore Tourism Board. There was no shortage of optimistic speeches and confident declarations about industry resilience. Jason Young, Northstar CEO, declared: “Travel brings communities together. Travel makes business happen. That’s why we’re here.” The man could sell a suitcase to a nomad.

Guest-of-Honour Ong Huey Hong, from the Singapore Tourism Board, was equally bullish, noting the city-state’s goal to triple its MICE tourism receipts by 2040. “We have a robust pipeline of events,” she said. And with Marina Bay Sands booked solid and the aircon running on overdrive, who would argue?

One of the true gems of the show was the Hosted Buyer Programme—an elegant term for a matchmaking exercise that might as well have been Tinder for business deals. Over 8,000 meetings took place, ranging from polite to passionate. Some even made it to the second date—aka a signed contract.

Content-wise, the show was no slouch. More than 30 hours of thought-provoking panels and keynotes covered a range of topics, from AI’s role in event planning (it’s not just for generating unflattering headshots) to sustainability, workforce trends, and wellness. Yes, wellness. Because nothing says self-care like a 15-minute chair massage between networking sessions.

And the praise kept rolling in. Amelia Roziman from Business Events Sarawak gushed about TMS APAC being the perfect platform to make Borneo the next big thing. Macao’s Vincent U saw the show as a springboard into regional stardom. Meanwhile, buyers like California’s Yelle Dela Cruz were over the moon about finding everything from venues to vendors under one roof. “It’s like a one-stop shop,” she beamed, “but with better lighting and more lanyards.”

Dr. Jerome Joseph dazzled delegates with insights into how AI might soon be able to run events better than we do. Terrifying? Perhaps. Convenient? Absolutely. And for the old-school event planners still clutching their clipboards—take heart, he assured us the robots aren’t ready for the cocktail hour.

Even the usually reserved Vincent Tham of D’Event Tree was effusive, calling TMS APAC “a dynamic, creative setting to connect with hoteliers and reunite with friends in the MICE community worldwide.” We suspect the free-flow champagne helped.

Ferron Gray of the UK’s Grae Matta Foundation dubbed it “a powerhouse of a show” —high praise from someone who’s seen more lanyards than a duty-free shop.

And the good news doesn’t stop there. TMS APAC will return to Singapore on 14–15 April 2026. Mark your diaries, polish your elevator pitches, and pack your most breathable suits.

Because if TMS APAC 2025 taught us anything, it’s that business isn’t just back—it’s back with a vengeance, a vision, and possibly a velvet rope.

For full details, visit: https://www.themeetingsshow-apac.com/.