AHEAD of its soft opening early next year, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) said that it has confirmed 30 event bookings, a number of which are major international meetings that are expected to boost Singapore's standing in the Mice (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) industry.

The most prominent event it has attracted so far is the 11th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC), happening on Oct 5-7, 2011. Held every two years in a different city, the WCEC is a key platform for ethnic Chinese entrepreneurs to learn from one another's experiences, discover new opportunities and expand networks. It is expected to draw 4,000 of the top business leaders from around the world.

'We are an Asian company operating in Asia,' said RWS chief executive Tan Hee Teck. 'Our roots date back to our late founder and chairman Lim Goh Tong, himself a self-made Chinese entrepreneur. It is an honour for Resorts World Sentosa to host the WCEC.'

As for major events next year, those that it has sealed include a Nu Skin Enterprises South-east Asia Convention and a Best World International anniversary awards convention, which are expected to garner 7,000 delegates and 2,000 delegates respectively.

There is also the Asia Pacific Retailers Convention 2011, which will draw some 1,500 guests.

'As the world's economy recovers, we are getting strong interest from organisers for events from 2010 to as far ahead as 2014 and that gives us great confidence in Singapore's meetings and incentive travel sector in the mid to long term', said RWS director of Mice Elena Arabadjieva.

One of the two integrated resorts that is being built in Singapore, RWS has been garnering plenty of buzz around the impending opening of its Universal Studios theme park. When opened, it will be the only one in South-east Asia. RWS also houses the world's largest Marine Life Park, six hotels, a casino and a palette of Las Vegas-styled entertainment, world-class performances, restaurants by celebrity chefs and retail shops.

RWS has the capacity to host up to 35,000 Mice guests at any one time. Other than event spaces within Universal Studios Singapore, it has 26 function rooms located within the Resorts World Convention Centre. As well, it houses one of Asia's largest column-free ballrooms that seats 7,300 people.