15th Asia-Pacific Retailers Convention & Exhibition (APRCE)
The SRA had the honour of hosting the 15th APRCE from 10 to 13 October 2011 at Suntec Convention Centre with the theme Discover Differentiate Deliver. The biennial event which brings together speakers and retailers from all over the world attracted close to 2,000 delegates from more than 20 countries.
The plenary and breakout sessions were well attended over the three days and was supported by CapitaMalls Asia (Main Sponsor), MasterCard (Official Card), SPRING Singapore, Singapore Tourism Board, Motorola, the sponsor of Wireless Hotspot Access, Motorola Solutions, and Retail Asia Publications, Official International Publication.
The accompanying exhibition featured some 40 exhibiting companies and drew good visitor numbers.
As the host APRCE 2011, SRA proudly presented all delegates with a taste of Singapore at the Opening & Closing Ceremony Dinners, which were held on 10 & 13 October 2011 respectively, with one of Singapore’s most famous radio personalities – Mark Van Cuylenburg, also known as “The Flying Dutchman”, as the Master of Ceremonies for both nights.
The Opening Ceremony saw the guests tucking in to a sumptuous 8-course Chinese set dinner, while being entertained by Singapore’s very own talents - Oriental Fusion, Rahimah Rahim and Hady Mirza.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the biennial FAPRA Awards, which recognises the best retailers around the Asia-Pacific region. FAPRA Chairman, Dr Lee Chul-Woo, presented the awards to:
- People’s Republic of China – Most Innovative Retail Concept Award: Golden Resource New Yansha Mall
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region – Customer Service Excellence Award: TSL Jewellery
- Indonesia – Best Marketing Campaign Award: PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya (Alfamart)
- Japan – Green Retailer Award: Aeon Co Ltd
- Republic of Korea – Most Innovative Retail Concept Award: CJ O Shopping Co Ltd
- Mongolia – Customer Service Excellence Award: Nomin Holding Co Ltd
- Philippines – Best Marketing Campaign Award: BENCH
- Singapore – Most Innovative Retail Concept Award: L’Atelier by The Hour Glass
- Chinese Taipei – Most Innovative Retail Concept Award: Uni-President Hankyu Department Store
- Turkey – Customer Service Excellence Award: KIĞILI
As a final farewell, SRA treated the delegates to a mouth-watering Singapore hawker-style buffet featuring famous local specialities, a special performance by the 7-Eleven Dancers – courtesy of Dairy Farm Singapore, and more performances from Singapore’s very own entertainers - Hossan Leong and Pamela Oei.
APRCE 2011 closed with a grand finale featuring folk dancers from Turkey – the next APRCE host.
SRA also took advantage of the APRCE to introduce Singapore’s students to the Meetings, Incentives, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) industry. Fifty eight ITE students were hand-picked to assist in the event, and their enthusiasm, willingness to learn and sense of responsibility hold great promise for Singapore’s future.
Impressed with how SRA so efficiently and effectively put together the 15th ARPCE, the host of the 16th APRCE, the Trade Council of Shopping Centres and Retailers, invited Ms Lau Chuen Wei, the Executive Director of SRA to Istanbul in February 2012 to give them insights to the organisation of the event. The 16th APRCE will be held in September in Istanbul, Turkey.
