The event will be held for the first time in Singapore at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre from 23 to 25 May 2023. Photo Credit: Facebook/Vinexposium
Vinexpo Asia, one of the most highly anticipated wine events of the
year, is returning to Asia after a four-year shutdown due to the
pandemic. But for the first time, this year's show will be held in
Singapore at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre from 23 May to 25 May.
The timing of Vinexpo Asia to be held in May, meanwhile, has stayed
the same as 25 years ago when the show was launched in Hong Kong in
1998. The first Vinexpo was created in Bordeaux in 1981.
The announcement to move Vinexpo 2023 to Singapore was initially met
with skepticism, said Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of Vinexposium, but the
response soon turned positive. With demand exceeding targets, the
organisers now have to relocate the master classes and presentations out
of the show floor.
"Organising an event in Singapore is easy," added Lameyse. "We have a
strong team and the right partners here. There are enough hotel rooms,
restaurants, and easy means of transportation."
Leveraging Singapore's business hub location and renown as Asia's
leading gastronomic city, Lameyse and his team aim to make Vinexpo Asia
in Singapore one of the top events in Vinexposium's portfolio, providing
delegates with a unique and unforgettable experiences.
For Vinexpo Asia 2023, 90% of the audience are expected to be from Southeast Asia and 10% from China.
However, Hong Kong is not out of the equation just yet for Vinexpo
Asia, said Lameyse. As Hong Kong remains a strategic destination due to
its proximity to Greater China and the show's 25-year legacy, the
organisers are considering whether to locate the show in Singapore every
year or rotate between Singapore and Hong Kong every other year.
Meanwhile, host venue Marina Bay Sands is leaving no stone unturned
to welcome Vinexpo Asia's debut in Singapore, said Ong Wee Min, vice
president of convention & exhibitions at Marina Bay Sands.
Since the beginning of the year, Ong and his team have been
strategising to "festivalise" events and energy around key exhibitions
at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, which is no stranger to hosting
iconic events in their respective industry verticals.
Taking a leaf from the the centre's collaboration with organisers and
planners to form a whole series of experiences around ART SG in January
this year, the MBS team is currently working closely with the Vinexpo
Asia organisers to curate relevant pre- and post- experiences for
delegates and the community to participate in.
Will Singapore come of age as host city for future Vinexpo Asia shows? Stay tuned.