Healthy appetites polled among confirmed buyers attending The Meetings Show Asia Pacific. Photo Credit: The Meetings Show Asia Pacific
Signs of resilience are emerging in the APAC meetings industry, with confirmed buyers attending The Meetings Show Asia Pacific (TMS APAC) 2026 projecting US$250 million in spending this year.
The new data comes amid rebounding optimism in the APAC industry. A separate Cvent survey in partnership with Northstar Meetings Group found that 70% of APAC planners are more optimistic this year, compared to 44% in EMEA and 32% in North America. By comparison, optimism last year stood at 63% in APAC and 47% in both EMEA and North America.
More than half (52%) of the respondents also expect to produce more meetings in 2026, while only 5% expect a decline this year, compared to 9% last year.
Echoing the upswing in sentiment, Nelson Khoo, events director at Northstar Travel Group, Asia, organiser of The Meetings Show Asia Pacific (TMS APAC), observes “overwhelming market interest” in the third edition of the event taking place in Singapore this April.
“Collectively, buyers project an annual meeting spend of over US$250 million, with strong demand for Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam,” Khoo said.
The relative resilience of Asia-Pacific is stoking confidence among event buyers.
“APAC’s combination of massive market size, rising intra-regional trade intensity, and still-strong growth expectations helps it absorb shocks better than smaller, less-integrated regions,” said Alexander John, regional director - business development at MCI Middle East, who is attending TMS APAC this year.
TMS APAC, which is co-located with Business Travel Show Asia Pacific, takes place 14-15 April 2026 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Since its launch in 2024, it has emerged as Asia Pacific’s leading MICE trade show, creating the largest gathering of managed travel and meetings professionals in the region.