The world meets in Singapore. This city-state at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, right in the heart of Asia, is a trading center, a transport hub and a cultural melting pot. When MICE emerged as a distinct tourism sector, Singapore was quick to embrace it — it is now no great exaggeration to say Singapore established itself as the MICE capital of the world.

The initial reason for this tiny country’s success is geographic. Just look at its position on a map. In effect, it is the gateway to the Strait of Malacca. Almost all of the ships plying between the Indian and Pacific oceans must funnel past Singapore.

It was Sir Stamford Raffles who first recognized the location’s potential; he was responsible for founding the settlement of Singapore in 1819. Throughout the 19th century, workers were imported from China, India and Malaya to meet the burgeoning port’s insatiable demand for labor. These immigrants are the ancestors of the majority of modern Singaporeans. Foreign workers continue to be drawn here and currently account for up to 40 percent of the workforce.

After independence from Britain in 1963, Singapore diversified, bolstering its economy with a thriving financial industry and, more recently, world-class biotechnology and IT sectors.

Singapore accumulated an impressive array of accolades in international surveys. It has been ranked the world’s best business environment (The Economist Intelligence Unit), Asia’s least corrupt country (IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook), the most network-ready country in Asia (Global Information Technology Report), the world’s best country brand for shopping (FutureBrand) and Asia’s most livable city (Mercer Quality of Living Survey).

In addition, Singapore offers a wealth of high-end accommodations and a range of state-of-the-art venues, all linked by an efficient public transport system.

The premier purpose-built MICE venue is Singapore Expo, with more than 1 million square feet of indoor exhibition space and another 100,000 square feet of outdoor activity space. Situated just one metro stop from Changi International Airport and within easy access of downtown (15 minutes by taxi), the venue has 10 convention halls, 10 conference halls and numerous smaller meeting rooms.

On a site at the northern edge of the airport, facing the Johor Strait, which separates Singapore Island from Malaysia, is the Changi Exhibition Centre. With its direct access to water and to the runway of Changi Air Base (East), and with the equivalent of about 33 football fields of outdoor exhibition space, the venue is especially suited to maritime, motoring and aviation events. It is the biennial location for the Singapore Airshow.

A long-established downtown option is the Raffles City Convention Centre on the fourth floor of the Raffles City shopping and hotel complex. Situated in the middle of the colonial district, the center can be subdivided into as many as 27 meeting rooms. The main ballroom can accommodate 3,200 delegates and was utilized for a high-profile session of the International Olympic Committee in 2005 (when London learned it would be hosting the 2012 Games). The legendary Raffles Singapore, regularly ranked as one of the best hotels in the world, is directly across the street from Raffles City (though they are under different management).

The Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, a couple of blocks from Raffles City, has a main hall with 129,000 square feet of column-free space accommodating up to 10,000 delegates; 31 meeting rooms; and a 596-seat theater, with free WiFi throughout. The center is at the heart of an extensive development including 5,200 hotel rooms; 1,000 shops; and 300 restaurants. Many of the city’s main attractions are within a 15-minute walk.

The Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel sits on the banks of the Singapore River, a short drive — or water taxi ride — from the financial district. Most of the 34 meeting rooms benefit from natural daylight, and there is a multiuse Grand Ballroom which can accommodate up to 1,000 people. The hotel has a MICE Passport incentive program, providing a range of benefits for regular users of the conference and meeting facilities.

The latest (and largest) downtown venue is the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, adjoining the iconic three-towered, 2,561-room Marina Bay Sands Hotel. With 1.3 million square feet of meeting space on five floors, the center can host up to 11,000 delegates in the main hall and boasts a total of 250 meeting rooms. The center offers direct access to the hotel facilities, including the famous rooftop infinity pool. The Singapore Flyer, the world’s highest Ferris wheel, is just a brief walk away across the Singapore River.

Sentosa Island © Teckken Tan | Dreamstime.com

Sentosa Island, immediately off the south coast of Singapore Island and accessible by road or monorail, has long been the city’s favorite leisure destination, with a host of attractions. The focal point is Resorts World, which incorporates theme parks (most notably Universal Studios Singapore) and hotels (such as the Hard Rock Hotel Singapore). Resorts World has dedicated MICE facilities, including well-equipped function rooms that can accommodate as few as 10 people or as many as 6,000. The unique selling point is the option for delegates to combine business with fun.

Singapore is so urban, so modern, so clean, it is difficult to imagine the island once completely covered in tropical rainforest. Only fragments remain. The world-renowned zoo is located within one of these green remnants and offers 25 indoor and outdoor MICE facilities — with a difference. In contrast to the slick, corporate familiarity of the downtown venues, the zoo makes the most of its tropical setting. If you like the idea of mock-rustic rooms decorated with tribal paraphernalia and a soundtrack provided by the zoo’s gibbons, lions and birds, then this is the perfect location for you. The zoo is a popular venue for product launches, team-building retreats, workshops and seminars.

For nearly two centuries, traders and businesspeople have been meeting in Singapore. It is the reason for the country’s existence, and it is why this tropical city-state has become a MICE destination in a class of its own.