The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has launched an evolution of Singapore’s destination brand – from “Uniquely Singapore” to “YourSingapore”.

More ideas are coming in from the public through the Tourism Compass 2020 website and the three winners picked for January shared something in common – a passion for promoting local culture, products and experiences.

Wine tastings, a chocolate dinner, a gourmet golf experience, and a chefs’ table luncheon – the plate for this year’s World Gourmet Summit literally runneth over with choices for every gourmet connoisseur.

Following rave reviews which greeted its first production of William Shakespeare’s ‘The Winter’s Tale’ last year, The Bridge Project returns to Singapore this April with ‘The Tempest’, widely considered to be the bard’s final play.

Huge crowds flocked to the soft-opening of the casino at Resorts World® Sentosa on Chinese New Year Day as the Year of the Tiger kicked off to a roaring start.

Far East and CapitaLand are hoping to make a splash at the Shanghai Pavilion at the World Expo Shanghai. The two Official Presenters hope to use the event as a platform to raise their profiles to the world, as well as underline their commitment to China, including giving underprivileged children a chance to visit the Expo.

Singapore spills over with “Culture Chic” activities in the first quarter of the year.

A public-private sector collaboration, its aim is to build it into the leading fashion event in the region

Dining out at sea on kelongs, taking visitors on fashion and design tours and promoting homegrown events – these were the three winning ideas for the month of December, last year submitted by the public to the Tourism Compass 2020 website.

The Singapore Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo continues to grow, with three local companies, Far East Organization, Eu Yan Sang International Ltd and CapitaLandLimited, joining as corporate partners.

Opening at the right time

The members of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) family show their true colours…and plenty more, at the company’s annual Dinner & Dance. P@ssport reports.

Uniquely Singapore’s third time participation in the Clipper Race helps promote Singapore as a leading destination and sailing hub

As 2009 comes to a close, P@ssport sits down with the Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board, Ms Aw Kah Peng, to find out what her first year in tourism has been like.

The Tourism Compass 2020 exercise in which the public voice is playing a key role is indicative of the fact that Singaporeans “have grown and have shown greater ownership in shaping our country”, said Ms Fanny Lai, CEO of Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

Bit by bit, the Singapore Pavilion at World Expo 2010 Shanghai, China is taking shape. In late November, the completion of structural works was celebrated with a topping out ceremony and the launch of its logo and mascot.

The countdown has begun as many await the exciting arrival of Uniquely Singapore on her homecoming journey from Geraldton, Western Australia to Keppel Bay, Singapore.

ZoukOut, Singapore’s iconic annual dance party on Siloso Beach, gets bigger and better each year. As 2009 drew to a close, more than 27,000 revellers gathered at Sentosa on 12 December this year for the 12-hour beach bash, now into its ninth year.

Beyond the bright lights which deck out Orchard Road and the Marina Bay district, there is a very serious competition taking place – all part of the Singapore Tourism Board’s 2009 Reasons to enjoy Singapore marketing campaign.

Get ready for the year’s most anticipated outdoor dance music festival, as ZoukOut returns for the ninth year on 12 December.

Compared with the last time he sat on a tourism working group in 2002, Dennis Foo, CEO of St James Power Station, said the Tourism 2020 process has been more about creating experiences, versus building a product.

Even before it has opened, people have started talking – how much will it cost, and what will it have?

By early 2012 when you visit Singapore’s new nature-themed attraction, River Safari, you will be able to say hello to its two most important residents – a pair of male and female Giant Pandas.

Singapore’s business events sector closes the year on a high, with key events confirmed for the coming years and as it prepares for the opening of its two Integrated Resorts, which will take Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conferences & Exhibitions events to a new level.

P@ssport was at Capella Singapore for the Singapore Experience Awards which honoured outstanding individuals and organisations

It’s not easy serving people. How would our service professionals define good customer service, and what can customers do to make the service experience better?

With today’s customers being more demanding, the most challenging jobs in the tourism industry may very well belong to those at the front line who serve customers everyday

With today’s vibrant digital media landscape, the Singapore Experience Awards hopes to attract more submissions for the Best Singapore Experience Story (Digital) category in future years

Judges of the inaugural Singapore Experience Awards share with P@ssport what it was like assessing the nominees and finalists to select a winner

STB’s new tourism blueprint intends to chart the way there with feedback from the industry and public

This year’s instalment sees more participation from NTOs and exhibitor organisations

Buzz builds up as Marina Bay Sands™ brings in six celebrity chefs and an acclaimed musical; while seven themed zones get set to enthrall at Resorts World Sentosa’s Universal Studios Singapore®

Three-year agreement between STB and Visa aims to attract more Visa customers to Singapore and boost spending here

Singapore is putting its best foot forward to welcome delegates to the APEC 2009 meetings being held in the city this month

ITB Asia is headed to Singapore for the second year and Dr Martin Buck, Vice President, Messe Berlin, shares his views with P@SSPORT.

Bolshoi Ballet, Sir James Galway, Elvis Costello, Joan Chen, Deepak Chopra, celebrity chefs – yes, heavenly pleasures will descend on Singapore in October with the rising of the Singapore Sun Festival from 3 October to 12 October 2009.

The 2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX has come and gone, and it’s left, in its wake, a group of satisfied and happy hoteliers, retailers, visitors and residents.

Visitors can “Celebrate the World at Dempsey Hill”, a special ongoing promotion till 31 December 2009, at one of Singapore’s most-talked-about dining and entertainment precincts.

Bloggers from all over Asia Pacific will gather in Singapore on October 23, 2009 to attend the inaugural Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards. Pringles in the title sponsor for the event and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is partnering with Nuffnang as Singapore hosts the regional guests.

Singaporeans are playing a big part in the 2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX. From holding key positions to being ambassadors and volunteers, Singaporeans are ready to help make this year’s FORMULA ONE night race a memorable one.

Are you ready for the full impact of the opening of the two integrated resorts? The Singapore Tourism Board aims to prepare you and has designed two-day courses to open the industry’s eyes to “the two biggest things happening in Singapore”.

While the first half of 2009 has fared worse compared to the first half of 2008, Singapore’s leading MICE* industry players are optimistic that the second half will yield better results, citing pent-up demand and a more positive sentiment returning to the meetings and exhibitions sector.

Having improved Singapore’s service standards in its first phase, the Go the Extra Mile for Service (GEMS) movement intends to take service delivery to a higher level with GEMS Up, the next phase of Singapore’s service journey.

With the business travel and MICE market dampened by the economic slowdown, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has put together an arsenal of reasons under the “2009 Reasons to meet in Singapore” campaign to give corporate executives and conference delegates every reason to come to Singapore

With technological advancements and an economic downturn to battle, business travellers and companies continue to try to cut costs. P@SSPORT talks to key MICE leaders and get their vision of the future of business and events travel.

F1 ROCKS™, a new entertainment concept introducing a new global entertainment franchise and live entertainment by All the Worlds, in partnership with FORMULA ONE Management, was launched on 4 August 2009. It was also announced that the world premiere F1 ROCKS™ event will take place in Singapore.

The inaugural Singapore Experience Awards, which opened nominations on 15 July, is all about recognising organisations and individuals that deliver the best holistic visitor experience - one that packages product and service delivery to create a distinctive and compelling experience.

Singapore has clinched the top spot in the “Top International Meeting City” category in the Union of International Associations 2008 Global Rankings for the second consecutive year.

The Singapore Tourism Board has launched its new Digital Library, a searchable online repository of digital assets, for your use.

Want to succeed in travel and tourism? Here’s some advice from a panel of industry leaders, including the Singapore Tourism Board’s Tony Lai, during WIT*e - Inspiration & Mentoring.

Service excellence has a direct impact on profitability - that was the key message that emerged from the Singapore Management University’s Institute of Service Excellence’s Inaugural Global Conference in Service Excellence held in Singapore last month.

Farms and countryside in Singapore? Yes!

‘Shape the future face of tourism’;‘energise the sector and achieve a quantum leap moving forward’; and ‘support the Singapore Tourism Board in driving creation and implementation of strategies and plans for the tourism sector’.

In a bid to encourage corporate travel to and meetings in Singapore, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has put together a string of offers under the “2009 Reasons to meet in Singapore” campaign.

Four months to the race of the year and the city is already revving up for the Singapore GP Season which returns from 18 to 27 September 2009 to complement the 2009 FORMULA 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix.

You could call it the biggest food coup for Singapore, and it lasted all of eight minutes.

As the STB scoops up two tourism awards in Korea, Clement Goh, Area Director, Korea, shares some insights on how you can grab a slice of the South Korean market.

You can’t miss it when you visit Shanghai these days - the news that the World Expo 2010 is coming to town. It’s on banners and billboards and along the roads in the city which is being transformed for the event in May 2010.

So do you know who your neighbour is? If not, then start getting to know them because that's what the organisers of the Singapore HeritageFest 2009 wants you to do.

It is business as usual in Singapore. Our borders remain open, and we continue to welcome visitors.

Mr Oliver Chong, Regional Director, Europe, has been concurrently appointed as the new Director of Conventions and Meetings, Business Travel and MICE Group as of 22 June 2009. He takes over this portfolio from Ms Catherine McNabb who is seconded to the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) with effect from the same date.

Winners of Fly on US promotion spend time on Facebook and want more Web engagement.

The Great Singapore Sale just got greater, with not only retailers promising greater value and savings, but also hotels, tourist attractions and restaurants.

Fresh from a S$40 million makeover and armed with more marketing zeal and funds, Orchard Road, Singapore's most visited tourist attraction, is ready to be launched onto the world stage as "A Great Street".

The 1st Asian Youth Games Singapore 2009, other than making history as the first Asian Youth Games (AYG) ever, will also claim its place as the first multi-sports event to broadcast coverage of all its sports events via its website.

Life by the river will be transformed when the Singapore River Festival returns from 19 to 27 June with a line-up of events including a musical, a bumboat parade and a jazz and local music festival.

More offers launched under "2009 Reasons to enjoy Singapore" campaign

In a move aimed at raising awareness at home and abroad about Singapore's home-grown brands and getting consumers to buy into local brands, SPRING Singapore has launched GET SINGAPORE.

Visitors to the Singapore Pavilion at World Expo Shanghai 2010 will experience an Urban Symphony that pays tribute to the harmony of culture, progress and sustainability that is Singapore.

As of 8 May, there are no human cases of Influenza A (H1N1-2009) in Singapore. The Singapore Government is monitoring the situation closely and will update the public should there be any new developments.

The World Gourmet Summit, co-organised by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Peter Knipp Holdings Pte Ltd (PKH), and presented by Citibank, aims to position Singapore as Asia's premier gourmet capital and an exclusive lifestyle destination.

One of Singapore's landmark festivals, the Singapore Arts Festival, returns from May 15 to June 14.

The Singapore Society of Tourist Guides has launched new walking tours as well as guided tour services.

As of April, the dress code in STB has been updated to reflect the fun sector we represent.

Looking for unique venues for your events? The Pit Building - the nerve centre for the Formula One™ race - located at 1 Republic Boulevard next to Singapore Flyer, is available for rent.

STB's Chief Executive believes innovation is a state of mind and not something you pull out of the drawer during crisis.

The world has changed and STB must change with it.

The co-founder of The Idea Factory is the new man driving sector planning and development at the STB.

Six months to go and the excitement's building up over the 2009 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix.

Visitors to Orchard Road will now see Singapore's most visited free access attraction in a new light, literally.

The Singapore Education Awards 2009, now in its third year, drew a record 2,000 nominations, a 50 per cent increase over last year.

At her first local public speaking appearance as Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board at the Tourism Industry Conference in February, Ms Aw Kah Peng had plenty of good news to share with her industry members.

Launched by the Singapore Tourism Board and industry partners on February 11 at the Singapore Tourism Industry Conference, the “2009 Reasons to enjoy Singapore” campaign has one clear message - this is the year to visit Singapore and enjoy quality and exciting experiences at value-for-money prices.

With the economy reeling from the global financial crisis, one of the hardest hit sectors has been corporate travel and MICE (Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conferences & Exhibitions).

Amid a slowdown in arrivals from China, Singapore’s second largest market, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has identified three customer segments - premium and BTMICE (Business Travel & Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions), first-time leisure travellers and repeat visitors.

The Training Industry Professionals in Tourism (TIP-iT) scheme was officially launched by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in 2007 to to incentivise companies with new or expanding tourism products to invest in the development of specialised skills amongst the tourism workforce.

The newspapers may be full of bad news but at the 17th Asia Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) held in Melbourne last month, business was brisk and positive.

Singapore’s status as a premier medical hub got a leg up recently with news that Fitbone surgery, initially devised as a method of leg lengthening for those with congenital growth abnormalities or trauma to the lower limbs, has entered the realm of cosmetics.

Destination management companies in Singapore will have another attraction to pack into their itineraries when the River Safari, Asia’s first river-themed animal attraction, opens in 2011.

The Singapore Tourism Board will showcase Singapore tourism and tourism careers to thousands of attendees at CAREER 2009 & EDUCATION 2009 from March 5 to 8 at Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre.

It wasn't all bad news on the Singapore tourism front in 2009. While visitor numbers declined, tourism receipts reached a record high and Changi Airport defied the odds to achieve a slight growth in full-year traffic.

P@SSPORT presents a summary of regional news highlights from the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2009 in Hanoi last month.

ASEAN announced it had achieved a growth in international visitor arrivals - by seven per cent to reach an estimated 58 million arrivals - but the region knows a long, hard road lies ahead as the world reels from the economic meltdown.

With its eye set on becoming Asia's grandest street and floats parade, this year's Chingay Parade featured the most spectacular opening party with a dazzling array of dragons, phoenixes and oxen.

Nostalgia for some, and a history lesson for others. Join our tourist guides on 21 February 2009 as they take you on three different heritage tours starting from the National Library, in conjunction with the annual celebration of International Tourist Guide Day

Despite the current difficult economic times, Dr Jason Yap, Director of Healthcare Services for the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), remains confident that Singapore will remain strong and resilient as an international healthcare destination.

Be it your blog, Twitter, or that message board you use to tell your friends, colleagues or customers what you are up to, they all have one thing in common.

2009 marks the start of a new era for the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) with a new chief, Ms Aw Kah Peng, at the helm, as she takes over from Mr Lim Neo Chian, who remains as Deputy Chairman of the STB.

Organisers of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009 Singapore Stopover presented by UBS have put together an activity-filled programme from 8 to 18 January at the Race Village that promises "something for everyone and their families".

Chinatown will come alive for the Chun Jie (Spring Festival) celebrations from 3 January to 15 February that will usher in the Year of the Ox.

Reigning world marathon champion, Luke Kibet, set a new record in the full marathon category of the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon on December 7. His winning time of 2:13:01 hours was more than a minute under the previous course record (2:14:23), set by compatriot and last year's winner, Elijah Mbogo.

To maintain and build on its positioning as a sporting hub for the region, Singapore must continue to attract world class sporting events, invest in infrastructure and build a sports culture.

Mr Kevin Leong, Regional Director, Oceania and Senior Director, Special Projects, has been appointed Senior Director, International Marketing, as of January 2009 while retaining his concurrent appointment as Senior Director, Special Projects. As Senior Director, International Marketing, Kevin's role is to integrate the industry's activities and products with the marketing efforts of all the Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) Regional Offices.

Ensuring a high level of service quality within the tourism industry has always been a top priority for the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). P@SSPORT talks to Neeta Lachmandas, Director, Service Quality, STB, to find out more about the importance of service excellence.

New accreditation scheme differentiates businesses that provide good service

ZoukOut, Singapore's largest outdoor dance party returns for the eighth year on 13 December.

Themed "A Sweet Christmas in Singapore", the annual Christmas in the Tropics kicks into full swing this month. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) hopes that the many festivities lined up will help "round off the year on a sweet note for our visitors".

With Chinatown Chinese New Year celebrations, Huayi - Chinese Festival of Arts, River Hongbao and Chingay 2009

Investors and businesses have welcomed the latest initiative by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to enhance its business financing schemes but say execution is critical to its success.

Singapore has set the lead for the global exhibition industry by establishing the world's first international standard that outlines clearly-defined terms and measurement procedures for exhibitions.

It accounts for three million arrivals and 40% of tourism receipts. No wonder it is a critical component of Singapore's tourism story. P@SSPORT looks at BTMICE's strategy for growth.

Christmas is the time for sweets, treats and twinkling lights and so appropriately, this year's theme for Singapore's Christmas In The Tropics celebrations is "A Sweet Christmas in Singapore".

SingaporeMedicine, the government-industry partnership to develop and promote Singapore as the leading medical hub and international healthcare destination, has launched its presence on Facebook.

The Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009 set sail from Alicante on 11 November 2008, on a brand new route that will bring them to Asia for the first time. The fourth among 11 stopovers, Singapore will be the first and only stop in Southeast Asia. The ONE°15 Marina Club and Sentosa Cove will play host to the magnificent Volvo Open 70 boats during the Singapore Stopover presented by UBS.

Social shifts including changing consumer demographics and demands in terms of technological advances will change the way people travel and interact with destinations.

You could have heard a pin drop at the Esplanade Theatre the night Peter and The Wolf was performed in Singapore as part of the Singapore Sun Festival 2008 Gala Opening Concert.

It's post-Formula One™ fever in Singapore, and Mr Lim Neo Chian, Deputy Chairman & Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is into his final lap at the STB as he prepares to step down as Chief Executive on 31 December. P@SSPORT catches up with the man who has been leading Singapore tourism for the last six years.

Renault's Fernando Alonso may have been the winner of the world's first night Formula One™ race but the real winner was Singapore, according to hoteliers interviewed by P@SSPORT.

Singapore showed the world that we can throw a good party through the many events that formed the Singapore GP Season. Held from 20 September to 5 October, the Singapore GP Season showcased various Formula One™-themed activities, entertainment events and lifestyle festivals as well as shopping and dining promotions that got visitors and Singaporeans all revved up during the race period.

The production for Worlds Within, the latest project to be supported by the the Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) Film in Singapore! Scheme, has just wrapped up after a six-day shoot in the city.

Visitors coming to Singapore now will see a city in transformation. Taking shape are the two Integrated Resorts - The Marina Bay Sands™ and Resorts World at Sentosa. There's also the overall development of the Marina Bay area, and the new International Cruise Terminal being built at Marina South.

The news couldn't have come at a better time.

What's behind Singapore's success as a meeting destination? P@SSPORT features comments by some organizers who have recently held events in Singapore.

To prepare for its biggest participation at a World Expo yet, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is looking for a multi-disciplinary team to develop the Singapore Pavilion at the Shanghai event in 2010.

With the aim of promoting Singapore as a hotbed for the latest designs and fashion initiatives, three agencies - International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, SPRING Singapore (SPRING) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) - are joining forces to give a boost to the fashion industry.

Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) Deputy Chairman & Chief Executive, Mr Lim Neo Chian, who will step down this year end, called his past six years at the helm "exciting and rewarding".

Lynette Pang is a woman in a hurry. In fact, if she was a driver in the Formula One™ Grand Prix, she might well come in first.

The Singapore GP Season rolls into town on 20 September for a span of three weekends till 5 October and promises an action-packed time for everyone seeking a unique and memorable lifestyle experience. From jazz concerts to pop performances, art showings to fashion showcases, wine & dine events to shopping and other leisure pursuits, the Singapore GP Season has got it all to suit every taste.

Visitors to Singapore in the month of September will be greeted by colourful visuals showcasing highlights of the Singapore GP Season from the moment they touch down at the Singapore Changi Airport. For the first time, the arrival halls, including internet kiosks and skytrains, will be dressed up with banners and...

"The Singapore River is a story about change, of how a river contributed to the success of Singapore. In modern times, this legendary river will still be remembered for its old charm and its great importance in the history of Singapore." - Vernon Cornelius-Takahama, author of Singapore River Historical Overview

Virtual racing enthusiasts can now speed through the streets of Marina Centre, ahead of FORMULA ONE™ racing celebrities with the Uniquely Singapore Racer. Launched by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in August, the Uniquely Singapore Racer is a 3D interactive flash application that allows online players to experience the sights and attractions in downtown Singapore as they vie to complete a race lap in the shortest time.

Four lucky participants from this year's Project Postcards have won exclusive VIP passes to the 2008 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix and access to some of the hottest parties and entertainment events during the Singapore GP Season.

If walls could talk, the Baba House, one of Singapore's last remaining and intact Straits Chinese townhouses, would have fascinating tales to tell.

The theme was glamour. The mood was celebratory. The occasion was the second Singapore Business Events Awards, organised by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

Even as the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) recognised winners of its second Singapore Business Events Awards, it had another piece of good news to celebrate.

Visitors to the Shanghai World Expo 2010 will see Singapore as a "City of Possibilities, Transforming Lives" in a 3,000 square metre Singapore Pavilion that will showcase its achievements in sustainable development, its continuous drive to reinvent itself, and other lesser known aspects of Singapore beyond its economic success.

According to the Overseas Visitors Survey (OVS) monitored by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), there has been a significant increase in the number of tourists visiting ethnic attractions from 2006 to 2007.

This August to October, Singapore celebrates its cultural diversity with three colourful ethnic festivals - Mid-Autumn Festival, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Deepavali - marked by the Chinese, Malay and Indian communities.

On 2 September 2008, outstanding players in the business events and MICE industry will gather at the Shangri-La Hotel for the second Singapore Business Events Awards (SBEA) to be recognised and feted by the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau (SECB), a group of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and their industry peers.

Uniquely Singapore Friends are now at hand at the various Singapore Visitor Centres (SVC) to provide visitors with helpful tourist information as well as to share their unique personal experiences of Singapore. In late June, 30 Uniquely Singapore Friends, or volunteer destination advocates for the Singapore Tourism Board, started their stints at the SVCs.

Ten months and S$40 million later, the Pit Building, which will serve as the nerve centre for the race and house the most exclusive spaces for guests of the 2008 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, has been unveiled.

Uniquely Singapore continues to make waves in the Clipper 07-08 Round The World Yacht Race.

Make a date with Singapore from 17 to 26 October 2008, when the Singapore Sun Festival comes to town. Showcasing appearances and performances by Robert Redford, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, the Vienna Boys Choir, Sergio Mendes and events such as wine auctions and celebrity chef dinners, the Sun Festival celebrate...

The Singapore Visitor Centre @ Orchard will be closed for refurbishment works from 1 August. It is set to reopen by mid-September 2008, in time for the 2008 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix. The new SVC will feature dedicated Singapore Education Services counters where visitors can obtain more...

Singapore's hotel industry should take advantage of the slight slowing down of business as a breather and "take this time to regroup, rethink and prepare" for the slew of exciting tourism projects planned for Singapore by 2010.

She worked in sales, marketing and revenue management in the hotel industry for more than 13 years. Now, she is responsible for ensuring an adequate room supply for Singapore, not only in numbers but also in types of accommodation so that Singapore, by 2015, will have "something for everyone".

Singapore's entertainment landscape has witnessed a dramatic transformation in recent times. Visitors to Singapore today are spoilt for choice with the variety of quality entertainment offerings which includes world-class shows and musicals, dusk-till-dawn dance parties, acclaimed arts performances and brand new nightspots.

The Singapore GP Season is set to rev up the excitement that surrounds the landmark 2008 Formula One™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix that makes Formula One™ history as the world's first night race. For three weekends from 20 September to 5 October, Singapore will be host to a series of adrenalin-inducing events and activities, promising endless entertainment, top-class events and...

The 15th Singapore Food Festival returns this year bursting with rich local flavours as it spotlights Singapore's celebrated local delights with the new Singapore Food Sampler.

Tourism employers can now advertise their job vacancies and recruit talent through the one-stop career portal that was launched by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

The website, www.TourismCareers.sg , offers information for potential new entrants to learn more about the tourism industry and now also carries a listing...

This year's Project Postcard sports a Formula One™ theme to mark Singapore's inaugural 2008 Formula 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix

A new agreement between ParkwayHealth and a US-based healthcare network may have more Americans choosing Singapore as their preferred overseas healthcare destination now.

After 14 years of irresistible bargains and treats, the Great Singapore Sale returns bigger and better than ever before.

The only island-wide sale in the region kicked off on 23 May 2008 and will run till 20 July 2008, presenting shoppers with discounts on an extensive range of merchandise from key shopping precincts to beyond...

Work on the rejuvenation of Orchard Road started in April 2008 but the ongoing works will not affect the shopping experience along Singapore's most famous shopping district, said the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

"Our priority in planning the works schedule was to ensure that businesses along Orchard Road would be able to continue their operations with minimal disruption...

With under four months to go, more than 80% of tickets to the 2008 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix have been sold.

The Stamford, Raffles and Marina Grandstands are sold out while Turn 2, Turn 3 and the Esplanade Waterfront Grandstands have limited or single-seat availability.

Singapore's new International Cruise Terminal has passed another milestone with the appointment of an architect and engineering consultant for the project by the government.

Bermello, Ajamil & Partners, Inc. and RSP Architects Planners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd won the architectural design contract while Maunsell Consultants ( Singapore)...

The annual Singapore Arts Festival rolls into town again from 23 May to 22 June 2008, delighting fans with more than 1,800 acclaimed artists from 27 countries to perform in 25 main productions and over 400 free programmes.

Organised by the National Arts Council (NAC), the Singapore Arts Festival is a celebration of the arts of the people, and has established itself as one of Asia's...

The festival, which made its debut in December 2006 as the first garden show in the tropics to gather and showcase creations from the world's top award-winning garden and floral designers under one roof, wowed more than 200,000 visitors with its fantastical creations and magical masterpieces.

Making its debut splash in Singapore this month is the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW), an event designed to capitalise on the growing environment and water industry.

Comprising five anchor events including the inaugural Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, the SIWW brings a wave of exciting water activities to Singapore, bringing...

Ms Leong See Kay, Area Director, Northern China has been concurrently appointed as Director, World Expo with effect from 20 May 2008. She will coordinate Singapore's participation in the next World Exposition scheduled to be held in Shanghai from 1 May to 31 October 2010.

Every general needs to get out there to see what challenges his troops are facing on the frontline and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) chief is no exception.

Mr Lim Neo Chian, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of the STB, recently took time off to help out at the Singapore Visitors Centres (SVCs)...

After five years in China, Mr Edmund Chua, then Regional Director for Singapore Tourism Board (STB)'s regional office in China, has returned to headquarters to assume the role of the Assistant Chief Executive, Planning & Sector Development. This means, as he tells P@SSPORT, "ensuring that Singapore has all the necessary ingredients that go into the making of the tourism offer" - from ensuring an...

Even as Singapore makes significant strides in drawing more locals to the tourism industry, it will look to foreign sources to augment its manpower needs of 50,000 to 60,000 by 2010.

On the back of a fast-developing hotel sector across the region, the hospitality industry must continue to invest in the two key factors that will sustain growth - people and service quality.

Spanning seven halls at the Singapore Expo for the first time, Asia's largest international food & hospitality event, Food & Hotel Asia (FHA), just got bigger.

This year, the event, which encompasses six specialised events under one roof, took up 72,000sqm in total compared to 60,000 sqm the previous time.

Strong investment flows between the Middle East and Asia, a red hot property sector in Singapore and across most of Asia and the environment dominated discussions at Cityscape Asia 2008, an annual property development exhibition and conference, held in Singapore from 15 to 17 April 2008.

Set against the backdrop of growing awareness and concern for the environment, Singapore hosted the annual B4E for the second consecutive year this April. B4E is the Business for the Environment Global Summit, jointly hosted by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Global Compact.

Ahead of the inaugural 2008 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix in September, organisers demonstrated the sophisticated lighting system designed to light up the stage of the world's first Fomula One™ night race. Amongst those invited to view the demonstration were Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Mr S Iswaran, and key officials from race promoter, Singapore GP Pte Ltd, and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

The Great Singapore Sale is back. From 23 May to 20 July 2008, shoppers can enjoy discounts of up to 70 per cent on an extensive range of merchandise within key shopping precincts and beyond.

Planning & Sector Development Group

Mr Edmund Chua, Regional Director, Greater China has been appointed as Assistant Chief Executive of the newly formed Planning and Sector Development Group with effect from 1 May 2008.

Booking levels at ITB Asia, the new B2B tourism trade show in Singapore, are high. More than eight months before the event is due to open, 180 exhibitors have already registered to take part. One of the main reasons is a partnership with Meeting Professionals International for MICE trade fair and conference activities.

Singapore's cruise industry will enter a new phase in 2010 when the International Cruise Terminal at Marina South opens. It will effectively double the city's cruise infrastructure, and allow Singapore to better tap the growth potential of the cruise industry in the region. Ocean Shipping Consultants has projected that Asia (Greater China, South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia) can expect a 44 per...

17 winners of the Singapore Education Awards 2008 were unveiled on 25 March 2008 at the 2008 Singapore Education Awards officiated by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts. Over 370 guests, comprising members of the diplomatic community and key industry partners...

The World Gourmet Summit rolls into Singapore for the 12th year, boasting, for the first time, top female chefs and a three-week calendar bursting with about 70 activities.

Stilt walkers, fire-blowing inline skaters, jugglers, feathered minglers and pyrotechnics will add much festive fanfare to the official opening of the Singapore Flyer on 15 April 2008.

From 26 April 2008, visitors to Singapore will be able to get insights into the unique Straits Chinese culture at a new museum.

With the Formula One™ race season flagged off in Melbourne on 16 March, excitement is building up in Singapore over the city's hosting of the world's first Formula One™ night race on 28 September 2008.

Visitors can now share their unique personal experiences of Singapore with the world, in a new Singapore Tourism Board (STB) brand initiative.

Since its launch in June 2007, the Digital Concierge (DC) project has made good progress. Though still in its pilot phase the project has just received a TravelMole Best Asia Web Award for Best Deployment Of Mobile Technology.

Singapore welcomed record growth in the number of visitors from Europe. In 2007, close to 1.3 million European visitors travelled to Singapore - a growth of 4.6 per cent over 2006.

STB's Ken Low shares his views on what made this year's Awards special and what needs to be done to create more stars in the service industry.

First, there was the Tourism Universe. Then there's the Galaxy and the constellations. And within it, the Stars - "the champions of the tourism industry".

Our Tourism Universe, Our Brightest Stars - Tourism Awards 2008 paid tribute to the brightest stars in our Tourism Universe.

The 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) will be an opportune platform for Singapore to showcase the exciting tourism developments and attractions "which will dramatically re-define and enhance Singapore's tourism landscape come 2010," said Mr Lim Neo Chian, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

The Singapore Fashion Festival is set to thrill fashionistas and trendy shoppers from 28 March to 6 April 2008.

Presented by MasterCard and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the Festival will once again showcase the latest fashion trends with its theme of...

A river that glistens and twinkles by night, electric water taxis plying up and down, taking people from one nightspot to another, historical landmarks seen in a new light, performances and events around the clock throughout the year...

Get set to party by the Singapore River in September, as the city gears up for the world's first FORMULA ONE night race!

The Singapore River Festival will be held in September this year in conjunction with the 2008 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix. The event is part of the Singapore GP Season of events and festivities surrounding the race period.

Girl power takes centrestage at the World Gourmet Summit 2008 when it returns from 7 to 26 April 2008.

The World Gourmet Summit will feature its first female iconic chef Ms Anne-Sophie Pic this year. Ms Pic holds the distinction of being the first French female chef...

Following the launch of its Tourism Careers - A Journey of Discovery campaign to enhance the attractiveness of tourism careers to Singaporeans, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) hosted a Tourism Careers pavilion during the recent Career 2008 & Education 2008 fair.

No one is more critical to delivering a destination experience as tour guides and on 1 March, about 100 members of the Society of Tourist Guides (Singapore) (STG) got together to offer free tours at the National Museum of Singapore.

We are pleased to announce that Ms Neeta Lachmandas has joined the STB on 3 March 2008 as Director, Service Quality (DSQ) in Service Quality Division.

Singapore's tourism industry is "all revved up" to meet 2008 targets of 10.8 million visitor arrivals and S$15.5 billion in tourism receipts.

The new targets were announced at the Singapore Tourism Board (STB)'s Tourism Industry Night, where the St Regis ballroom was transformed into a mini showcase of developments and events that are taking place in Singapore, with features...

So who will be the brightest stars in the Singapore tourism universe? Well, all will be revealed come 4 March 2008 when the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announces the winners of the annual Tourism Awards at the Esplanade Concert Hall.

A total of 84 finalists are vying for 22 award categories in the 22nd edition of the "Oscars" of Singapore tourism. Apart from these categories that are open for...

2007 has been another record year for the Singapore tourism sector. Here are some tourism highlights of the year:

• Singapore exceeded its target of S$13.6 billion in tourism receipts for 2007 and posted an estimated S$13.8 billion from January to December 2007, an 11.3% increase over the same period in 2006. This has, set a new record for tourism...

There's no better place than Singapore to welcome in the Year of the Rat.

A series of events are planned throughout January and February for the Chun Jie celebrations to welcome Chinese New Year which falls on 7 and 8 February 2008 this year.

Singapore rolled out a colourful welcome for the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race when the fleet of 10 ocean racing yachts stopped over at Keppel Bay on 19 January 2008. The event was a highlight of the opening of the Marina at...

Minister of State for Trade and Industry for Singapore, Mr S Iswaran, took the opportunity at the recent ASEAN Tourism Forum held in Bangkok from 18 to 26 January 2008 to discuss tourism cooperation with his counterparts from Malaysia and India.

P@SSPORT talks to three first-time finalists in the Tourism Awards 2008 and gets their stories.

The Butter Factory does not have anything remotely to do with butter in the literal sense of the word. Instead, it is one of Singapore's newest and hottest...

In the November issue of P@ssport, we launched a lucky draw where P@ssport members get a chance to win attractive prizes by inviting their tourism contacts to sign up for P@ssport. The contest ended on 15 January 2008.

Ms Chiang Hai Yin, Assistant Director, Management Reporting & Budgeting, has been concurrently appointed as Deputy Chief Financial Officer with effect from 1 February 2008. Ms Chiang takes over from Mr Yong Yean Chau, Chief Financial Officer who has resigned and served his last day of service with the Board on 31 January 2008.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will be heading to the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) taking place in Bangkok from 18 to 26 January 2008.

Singapore received its 10 millionth visitor on 22 December 2007, setting a new high for the industry.

Last year's record was 9.7 million arrivals. It took Singapore a decade from 1995 when it achieved seven million visitors to cross the eight million mark in 2004.

There will be plenty of reasons to celebrate for Singapore's tourism industry this year.

With a record highs in tourist arrivals and tourism receipts in recent years, plus what promises to be an exciting year ahead, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB)...

Keep your eyes on Singapore's southern waterfront precinct between 19 and 27January 2008.

Many await the jubilant arrival of the 10-strong Clipper fleet on 19 January 2008. That's when the Uniquely Singapore Clipper is due to make its way home in the...

Visitors to Singapore will now find it easier to move around the island by public transport with the launch of the Singapore Tourist Pass (STP) and a Public Transport Guide for Tourists (The "Travel with Ease" Guide).

The Singapore Tourist Pass, produced by EZ-Link in collaboration with Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Singapore Tourism Board (STB), is the only pass...

You can't miss the new mobile Singapore Visitors Centre (SVC) with its striking signature red and Peranakan motifs of the Uniquely Singapore brand.

Since 4 December 2007 when it opened its doors, the new mobile SVC has been found along the pedestrian walkway in front of Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza. It's bigger and swankier than the former kiosk which was set up in July 2006 to...

At the ASEAN Tourism Forum last year (2007), ASEAN tourism leaders called for emphasis on growing the youth market as well as catering to their needs. P@SSPORT looks at what Singapore is doing to cater to this segment.

Singapore is packed with activities that cater to young travellers - from the annual signature youth event called SHINE, a six-week festival of youth...

Singapore will be represented by 30 booths at this year's ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) taking place in Bangkok from 18 to 26 January 2008.

Travex, the trade show component of the annual travel event, will be held at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani.

Plans are afoot to transform the Mandai area, where the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari are located, into one of Asia's top family destinations.

Leveraging on these two internationally acclaimed world-class attractions, Mandai is envisioned to be transformed into a unique animal and nature-themed...

This is the time of the year when Singapore goes all twinkling and fairy land-like. Yes, "Christmas in the Tropics" has arrived, packed with lots of goodies for everyone.

Running from 17 November 2007 to 2 January 2008, the festival is filled with exciting events such as festive performances, entertainment acts, shopping...

Christmas is the season for giving and Singapore has received three presents in time for this holiday season.

Its reputation as a premier Business and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) destination was bolstered by three awards.

The Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) tourism careers campaign print ad was picked as one of the winning ads on Singapore Press Holdings' (SPH) Advine for the month of November.

The third Asian Festival of First Films (AFFF), which received record submissions and nominations this year, is announcing its winners in Singapore on 4 December 2007.

First, it was FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix. Now, its equivalent in the world of competitive sailing, the Volvo Ocean Race, will be making its maiden stop in Singapore as well.

Mr John Gregory Conceicao, who was Assistant Director, Education Market Development (ADEMD), has been appointed as Director, Education Services (DES) with effect from 1 December 2007.

Come and join us to discover 60,000 job opportunities in the Industry. Working in tandem with the Tourism Talents Plan (TOTAL Plan), STB hopes to raise awareness and attract more locals to join the industry.

The Digital Concierge (DC) project is making good progress with new features and services being rolled out progressively, and feedback being actively solicited from users.

Launched in July and in pilot phase till early next year, the project is a joint initiative between the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the InfoComm...

Singapore's premier shopping street will soon undergo a S$40 million rejuvenation that will result in a more attractive destination. As part of the landscape and infrastructural enhancements, Orchard Road will feature state of the art lighting highlighting its lush tree-lined boulevard, new creative spaces for staging events and a more integrated and engaging pedestrian mall.

Three new SingArt Lions were unveiled at the Singapore Season China 2007 which was held in Beijing and Shanghai last month. The new additions were decorated by Singapore's home-grown singing sensations, JJ Lin, A-Do and Sun Ho, who all performed during the Season.

Singer, composer and Singapore's tourism ambassador JJ Lin "dressed" Prince...

Watch out, Singapore! The Contender Asia is coming and it's packing more punch, thanks to an endorsement by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

The Contender Asia is the first international reality series produced for the global market that is based in and shot almost entirely in Singapore. It is the latest project supported by the STB's Film in Singapore! Scheme, which aims to...

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has set up its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore. MPI is a renowned International Organisation (IO) in the meetings and events industry with 68 chapters in 20 countries and close to 23,000 members.

The Asia-Pacific operations will complement MPI's global presence that currently...

The Singapore government will invest more than S$360 million to train 74,000 tourism workers over the next three years to cope with the anticipated spike in manpower demand.

One of the biggest challenges of Singapore's travel trade currently is finding not only sufficient workers to fill jobs, but also qualified, trained professionals to...

Mr Justin Chew, Director, Leisure Planning (DLP) is seconded to International Enterprise Singapore as Regional Director, China Strategic Relations with effect from 22 October 2007.

Come 25 October 2007, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will roll out a brand new initiative to promote and spread the word about the many exciting and interesting career opportunities in the tourism industry available now and in the very near future.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has launched a S$10 million Tourism Technology Fund (TTF) to accelerate technology innovation and adoption in the industry.

Supported under the Tourism Development Assistance Scheme (TDAS), it aims to support technology projects that would enhance visitors' experience or improve...

Singaporeans and residents are once again being encouraged to take part in Project Postcard 2007.

In line with this year's theme, 'My City. My Life', the postcards feature eight images by Singaporeans and visitors that were submitted to the STB's Unique2Me Photo Competition. Two sets of four postcards have been produced and are...

Singapore is now ranked among the world's top three cities for meetings, based on the Union of International Associations' (UIA) latest rankings.

In the UIA's International Meetings Statistics 2006 report, Singapore moved up one place from 2005 to third position in the Top International Meeting City category...

Singapore is sizzling hot in India - it has received four destination awards in the Indian market beating other favourite destinations such as Australia, Malaysia, Switzerland and the USA.

Arrivals from India grew by 15% in the first half of 2007, thanks in part to the...

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is playing its part in the Singapore Season, a month-long event held in Beijing and Shanghai from 12 October to 10 November.

This year's Singapore Season in China is integrated with two of China's international arts events - The Beijing Music Festival and the China Shanghai...

The second Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has begun and flying the Singapore brand once again is the Uniquely Singapore clipper, sponsored by Keppel Corporation Limited, and race partner, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

The Uniquely Singapore yacht, together with nine other clippers, was flagged off with a colourful ceremony from Albert Dock in Liverpool, UK on 16 September.

Winners for the first Business Events Awards have been named. P@SSPORT interviews Aloysius Arlando, the STB's Assistant Chief Executive, Business Travel and Meetings Incentive travel, Conventions and Exhibitions on what lies ahead for the sector.

While hotels in Singapore may be fuller than ever before, with their rooms being taken up with high-yield corporate and MICE business during the weekdays, many still experience some slack during the weekends.

Which is why they welcomed the launch of the Uniquely Singapore Weekends campaign by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

Singapore Chinese Garden's annual Mid-Autumn Festival is back, brighter and longer - and with a mission.

It is aiming to enter the Singapore Book of Records and this year's festival centrepiece is an impressive 100-metre long lantern display called Ocean Party, in line with this year's lantern light up "Magical Ocean" theme.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has picked up the prestigious Gold Award for Marketing Campaign - Primary Government/ Destination conferred by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).

It's the second win in as many months for the Uniquely Singapore brand...

Mr Ken Low calls it "a perfect fit" - the movie, Dance of the Dragon, and Singapore, the destination.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Brand & Communications) of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) was explaining why the Easternlight Films' movie is the latest to be supported by the Film in Singapore! Scheme.

Good news for shoppers - late night shopping in Singapore becomes a weekly staple every Saturday from 1 September, following rave reviews from customers.

Deals galore and activities will add even more buzz to late night shopping along Orchard Road, which was first introduced as a monthly event from July 2006.

Millennium & Copthorne is among the various hotel groups that are supporting the Singapore Tourism Board's recently-launched Uniquely Singapore Weekends campaign, and is targeting a five to 10% increase in occupancy at its hotels from the programme.

Have any tourism host or establishment caught your eye recently for exemplary service rendered? Give these service champions the recognition they deserve by nominating them for the upcoming Tourism Awards 2008!

Winnie Pua is the new Director, Brand Management Division, at the Singapore Tourism Board. P@SSPORT catches up with her to find out more about how she intends to carry on the Uniquely Singapore brand journey.

Singapore's tourism industry continues on a roll, setting new records for the first six months of the year while Changi International Airport is also on track to set a new record in 2007.

From a winner who called himself a "simple dentist" to one who put it all down to "passion", the seven recipients of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB)'s inaugural Business Events Awards recognised individuals and organisations from all sectors of the industry.

Mr Aloysius Arlando, Assistant Chief Executive, Business Travel and MICE Group...

The Singapore Education Roadshow will visit four cities in Indonesia this August and September.

The first two roadshows will be held on 4 to 5 and 12 August in Semarang and Makassar respectively while the following two will visit Palembang (1 to 2 September) and Jambi on 9 September.

It is the dish for which Singapore is most known and it even has an entry in social networking site, Wikipedia, which says, "Chilli Crab is currently celebrated as the unofficial national dish of Singapore".

Mr Andrew Phua, Director of Cluster Development, Tourism Shopping and Dining, with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), said: "The Singapore Chilli Crab is a...

Along with eating, shopping is the other national past-time for Singaporeans and a new local movie, Gone Shopping, hit the screens on 26 July.

Gone Shopping, produced by Kismet Films with support from movie distributor Golden Village Pictures Pte Ltd (GVP) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), is a satirical drama that sheds new light on one of Singapore's oldest cultures - the...

Some say the best way to get to know a nation's soul is through its food. Well, diners at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront from 9 to 22 July got insights into what makes ASEAN countries tick during the ASEAN Food Trail held at the hotel.

Held to celebrate ASEAN's 40th anniversary and to dovetail the Singapore Food Festival, the ASEAN Food Trail showcased cuisine from all 10 ASEAN countries.

The pilot programme for the Digital Concierge has been launched, and will run for nine months. The STB welcomes your feedback and suggestions.

"Imagine the convenience of having information like where to eat, what to do and where to go, at your fingertips, 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

It can feel kind of surreal. One week, you could be bopping in the aisle to pop bombshell, Christine Aguilera and the next you could be clamouring with other fans to meet the cast of hit TV series Heroes at Vivocity.

One month you could be sitting in the Esplanade Theatre, entranced by Sir Ian McKellen playing King Lear, one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies and the...

Mr Aubeck Kam - Appointed to the Board since 30 June 2007
Mr Kam currently holds the position of Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). He has previously held senior government positions in trade and security. As Director of Trade in the Ministry of Trade & Industry (MTI), he was involved in negotiations of free trade agreements with China, India and Canada. He served as the Director of Operations for the Singapore Police Force, holding...

With investor sentiment at a high and Merrill Lynch's latest report on "Singapore Property" forecasting a shortfall in room supply in Singapore, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is working with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to plug the gap.

Speaking at the opening of the SHA-REDAS (Singapore Hotel Association and Real...

You could say Mr Lawrence Leong Yue Kheong, Director, F1 Projects at the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), is the least likely man to be facilitating what will be Singapore's biggest sporting event in history.

He readily admits he is not a Formula 1 fan and he is not too familiar about the...

Its branding work and initiatives in promoting medical tourism won the Singapore Tourism Board honours at the inaugural TravelWeekly (Asia) Industry Awards 2007, held in Hong Kong in June this year.

The STB was awarded "Best Tourism Branding" for the Uniquely Singapore brand...

The founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, and founder and CEO of Linden Lab, Philip Rosedale, are among the visionaries and entrepreneurs featured in the CNN Future Summit airing on CNN International in June, July and August.

The programme, the third CNN Future Summit to be held in Singapore...

The 14th Great Singapore Sale (GSS) kept Singapore Tourism Board regional offices busy with promotional activities all aimed at getting travellers to visit Singapore to shop during the biggest shopping event of the year.

In Indonesia, one of Singapore's biggest shopping markets, the STB went on an all-out blitz with radio campaigns, print advertisements, competitions as well as...

Taking advantage of the only long school holiday period in Vietnam, which is also the peak season for outbound travel, the Singapore Tourism Board's Vietnam office launched an integrated campaign aimed at encouraging Vietnamese families to visit Singapore for their summer holiday.

The campaign, which ran from 1 May to 30 August, featured a photo contest...

Formula 1, Marina Bay Sands, Resorts World at Sentosa, Gardens by the Bay, Sports Hub: A steady stream of projects and events will transform Singapore as a destination and create a surge in visitors. Is Singapore ready?

Singapore is on a roll. And that's not only because of the latest news that Formula 1's coming to town. Major developments are taking place that will transform...

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will adopt a more targeted approach in its marketing strategies, said Mr Quek Swee Kuan, Deputy Chief Executive (International), at the Tourism Industry Conference.

Mr Quek, who is responsible for STB's International Operations, International Marketing and International Relations, said Singapore's top five...

Buoyed by the strong showing the first three months of the year, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is confident it will reach visitor arrival targets out of the Middle East this year.

Things look promising, said Mr Peh Ke-Wei, Area Director, Middle East & Africa, for the STB.

With less than two years to go before its opening in mid-2009, Singaporeans will have a chance to see at first hand The Marina Bay Sands™ (MBS) Integrated Resort (IR) in a public exhibition.

Organised by The Marina Bay Sands™, the developer of Singapore's first integrated resort, together with Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore (URA) and...

The Formula 1 race is expected to generate a total of S$100 million in incremental tourism receipts as well as bring Singapore closer to its goal of being "a vibrant global city that is abuzz with high quality entertainment and events".

Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Singapore, Mr S Iswaran said that F1 would not only give a strong boost to the tourism sector, but also generate...

The Uniquely Singapore brand has built up strong equity for Singapore since its launch in 2004 and is set to go on a further journey this year, according to Mr Ken Low, Assistant Chief Executive-Branding Communications & Leisure.

Last year, the campaign entered its second phase. Based on the tagline...

Friday Late Night Shopping in Singapore, now in its fourth month, is gathering momentum.

Two more shopping malls - Cathay Cineleisure Orchard and The Cathay - have joined the programme, bringing the number of retailers who will extend their operating hours up till midnight on the last Friday of each month, to 300.

Watch Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and you'll have a chance to win a trip to explore Singapore's wild side.

Under a marketing tie-up between the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Buena Vista International (BVI), fans of the movie in nine countries (Australia...

Having clinched fifth position overall in the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race last year, the Uniquely Singapore clipper is returning to make Singapore proud in the 2007-08 race.

The Uniquely Singapore clipper, launched by Minister for Education and Second...

With the announcement on 11 May 2007 that Singapore has won the right to host a Formula One Grand Prix race next year, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Leong Yue Kheong, Lawrence, as Director, F1 Projects. Mr Leong joined the STB on 23 March 2007.

Business events industry players will now have a chance to compete for their own place in the sun with the launch of the Singapore Business Events Awards.

Industry players have welcomed the launch of this scheme by the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau (SECB), a group of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

In line with its Global Schoolhouse target of attracting 150,000 full-fee paying international students by 2015, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) recently launched its Singapore Education Awards.

Held at the National Museum of Singapore on March 23, the inaugural Singapore Education Awards honoured seven individuals and organisations for their...

Come May 2008, one of the world's top three apparel machinery trade fairs will come to Singapore.

The International Apparel Machinery (JIAM) Trade Show, organized by the Japan Sewing Machinery Manufacturers Association (JASMA), has chosen the Singapore Expo as its venue for its 2008 event.

Expect to see familiar Singapore sights in Korean television series, "Que Sera Sera", now televising to Korean households.

The latest work from acclaimed producer Kim Yun Cheul, who was also behind the popular Korean drama series, "My Lovely Samsoon", "Que Sera Sera" is being headlined by popular Korean boyband Shinhwa's Eric Mun as well as Jung Yoo Mi...

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in collaboration with the National Parks Board (NParks) and Society of Tourist Guides (Singapore) organised a day of free guided tours and other activities at the Singapore Botanic Gardens on March 31.

The day, held as part of the International Tourist Guide Day (ITGA) celebrations, was to acknowledge the contributions of the tour-guiding community to the...

Delegates who attended Singapore's highest profile event last year said they were impressed with the level of service standards they received.

"The credit goes to the exemplary volunteers, service staff, organisations and educational institutions that contributed their time and resources and who rallied together behind the nation-wide efforts to provide S2006 delegates with...

Ms Margaret Teo took over as Assistant Chief Executive (Leisure), with effect from 26 April 2007. In this capacity, she leads strategic development and marketing of the leisure tourism sector. She will continue to hold the concurrent appointments of Director, Integrated Resorts and Director, Travel and Hospitality Business.

Sulian Tan-Wijaya, Director-Service Quality of the STB, shares a behind-the-scenes look at the Tourism Awards and talks about what's being done to lift service standards in Singapore tourism.

Singapore aims to develop a Uniquely Singapore brand of service that will not only encapsulate the essence of what the country's all about but also differentiate it from other countries.

Sharing this vision during the Singapore Tourism Board's Tourism Awards 2006...

The 2006 awards recognised individuals throughout the industry and paid tribute to attractions, big and small.

Cruising in ASEAN took a steer in the right direction with the launch of a new portal, www.cruiseASEAN.com.

Unveiled at the annual Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention in Miami, the new website marks yet another collaboration between the ten ASEAN countries...

It's that time of the year when gourmets and gourmands in Singapore, and around the world, have their eyes trained on the city state as it hosts the annual World Gourmet Summit (WGS).

And tour operators should not pass up on the opportunity to package special tours around this gastronomic affair, co-organised by Peter Knipp Holdings and the...

Singapore has bagged yet another mega event - the FDI Annual World Dental Congress which will be held in 2009 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The win, announced by the Singapore Dental Association (SDA), will see more than 13,000 delegates gather in Singapore from 2 to 5 September 2009. The congress...

Fashion arrived in Singapore with a big bang during the recent Singapore Fashion Festival (SFF).

The festival, presented by MasterCard and made possible by the Singapore Tourism Board, ran from 23 March to 1 April, and showcased the latest collections directly to the public and new season shoppers.

Love, fashion, music and food came together in the Singapore March/April 2007 season of A Luxe Affair.

From The Phantom of the Opera, to the Singapore Fashion Festival, from the Mosaic Music Festival, to the World Gourmet Summit, A Luxe Affair, a twice-yearly feast for the senses, had it all.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) had one clear message at ITB this year - Uniquely Singapore is well poised for the future.

With the spotlight on the upcoming developments that will transform the destination, the Uniquely Singapore booth was a crowd-puller with more than 40 industry partners joining the STB.

With the Phantom of The Opera swinging to town, the Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) Kuala Lumpur office did not miss the opportunity to stage a sneak preview of the musical.

It hosted an event in the Hilton Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, in collaboration with Ms Nancy Yeoh, a socialite in Malaysia. Among the 140 who attended the event...

With Germany still the second largest market from Europe to Singapore, after the UK, the ITB held every March remains a pivotal part of the Singapore Tourism Board's marketing activities.

"Singapore has witnessed an increase in visitor arrivals from Germany for the last three years. It is clear the market has reacted positively to STB's promotional...

Assistant Director, Integrated Resorts Melissa Ow was appointed Director, Industry Planning & Development, BTMICE with the Singapore Tourism Board, effective 1 February 2007

Fresh from setting a new record last year, Singapore's tourism industry has been thrown another challenge for the new year - to achieve $13.6 billion in tourism receipts and 10.2 million in visitor arrivals.

Last year, tourism receipts reached $12.4 billion while visitor arrivals crossed the nine million mark to touch 9.7 million.

For most of February, visitors to Singapore were headed for mainly one destination - Chinatown. The occasion: To join in the Lunar New Year celebrations and usher in the Year of the Pig.

From 27 January to 4 March, festive colours lit up all of Chinatown with lights extending from New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street, Garden Bridge to South...

The theme was A Unique Transformation, and it couldn't have been held at a more appropriate venue.

On February 8, the National Museum which itself underwent transformation to reopen earlier this year was the setting for the Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) Industry Night.

With the Singapore Fashion Festival (SFF) just a few weeks away (23 March to 1 April), the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has been beating the drums to create awareness of this annual event in its two key markets of India and China.

Models took to the catwalk in Mumbai in late January, showcasing the collections of three Indian and two Singaporean designers in a sneak preview of the festival.

"Friday Late Night Shopping," an initiative launched by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in July last year for five months, is back by popular demand as a regular feature.

Shoppers can look forward to more late night shopping on the last Friday of the month.

As part of its bid to reach out to more corporate travellers in southern China, the Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) Guangzhou office recently co-organised a seminar with the Guangzhou Daily earlier this year.

The seminar was opened to the Pearl River Delta's leading newspaper's HR Elite Club fee-paying members.

Delegates to the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2007, held in Singapore in late January, were greeted with news of Singapore's record-breaking tourism performance.

Think of them as the Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) voluntary emissaries - the freelance agents of its BTMICE unit.

They're the Conference Ambassadors, the handpicked individuals whose mission is to help promote Singapore, on a voluntary basis, as THE place to hold their industry events, be it meetings, incentives, conferences or exhibitions.

So what makes Singapore unique to different people? Well, an exhibition being held from 2 to 14 February could give insights into what different nationalities think of Uniquely Singapore.

The exhibition, being held at The Plaza, Level 1 of the National Library, showcases the pick of entries made to the Unique2Me photo competition launched by the...

Passengers arriving at the biggest airport in China are being treated to striking "Uniquely Singapore" visuals as they pick up their bags.

The visuals are emblazoned over seven conveyor belts in both the international and domestic arrival halls of the Beijing Capital International Airport which...

Did you know that Indonesian visitors spend an average of S$1,252 per shopping session making them the top spenders among visitors to Singapore? (Global Refund, January to July 2006)

To encourage even higher spending during the year-end Christmas shopping period, the Singapore Tourism Board's Indonesia office recently introduced a...

If there is one thing Singapore tourism needs as it grows and strives to reach Tourism 2015 targets, it's talent willing to work in the industry.

As part of its drive to reach out to students and to understand student perceptions of the industry as a future career, the STB occasionally takes part in outreach programmes organised by educational institutions.

The Singapore Zoo which has tapped into the Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) funding scheme under the multi-language tourism way-finding system has reported good feedback from its non-English speaking visitors.

The Zoo, which introduced its first multi-lingual sign in the carpark in January 2005, currently has three languages on display while the Night Safari has four.

New Board Members

The STB would like to thank outgoing Board Members Mr Frank Brown, Ms Chan Lai Fung, Mr Huang Cheng Eng, and Ms Saw Phaik Hwa for their counsel and strategic advice and welcome the following newly appointed Board Members:

Dr Jason Yap, Director of Healthcare Services with the STB, talks about the need to grow the pie for everyone and the launch of a new association that will help raise standards.

In many ways, Dr Jason CH Yap is the ideal candidate to promote medical travel...

Have you sent a postcard yet to your friends and relatives, inviting them to Singapore?

If not, you should do so, urges the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) which, in late November 2006, launched its biggest and widest-reaching Project Postcard yet.

With education playing an increasingly important role in Singapore's tourism sector, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has taken the lead to launch the Singapore Education (SE) Awards.

The awards, spearheaded by the STB's Education Services division, will be held on 23 March 2007.

A Cultural and Emotional Intelligence for Tourism Professionals workshop was held in November 2006 to better equip tour guides with the right skills to handle tourists, mainly from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

More than 53 tourist guides, belonging to the Society of Tourist Guides, turned up for the one-day workshop, funded under the STB's Training Industry...

More than 20 human resource directors in Singapore attended a half-day Capability Development Workshop on Insights on Human Resource Management: People, Emotions and Expectations, organised by the Singapore Tourism Board's Manpower Development Department.

Professor Tan Oon Seng, a renowned speaker in the US, Australia and Asia...

Singapore hits the one million visitor mark from China, making it the first destination outside Hong Kong and Macau to do so.

Mr Yu Tongkang was one lucky man. He arrived on December 19 at Changi, to be given a red carpet welcome by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

As 2006 drew to a close, Singapore's tourism industry had good cause to celebrate, with visitor arrivals crossing the nine million mark for the first time ever in December.

A Russian visitor, Dr Vladykina Elena, 29, became the ninth millionth visitor to arrive at Changi Airport. She was travelling with family and friends on holiday.

Getting an education in Singapore just became easier and more accessible for residents of Jakarta following the opening of the first overseas Singapore Education Services Centre (SESC) in the Indonesian capital.

Located on the 11th floor of Menara Bank Danamon in Mega Kuningan, Jakarta, the SESC will serve as a one-stop information centre for international students.

Easier travel, global competition and Low Cost Carriers will fuel the trend of medical travel in Asia.

Singapore's Minister of Health, Dr Khaw Boon Wan, who opened the first International Medical Travel Conference (IMTC) held in Singapore last month, said that more than 1.3 million people travel to or within Asia for medical services...

In a move aimed at gaining client confidence and ensuring best practices among its members, the BestCities Global Alliance is working towards achieving a Global Certification Program for convention bureau service standards.

Partners, such as Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dubai, Edinburgh, Melbourne, San Juan, Singapore and Vancouver, met in Singapore recently to complete a...

It is already one of Singapore's most visited attractions and soon, it will be even more compelling as a tourist draw.

Last month, a new lighting experience was unveiled at Bideford Junction. The new lighting cum crosswalk experience at Bideford Junction is the first project to be launched under the lighting masterplan for the city centre.

From 26 January to 2 February next year, Singapore will host the ASEAN Tourism Forum for the fifth time. P@SSPORT speaks to Mr Dayne Lim, Deputy Chairman of the ATF2007 Singapore Host Committee and one of ATF's key figures.

ASEAN's biggest travel event will come to Singapore's shores early next year when the city hosts the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2007 from 26 January to 3 February.

Both will offer cruises from Singapore, as will Costa Crociere due to set sail in Asia this year. And, along with more cruise ships, passenger numbers are also on the rise.

Ten years ago, medical tourism was not even a blip on the industry's radar screen. Today, the segment is one of the fastest growing niches in tourism with destinations around the world vying for a piece of the pie.

One of Singapore Tourism Board's print ads says, "If your guide book is more than seven months old, throw it away". It's right, you know.

A global brand study compiled by brand consultancy Future Brand and public relations firm, Weber Shandwick, has ranked Singapore as the second most...

Singapore's annual "Christmas in the Tropics" will run for a seven-week extravaganza. It kicked off on 11 November 2006 and will last through 2 January 2007.

Getting local residents and visitors into the spirit this year is a line-up of events including festive performances, entertainment events, shopping specials...

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) was recognised by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) in its 2006 awards roll for its active and innovative support of the airline industry in building awareness and visitation to Singapore.

ASEAN's biggest travel event will come to Singapore's shores early next year when the city hosts the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2007 from 26 January to 3 February.

This will be the fifth time Singapore has played host to one of ASEAN's biggest gathering, the ASEAN Tourism Forum, (ATF) first launched in Malaysia in 1981.

The year ends with Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Mr Lim Neo Chian well on the road to recovery after a successful surgical procedure, and two of STB's directors taking on new appointments within the Board.

Integral to the success of any conference are the social events that accompany the official meetings. Mr Lee Kai Yin, Programme Director of Singapore Experience, talks about what went on behind the scenes.

ASEAN's biggest travel event will come to Singapore's shores early next year when the city hosts the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2007 from 26 January to 3 February.

This will be the fifth time Singapore has played host to one of ASEAN's biggest gathering, the ASEAN Tourism Forum, (ATF) first launched in Malaysia in 1981.

Singapore could see a boost in Indonesian visitor arrivals via Batam, when an agreement between Citilink and the Singapore Tourism Board takes flight.

If you were offered a chance to travel into space, would you go? Richard Quest, CNN host for the CNN Future Summit: World In Motion discusses the finer points of space tourism.

After a highly successful first run, STB-Philippines has rolled out Shiok! Singapore II and it's bigger and better than ever.

The second phase of its promotion is specially created for Filipino travellers. Under this second phase, travellers who take that long-awaited trip to Singapore between 15 September and 15 December, 2006 will be rewarded with prizes.

Singapore has been selected as the 2008 venue for the Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress.

Three years of persistence and hard work have paid off for the STB-Taipei/Greater China, following the decision by the World wide Chinese Life Insurance Congress...

From targeting watch collectors in Indonesia to homing in on corporate clients and promoting Singapore en masse to the Japanese market, STB's offices around the region have been busy.

Rostam Umar, Director of Communications, talks about the next journey for STB's industry newsletter and its intention to engage partners.

Q: What are some of the things happening in the media landscape that are transforming the role of corporate communications?

A combination of factors is fuelling visitor arrivals to Singapore and setting the destination on track to hit record highs in inbound tourism this year.

Strong regional markets such as China, South Korea and the Philippines, the expansion of low cost airlines making regional travel more affordable to more people, and mega events like the Great Singapore Sale...

Korean actor Kwon Sang Woo (权相宇) now has his very own unique orchid - the Vascostylis Kwon Sang Woo.

In Singapore as part of his Asia Tour, Mr Kwon attended the orchid-naming ceremony with the Singapore Tourism Board's Assistant Chief Executive of Brand and Communications Mr Ken Low and Director of Singapore Botanic Gardens...

In Taipei, the STB is going heavy on lifestyle matters, following the launch of its Uniquely LOHAS Singapore campaign.

LOHAS, which stands for "Lifestyle Of Health And Sustainability" or "乐活" in Chinese is an in-tune-with-nature lifestyle concept. In Chinese, it can also mean "happiness and vitality" and is the current buzzword in Taiwan.

The STB and Singapore Education have been active in key markets, promoting Singapore as the ideal study-live-play destination.

Speciality schools woo Indonesian students
In Indonesia, STB-Indonesia organised for the first time a two-day Singapore...

STB-Indonesia is partnering low-cost airline, Tiger Airways, in a promotion aimed at driving visitor arrivals to Singapore between August and October.

The Tiger Airways promotion offers a two-night stopover in Singapore and ends 19 October.

Last month, the second annual Asia Travel & Tourism Creative Awards recognised advertisers for their creative contributions to the tourism industry.

The Awards, organised by AdAsia, honoured the best contributions across print, television commercials, websites, photography, posters and other marketing...

Readers of the Business Traveller Asia-Pacific magazine have voted Singapore the Best Business City in the World for the sixth year running. Singapore Airlines, Changi Airport and the Shangri-La Singapore also clinched the top votes in several categories.