Certificate Programs Benefit Singapore MICE Standards

By Staff

Singapore's meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions industry is trying to raise the bar for its professionals by launching the Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) and Controlled Performance (COPE) certification programs. The programs, launched in the last several months, were coordinated by the Singapore Tourism Board, according to Lonna Leong, an associate at Burson-Marsteller Singapore.

Destination management company Pacific World Singapore introduced the Convention Industry Council's CMP program to Singapore. The CMP recognizes the professionalism of meeting planners with high standards, and allows them to pursue continuing education and increase their industry involvement. Certification requirements are based on professional experience and academic examination. The CMP examination held Sept. 30, 2003 was the first ever in Asia; 17 planners from Singapore joined 9,000 CMPs from around the world.

COPE was launched last August to raise standards for meeting planning and security. It targets hotels, destination management firms, professional convention organizers and convention and exhibition venues, training them on coordination procedures, security awareness and service quality. Currently, eight vendors – including major hotels and expo facilities in Singapore – are in the COPE certification process, Leong said.