We’re all being flooded by news and communications about COVID-19. Below we summarise information about how destinations are responding, which we hope will help you in planning your own mitigation and recovery strategies.
REGION WATCH
ASIA
Singapore’s roadmap for the business events industry
Source: Edited excerpt from MICENET and Visit Singapore
Date: 9 October 2020
Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS) together with Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG) have launched the Events Industry Resilience Roadmap (IRR), which provides guidance on safety measures and best practices in line with the gradual resumption of business events. It presents three strategic objectives:
- Helping the industry to implement best-in-class standards under STB’s Safe Business Events Framework;
- Creating agile business models with a focus on hybridisation;
- Developing pathways for professional development in the new way forward.
The IRR also includes guidelines on SG SafeEvent Standard which is a mark of assurance that an event meets the requirements for safety, compliance and wellbeing in a COVID world.
Singapore rolls out pre-event testing
Source: Edited excerpt from M & C Asia
Date: 21 October 2020
To speed up the return of large-scale business events in Singapore, the Minister of Health announced a pilot program for pre-event COVID-19 testing where attendees of selected events will be tested either at the event venue or a separate testing facility. Only participants who test negative will be allowed into the event.
Japan to host virtual fam trips
Source: Edited excerpt from Mix Meetings
Date: 15 October 2020
Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) is offering an online fam trip as part of its convention bureau’s hosted buyer programme. Meet Japan, being held fully virtually from January 26 to February 4, 2021 is designed to help international associations and PCOs learn more about the country’s convention cities and to connect with local meeting professionals. Attendees will choose 2 out of 4 cities to virtually visit.
Kobe announces support packages for hybrid events
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM Unity and Meet in Kobe
Date: 28 October 2020
At the annual “Meet in Kobe” meeting which was held as a hybrid event this year, Kobe Convention Bureau announced its new support package for hybrid meetings held in Kobe starting October. The support package includes organizational support and financial support of up to 5 million JPY (US$ 47,795) for international conventions and up to 2 million JPY (US$ 19,118) for domestic conventions.
Hong Kong launches hygiene framework for the business events and tourism
Source: Edited excerpt from M & C Asia
Date: 9 October 2020
Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) in partnership with the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) has rolled out a set of standardised hygiene protocols for tourism and business events-related businesses in an effort to restore confidence among travellers. The protocol will roll out in two phases and is similar to Singapore Tourist Board’s SG Clean Initiative.
Thailand unveils operational plan for FY2021
Source: Edited excerpt from Travel Daily News
Date: 15 October 2020
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has revealed its operation plan for the fiscal year 2021, focused on recovery for Thailand’s business events industry and strengthening the industry’s fundamentals for sustainability. Guided by the concept “New Normal MICE – Sustainable Growth”, the plan comprises four strategies:
- Promoting domestic MICE
- Attracting international events
- Implementing innovation
- Developing a robust MICE ecosystem
TCEB has allocated 10-million baht (US$ 321,027) in its budget for the first quarter of the FY2021 (October – December) towards the promotional campaign “Thailand: A Safer Place for Meetings”. The campaign aimed at encouraging the public and private sectors to use business events activities as a means to distribute income to local communities.
Thailand’s continued focus on innovation
Source: Edited excerpt from Travel Daily News
Date: 27 October 2020
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has launched the third edition of ‘Thailand MICE Startup’. The competition, aimed at boosting Thailand’s post-COVID-19 competitiveness, pairs start-ups or tech entrepreneurs with business event entrepreneurs to compete for the best innovation for the business events industry. So far, there are 23 applicants who are required to form a team to develop innovations or solutions that can address the pain points faced by business events entrepreneurs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The competitors are required to partner with a business events entrepreneur to ensure the practicalities of the innovations.
AUSTRALIA
Tourism Australia inspires event planners with 8D
Source: Edited excerpt from M & C Asia
Date: 14 October 2020
Tourism Australia has launched an 8D immersive campaign featuring six videos highlighting some of Australia’s most iconic spots, in a move to inspire event planners for future business events. Unlike other destination marketing campaigns by tourism bodies worldwide, Tourism Australia is the first to use 8D audio to deliver the sound engineering treatment so listeners experience a three-dimensional effect via their headsets.
Planners can find the six Audio Escape videos via the Business Events Australia website.
Tasmania’s support package for the business events sector
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 19 October 2020
Tasmania has announced grants from AU$ 5,000 (US$ 3,517) to AU$ 100,000 (US$ 70,340) to support local small businesses that provide critical event support infrastructure and other services that are essential to the running of events.
Sydney launches new brand campaign for the business events sector
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 27 October 2020
Business Events Sydney (BESydney), backed by the New South Wales Government and the tourism industry, has launched the “It’s got to be Sydney” campaign to position Sydney as the number one Australian destination for business visitors – and focuses on the domestic market to ensure Sydney is the top pick as businesses plan upcoming busines events. The campaign is filled with optimism for a new COVID-19 safe future and connects planners and suppliers via a dedicated microsite.
EUROPE
UK launches “Events. Reimagined” campaign
Source: Edited excerpt from KONGRES
Date: 29 October 2020
VisitBritain have launched the new international recovery campaign, ‘Events. Reimagined’, as part of their international hosted buyer partnership with The Meetings Show. The new ‘Reimagine’ campaign is to help buyers creatively reimagine the future of events in the UK, and take this opportunity to reboot, refresh and reimagine their future business events.
Austria’s EUR 300 million (US$ 350.4 million) support package
Source: Edited excerpt from KONGRES and Pro Media news
Date: 15 October 2020
The Austrian parliament recently agreed on a EUR 300 million (US$ 350.4 million) financial support package for business events organisers. If an event is subject to restrictions or is cancelled, the organiser’s liability will be limited by the Federal government. This also applies to organizers from other EU countries who hold their event in Austria.