AT LEAST 20 association executives and association meeting planners in Asia-Pacific will now stand a chance to secure funding for a trip to Singapore where they will attend the two-day educational PCMA Meetings Forum.
The inaugural PCMA Asia-Pacific Scholarship was created by the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau (SECB), an effort that comes on top of their annual PCMA Meetings Forum Singapore which sees high-profile speakers from various industries addressing key topics related to association and conference management.
According to Sherrif Karamat, COO of PCMA, the scholarship will draw support from other destinations and suppliers who will also recommend local association executives and clients as applicants.
Explaining the inspiration behind the scholarship, Karamat told TTGmice e-Weekly: “We want to create an educational and networking environment for the Forum that includes viewpoints from all over the region. We believe (the scholarship) will provide more fruitful discussions and lead to greater collaboration.”
He added: “Professional development is critical for an individual’s growth and we realise that not all budgets include this expense. We want to support the costs and increase the ability to attend, as both PCMA and SECB believe in education to advance the industry.”
Jeannie Lim, executive director for conventions, meetings and incentive travel with SECB, said: “PCMA Meetings Forum Singapore has grown to become a pivotal platform that provides education and networking opportunities for association executives in Asia-Pacific. We felt that it was timely to create this scholarship to further encourage education and develop promising industry professionals in the region. This will help boost capabilities in the Asia-Pacific MICE industry over time.”
To qualify, the applicant must be based in Asia-Pacific and has planned one rotating event with a minimum of 100 delegates in the region in the past year; or is intending to plan at least one rotating event with a minimum of 100 delegates in the region in the upcoming years. Applicants can also be a core PCO or AMC based in this region that has managed at least three conferences for an Asia-Pacific/international association that has rotated in three countries (one of which must have been in Asia) with at least 200 delegates in attendance.
Further details are available on PCMA’s website.
Lush trees and rolling fields occupied by orange-beak hornbills, swinging monkeys and hopping bunnies surrounded me. At the push of a button, I could call for room service to make up the bed, and warm meals prepared according to my requests would be sent to my room. In-room amenities included a flatscreen TV, a lounge sofa, a working table and in-suite bathroom facilities. Amiable butlers would swing around regularly for checks while the manager would drop in for a chat twice a day. In the compound, there were F&B outlets and cafes, a hair salon, gift shops and a 24/7 convenience store.
