Over five days of blending business with leisure at the inaugural M&C Asia Connections (MCAC) 2019, more than 100 meetings and conventions professionals from Asia and beyond were taken on a journey around some of the most unique destinations in Singapore.
Through the lens of our photographer Taro Jonathan, we capture some of the highlights of the event, where new friendships and partnerships were forged amid a backdrop of joyous laughter, memorable experiences, picturesque venues and culinary delights.
DAY 1
Upon arrival in Singapore, the planners were taken on a city tour to learn more about the island state, and were awed by the sights at Gardens by the Bay.
The buyers arrive in Singapore for M&C Asia Connections 2019.
The group getting to know Singapore better during a city tour.
They round up their evening with an evening party hosted by InterContinental Singapore, where the group got to know one another better over cocktails and tapas at Idlewild.
Networking during a cocktail session at InterContinental Singapore's Idlewild.
More Day 1 photos here: http://bit.ly/2Zqajju
DAY 2
Breakfast at Orchard Hotel Singapore was hosted by the hotel's General Manager Jean-Philippe Jacopin at the elegant Hua Ting restaurant.
Happy buyers at Orchard Hotel's Hua Ting restaurant.
The group then attended a gala award ceremony at the beautiful Monti at Fullerton Pavilion for the M&C Asia Stella Awards 2019, which honoured Asia Pacific's best in the meetings industry.
Winners of the Meetings Hotel category at the M&C Asia Stella Awards 2019.
A teambuilding session at The Alkaff Mansion by Asia Ability helped buyers and some attending exhibitors get warmed up and break some ice, with the networking sessions going well into the night over wine and some local delights at Orchard Hotel Singapore's Bar Intermezzo.
Fun galore at the teambuilding event at The Alkaff Mansion.
Northstar Travel Media's group publisher Irene Chua with her hosts from Millennium Hotels and Resort.
More Day 2 photos here: http://bit.ly/2zgB1Ar
DAY 3
A sumptuous breakfast hosted by Orchard Hotel Singapore kicked-started an intense day where exhibitors and buyers went full throttle at the business-end of M&C Asia Connections. Several friendships were forged, and seeds of future fruitful partnerships were sowed.
Buyers and exhibitors deep in discussions.
When the day of business meetings was concluded, the weary participants immediately perked up at the glorious dinner put out by the team at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore. Free flow of wine and a spread of international cuisine left the participants happy, and their senses heightened by a spectacular show of drums, music and lights.
Drum beat entertainment at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore.
More Day 3 photos here: http://bit.ly/2Z80wTY
DAY 4
The two-day post-familiarisation activities started off with a mass yoga session at Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, followed by a site inspection of the hotel's MICE facilities.
Early-morning yoga at Mandarin Oriental, Singapore.
The planners then moved on to Sentosa where they had lunch at the Resorts World Sentosa's Malaysian Food Street to experience local hawker cuisine, before checking into their new accommodation at The Outpost Hotel Sentosa.
Sampling local delights at the Resorts World Sentosa's Malaysian Food Street.
The evening highlight was a breathtaking cable car ride from Sentosa to Faber Peak, where dinner was hosted by the Dusk Restaurant & Bar at Faber Peak, with the beautiful night skyline of Singapore lending a memorable backdrop to the evening.
On the cable car ride to Mount Faber.
The Dusk Restaurant & Bar at Faber Peak.
A venue that offers a beautiful view of the Singapore skyline.
More Day 4 photos here: http://bit.ly/30uzWRB
DAY 5
It was fun, fun, fun on the Sentosa Island as the group was taken on various adventurous activities across the island. Some went on attractions such as the Skyline Luge and AJ Hackett, while others took on kayaking and building sandcastles.
They also took in a site inspection of Capella Singapore, the venue which hosted the historic Trump-Kim Summit in 2018.
The group planting the Tree of Connections at Sentosa.
You need to have a sense of adventure in this business.
Buyers having a great time at AJ Hackett Sentosa.
In the evening, they were taken on a sunset cruise aboard Eagle Wings, a 68-footer luxury sailing catamaran, and rounded off their evening and a memorably fruitful trip in Singapore with an exquisite meal presented by Chef Ace Tan at the Village Hotel Sentosa.
Cruising on the Eagle Wings.
The buyers raising a toast for Chef Ace Tan.
More Day 5 photos here: http://bit.ly/30vuSg1