SINGAPORE will host the Asia Pacific debut of a conference with buyer-supplier appointments aimed at the growing industry segment of sports travel and events.
TEAMS (Travel, Events and Management in Sports) already has a presence in North America and Europe and is scheduled for Marina Bay Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre next April.
The event is being planned to run alongside three others organised by the Japanese-owned Northstar Travel Group.
Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will be supporting the two-day event, which is designed around pre-arranged buyer-supplier meetings, networking and industry education.
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STB said the event would connect sports-event organisers, suppliers and industry partners from across Asia-Pacific, reinforcing Singapore’s ambitions as a regional hub for business events and sports tourism.
The launch was announced by Northstar which is adding TEAMS Asia Pacific to its portfolio of events in the region. The sports-focused marketplace will run alongside The Meetings Show Asia Pacific, Business Travel Show Asia Pacific and GTM Luxury Asia Pacific.
“The launch of TEAMS Asia Pacific is an exciting development and a natural extension of the TEAMS concept that has proven essential to the industry throughout North America and Europe,” said Jason Gewirtz, senior vice president/content, meetings and sports, Northstar Meetings Group.
Sports tourism continues to grow across Asia Pacific, and we’re excited to bring the business connections, education and networking opportunities that only TEAMS can provide.”
– Jason Gewirtz, Northstar Meetings Group
According to the organisers, TEAMS is structured to facilitate one-to-one business meetings between sports-event organisers and potential host destinations, venues and suppliers, while also providing thought leadership from industry leaders. The event was launched in the United States in 1998.
Jason Young, chief executive of Northstar Travel Group, said: “The continued expansion of our Asia Pacific portfolio reflects Northstar’s long-term commitment to investing in high-growth markets and the audiences driving the future of travel.
“By bringing TEAMS to Singapore alongside our existing portfolio of events, we are creating new opportunities for event organisers, destinations and industry partners to connect, do business and drive growth across the region,” Young said.
Ong Huey Hong, assistant chief executive of STB’s industry development group, pointed to the growth of sports tourism in the city-state. “Singapore’s sports tourism continues to gain momentum, with new-to-Singapore sporting events such as the Elite Pickleball International Championship (EPIC) 2026 and Singapore Tennis Open (WTA500).
“TEAMS Asia Pacific will connect sports event organisers, suppliers and industry partners from across Asia Pacific, and Northstar Meetings Group’s decision to bring this platform to our shores is a strong vote of confidence in Singapore’s ability to provide access to the vibrant opportunities in the region as the leading hub for business events. It also reflects the quality growth we are pursuing as we work towards tripling Singapore’s MICE tourism receipts by 2040,” Ong said.
The TEAMS brand expanded into Europe in 2022 with a launch event in London, while its North American edition has maintained links with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee since 2018 through the SportsLink education programme.
