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
Hong Kong’s Subsidy Scheme Covers Convention Centre Costs
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 29 September 2021
The Hong Kong Government is launching the Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme to help ease financial burdens on the local convention and exhibition industry and help attract domestic and overseas exhibitors, buyers and conference delegates to Hong Kong. The Subsidy Scheme can cover 100 per cent venue rental cost for organisers of exhibitions and international conventions held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and AsiaWorld-Expo.
Malaysia Offering 50% Sponsorship to Domestic Meetings
Source: Edited excerpt from Conference and Meetings World
Date: 6 September 2021
The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) has introduced an additional support package to complement the primary objective of the ‘Meet In Malaysia’ campaign aimed at stimulating the domestic business events industry. Targeting one-day meetings from local markets, the “Let’s Meet Now” package offers 50% sponsorship for one full-day meeting package exclusively for Malaysia-based registered corporate companies and subsidising professional/trade associations and institutions on their meeting costs for their full-day seminars and workshops.
New Asia Convention Alliance (ACA) Formed
Source: Edited excerpt from M & C Asia
Date: 3 September 2021
A series of memoranda of understanding signed on 2 September hopes to pave the way for the Asia Convention Alliance (ACA) which will link key business events players in Thailand, Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan. The alliance aims to rebuild the convention industry by strengthening ties among members, and through the pooling of knowledge and resources, ACA hopes to develop shared opportunities. ACA is focusing on regional events and short-haul travel to spearhead the recovery of business events.
AUSTRALIA
Geelong’s support package
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 21 September 2021
Business Events Geelong in partnership with Regional Development Victoria and Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism has launched a AUD 200,000 (USD 144,408) incentive program for those looking to hold business events in the Barwon South West region. The program, backed by the Victorian State Government’s Regional Recovery Support Fund, partially covers the cost per delegate up to the amount of AUD 50 (USD 36).
EUROPE
Italy receives €520million (USD 602.59 million) from EU’s business events compensation scheme
Source: Edited excerpt from AMI
Date: 31 August 2021
Business events companies in Italy could have some of their Covid-19 losses mitigated under a €520m (USD 602.59 million) compensation scheme. The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, the funding package, which will compensate business event companies for the effects of lockdown.
Northern Ireland’s £1 million (USD 1.16 million) support package for business events
Source: Edited excerpt from Meetings HQ
Date: 17 September 2021
Northern Ireland’s Department for Economy has announced a £1 million (USD 1.16 million) conference support scheme to help secure more business events in Belfast, Derry and the region. The scheme will provide conference organisers with £50 (USD 58) for each out-of-state delegate to bring their association conference to the region, with awards ranging between £5,000 (USD 5,796) and £100,000 (USD 115,921) for all eligible events.
AFRICA
Western Cape Business Events Support Package
Source: Edited excerpt from Cape Town CVB Website
Date: 10 September 2021
Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau is offering eligible business event organisers the opportunity to apply for funding, which can be used to assist them in hosting small and medium-sized National Business Events in the Western Cape with 50% of this funding being paid prior to the event to support upfront expenses. The Western Cape Business Events Support Programme is designed to stimulate short and medium-term recovery in the Business Events sector of the Western Cape.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
New York City’s “It’s Time to Make it NYC” campaign
Source: Edited excerpt from Exhibitor Online
Date: 16 September 2021
NYC & Company, the official destination marketing organization and convention and visitor’s bureau for New York City’s five boroughs unveiled “It’s Time to Make it NYC”, the organization’s largest marketing and sales effort for the meetings and conventions industry, as New York City’s recovery continues to take shape. Utilizing the tagline “Plan a Meeting for Any Moment,” the new digital campaign features multiple creative executions depicting vibrant imagery of new and beloved New York City icons.