Singapore offers an array of unconventional jaunts and picturesque meeting locales for team building exercises and leisure outings. If you’re looking to step out of the boardroom to lighten up and breathe in a bit of fun, then explore these experiences below.
SENSATIONAL SINGAPORE
Dare to be Delighted
There is no age limit for having fun in Sentosa— your inner-child is bound to unveil itself as you let go of inhibitions here. There is enough for business travellers to choose from for some off-site fun such as racing amongst colleagues at The Skyline Luge Sentosa, participating in an adrenaline inducing zipline ride at MegaZip Adventure Park, indulging a free-fall that is much like skydiving at iFly, or taking a trip to Asia’s tallest free-standing observation tower — Tiger Sky Tower — for a breathtaking view of Sentosa Island.
Companies may even display their branding on one of the water screen projections where many gather for a spectacular sound and light aqua show — Wings of Time. Open daily 9am-10pm; tel: +65 6736 8672; sentosa.com
ADRENALINE RUSH
Rev It Up
To drive at challenging speeds gives a truly thrilling adrenaline rush. It is even better when it’s on the official Marina Bay street circuit used for the night race in Singapore. Cruise solo along the Ultimate Drive circuit for 15, 30 or 60 minutes in a Ferrari California, Lamborghini Aventador or Porsche 911 amongst other options. Rev it up to feel the wind in your hair as you test your need for speed. Open daily 9am-10pm; tel: +65 6688 7997; ultimatedrive.com
The Sky is the Limit
Experience the exhilarating thrill of skydiving at iFly Singapore. At one-fifth of the cost of a tandem skydive, each flyer can enjoy two indoor skydives in the wind tunnel that is almost five levels high. Feel like a bird as you float around with a stunning view of the South China Sea. It is operated under excellent safety conditions and state-of-the-art technology. The qualified instructors here are certified by the International Bodyflight Association. iFly Singapore also offers packages that create the right environment for team building. This is also where you can wrap up a day of thrills with an event at one of iFly’s indoor and al fresco areas that include the rooftop Sky Garden. Open Thursday-Tuesday 9am-9:30pm, Wednesday 11am-9:30pm; tel: +65 6571 0000; iflysingapore.com
Dragon Spirit
Dragon boat racing is known to build team spirit and encourage rowers to work together. The competitive race is strongly built on virtues such as focus and selflessness, as you are pushing a large group of people to work towards a single goal. It requires teams to work unanimously to achieve a common objective. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a day out in Singapore or bond amongst your teammates, Dragon Boat Innovate can accommodate and customise dragon boating programmes to suit the team-building objectives. Open daily; tel: +65 6717 9500; dbi.com.sg
CRUISE
Sailing in Style
The cruising hub of Southeast Asia, Singapore has the world’s top cruise lines that identify this country as their port of call. These include popular names such as Star Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Costa Cruises that sail to nearby regional destinations such as Langkawi and Phuket, to name a few. They offer an array of exciting, on-board experiences and facilities. For a luxurious excursion, pick between Genting Dream (December 2017 onwards), Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises or Silversea to enjoy the wide variety of products. Complete with meals, entertainment options, sporting facilities and a list of activities such as Broadway-style theatre shows, a cruise voyage is a perfect complement to your stay in Singapore.
SHAKEN NOT STIRRED
Clever Concoctions
Raise a toast to your business travel to Singapore with the world-renowned Singapore Sling where it was invented in 1915 at Long Bar, Raffles Hotel. Start with the cocktail workshop here and end with comparing your concoctions with those of co-workers, all in a bid to outdo the other. Perhaps even let loose over a drinking game or two at this informal lounge sprawled across two levels. Open daily 11am-12:30am; tel: +65 6412 1230; raffles.com
TOURING POST BUSINESS
URA Singapore City Gallery
Architecture enthusiasts and history lovers will thoroughly enjoy their time at URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) Singapore City Gallery. Visitors can delve into the city’s physical transformation and urban planning development over the past 50 years through models, interactive displays and experiential exhibits. Singapore City Gallery also features a light and sound show titled “A Day In Singapore”. It takes you on a 270-degree tour of the city, displaying popular sites. The other interactive show around Central Area Model offers a bird’s-eye view of central Singapore. Those interested in learning in-depth about the city’s transformation from old to modern, can opt for a private group tour of the gallery, guided by a URA officer. Open daily 9am-5pm; tel: +65 6321 8321; ura.gov.sg
Tiger Brewery Tour
Explore the glorious history behind this illustrious beer by touring Tiger Brewery. Rewinding 80 years, trace Tiger Beer’s journey from its humble beginnings to the internationally acclaimed beverage that it is today. Beer veterans can engage in a challenging multimedia game that questions you on brews from around the world. View Tiger’s manufacturing process to understand ingredients involved and stages of production, walk through the brewing room as you soak in aromas of barley and pick up souvenirs for the family from Tiger Shop. End your rendezvous with the delicious lager on a cheery note at Tiger Bar by sampling its many varieties. Open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 1pm-5pm; tel: +65 6860 3005; tigerbrewerytour.com.sg
While conventional meeting spaces are the norm, Singapore offers unique venues that ensure your business travel is not just productive but also an enthralling experience. Here is a list of the vibrant and exciting places for memorable meetings.
A DATE WITH NATURE
Faber Peak
The cable car ride to this 100-metre high hill is just the beginning of an enthralling day in Singapore. The summit of Mount Faber is an idyllic location dotted with fine dining restaurants, cafes and bars. Faber Peak is truly a picturesque destination built within the serenity of nature. It is this setting that makes it a unique venue for business travellers to meet at the private dining room, at one of the three unique restaurants or at the sprawling ballroom here, all of which offer spectacular views of the surrounding skyline. Open Monday-Thursday 8:45am–9:30pm, Friday-Saturday 8:45am-2am; tel: +65 6377 9688; faberpeaksingapore.com
Night Safari
Spend an evening at the Night Safari as you bond with your colleagues in the wild. It is situated by the peaceful Seletar Reservoir where visitors can come in contact with the intriguing flora and fauna here. Begin your sojourn at Ankole Terrace where you raise a toast to the beginning of an “evening in the wild”. Proceed in a caravan towards a glowing pathway lit with fairy lights that leads to the beautiful lakeside campsite. Enjoy a drink, indulge in savouries and sweets, and celebrate camaraderie in Singapore’s first tipi tents that are cocooned amidst a forest. Listen to stories of the jungle as you devour a three-course meal paired with wine at this exotic soirée amongst nature. Open Monday-Sunday 7:15pm-12am; tel: +65 6269 3411; nightsafari.com.sg
CULTURAL JAUNT
ArtScience Museum
The mysteries behind science and the beauty in art coalesce to form the ArtScience Museum. Full of interesting tales, intricate works and historical artefacts, the museum is built for the curious kind. Bound to encourage fascinating conversations amongst colleagues and business associates, the museum holds world-class showcases regularly, bringing together riveting stories and historic objects under one roof. It has a permanent exhibition called Future World — Where Art Meets Science. This 1,500 sqm showcase has 16 interactive art installations for which it has collaborated with teamLab, a Tokyo-based art collective of “ultra technologies”. The artistic sort will be impressed by the museum’s contemporary design that complements 21 galleries of this spectacular space. Open Sunday-Thursday 10am-7pm, Friday- Saturday 10am-10pm; tel: +65 6688 8888; marinabaysands.com/museum
National Gallery Singapore
Give your events an artsy edge at National Gallery Singapore set within two of Singapore’s national monuments — the former Supreme Court and City Hall. This visual showcase houses the world’s largest collection of exceptional artworks from Singapore and Southeast Asia from before the 19th century until today, displaying the rich history of the region. The gallery has interesting spaces such as al fresco decks, a colonial verandah, an auditorium and multiple seminar rooms for meetings and conferences. This space also offers guided tours of exhibits, interactions with artists and curators, and lectures for those who want to delve deeper into the artistic world. Open Sunday-Thursday 10am-7pm, Friday-Saturday 10am-10pm; tel: +65 6271 7000; nationalgallery.sg
OCEAN ADVENTURE
S.E.A. AquariumTM
Allow yourself to be charmed by more than 1,00,000 exquisite sea creatures grouped in ten different zones and 49 habitats at S.E.A. AquariumTM, situated in Resorts World Sentosa. A rendezvous with life from the ocean is a surreal experience for corporate visitors holding cocktail receptions at The Open Ocean Gallery. It is even more exciting to host a gala dinner here, with large windows for a breathtaking underwater view. Open Monday-Sunday 10am-7pm; +65 65778 8998; rwsentosa.com
Private yachts
Give your events a luxurious touch by hosting it at a chartered tall ship — The Royal Albatross. It is equipped with a functional entertainment environment to hold high-profile corporate happenings. Its opulent Grand Salon, with in-built audio-visual technology, can seat up to 50 guests for a momentous business occasion overlooking stunning sea views. The Royal Albatross’ upper deck by the sail rig can seat a further 96 guests, which can be expanded for dockside functions. Another company that offers corporate teams the option to sail away into the sea in a super-yacht is ONE15 Luxury Yachting. It offers a comprehensive fleet of 35 boats and yachts to suit varied criteria of events and budgets.
- • The Royal Albatross; tel: +65 6863 9585; tallship.com.sg
- ONE15 Luxury Yachting; tel: +65 6305 9676; one15luxuryyachting.com
Reach out to Singapore Tourism Board for assistance in planning your event through:
- Business Events in Singapore (BEiS) financial grant scheme.
- Singapore MICE Advantage Programme (SMAP), which offers enhanced meeting experiences for event organisers and overseas MICE visitors.
- In Singapore Incentives & Rewards (INSPIRE), a rewards programme consisting of curated itineraries, which centre on the best of Singapore’s dining, entertainment and attractions suited for the Indian market.
For more information, contact
[email protected] or call +91 22 6608 3200; visitsingapore.com/mice
