Singapore has been the site of many international conferences, and with each one we try to give the most enjoyable experience we can. The Conference centre is designed for the needs of international events, and it is located downtown in the heart of Singapore, close to hotels, shops, civic sites, the river, major cinemas and theatres, restaurants and food outlets of all kinds, and the old city area. Singapore itself is easy to get to, being well served by many major airlines, including our own Singapore Airlines. It is also an ideal stepping off point for exploring other parts of South-East Asia, such as Bali, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Borneo, and the Philippines. Malaysia is only a bus or train ride across a causeway. Since English is the language of the education system and of government, pretty much everyone speaks it. 

Singapore, founded as a British trading colony in 1819, declared its independence in 1965. Located right in the heart of Asia, it now thrives as a financial and trading hub for the region and beyond. Yet even as Singapore has transformed into a cosmopolitan city state blending East and West, it has not lost it's Asian roots and charm, reflected in it's peaceable multi-cultural society. This is manifest everywhere in its hospitality, cuisine, arts, architecture, shopping resource and public life.

Geography

We are a small country, about 140 kilometres north of the equator with an area of 639 square kilometres. Not everyone knows exactly where we are, so here is a link to a map.

MAP of Singapore and neighbouring countries (zoom out for a more global view) 

Small is friendly, and we have many visitors every year, far more than our total resident population of about 4.5 million.  

About half of the offshore islands of Singapore are uninhabited. Some of them have been developed for recreation and tourism. Our accessibility by air and sea help consolidate our status as a favourite global convention centre as well as a convenient hub for "short-hops" to neighbouring countries.

Singapore has an equatorial climate, which is warm and humid all year round. The temperature averages around 28 degrees Celsius daily, with abundant rainfall during the monsoon seasons from December to March, and June to September. In between, the weather is characterised by light and variable surface winds and rain ranging from light showers to thunderstorms.

People

Singapore has a population about 4 million, of whom one-fifth are non-resident workers and expatriates. The resident population is multiethnic comprising 77% Chinese, 14% Malays, 7.6 % Indians and 1.4% others. Singapore enjoys racial harmony and social cohesion, and is one of the most cosmopolitan societies in the world.

Language

English is the language of education and it is therefore widely spoken throughout Singapore. It unites people of different races and different mother tongues, and is used in all shops and places of business. That said, it is no means uncommon to hear conversation conducted in Mandarin, Malay, Tamil or one of the many Chinese dialects. Ask for help or directions in English, though, and they will switch language in mid-sentence to help you! Being an international tourist destination, Singapore has a fully-developed tourism industry, and this includes professional guides and translators fluent in a variety of languages.