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.
RECOVERY TIMELINE?
When will meetings resume?
Source: Edited excerpt from Northstar Meetings Group
Date: 22 April 2020
Check out Northstar Meetings Group’s latest Pulse survey on the “Future of Meetings and Events in the era of COVID-19”:
- Planners are still working
- Getting back to business
- Majority of events have been rescheduled
- Large events will lag behind
- Harder to reach out to meeting suppliers
Planners expect full industry recovery by Q2 2021 in MPI survey
Source: Edited excerpt from M&IT Magazine
Date: 22 April 2020
Recovery, staffing and destinations are the three topics of a survey by the Meeting Professionals International (MPI). The survey examines the near-future business landscape as the industry moves closer to a post-COVID-19 world.
Outlook and Recovery Timeline
Source: Excerpt from Event Manager Blog
Date: 23 April 2020
Event Manager Blog have created a chart that has a scientific basis for the constant, daily research of analysis within and outside the industry:
UK gearing up for September
Source: Edited excerpt from Exhibitor Online
Date: 24 April 2020
Event planners and venue teams broadly agree that September is expected to be the most significant month when it comes to recovery in both enquiry and booking levels.
Thailand eyes second half of 2020
Source: Edited excerpt from Meetings & Conventions Asia
Date: 28 April 2020
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is planning to kickstart its business events sector recovery from the second half of the year, with industry leaders cautiously optimistic that the earliest return to business will be in Q4. TCEB’s SVP, strategic marketing and business development, Ms Nichapa Yoswee, believes that Asia will be the first region to recover and is planning for Thailand to welcome business events from the second half of the year.
Insights from the incentive travel industry
Source: Edited excerpt from Incentive Research Foundation
Date: 24 April 2020
The Incentive Research Foundation fielded a survey and more than 250 incentive providers, both third parties and corporate end users, responded with insights:
- Budgets staying intact
- Alternative means of recognizing winners
HYGIENE IS TRENDING
“Singapore Clean” cleanliness audit
Source: Edited excerpt from Skift
Date: 13 April 2020
Cleanliness has become one of the three most important factors in the road to recovery and in the future. Singapore has launched a scheme to audit hotels nationwide and give them a clean bill of health if they meet seven criteria. A “SG Clean” stamp will give locals and visitors peace of mind.
HotelPlanner, which provides group hotel rates to any type of groups, believes that cleaning and disinfectant policies and procedures will become a legal contract item.
Western Australia prepares free hygiene training
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM Business Events
Date: 30 April 2020
Venues in Western Australia will have to undergo new online Covid-19 training before they are allowed to reopen. Around 70,000 people hospitality workers are expected to complete the free Covid-19 hygiene training course, which is being funded by the WA Government. The course will comprise two tiers, with all staff to complete the first stage and managers and supervisors required to complete the second, more advanced program. The course would take 45 minutes to an hour to complete the training, covering everything from social distancing to food handling and hygiene.
Azerbaijan’s health and safety campaign
Source: Edited excerpt from Meetings International
Date: 27 April 2020
THE Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB), together with the State Tourism Agency (STA) of the Republic of Azerbaijan and in cooperation with Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AQTA), has announced the launch of a health, safety and hygiene program called SAHMAN (Sanitation and Hygiene Methods and Norms).“SAHMAN” means “immaculateness” in Azerbaijani.
REGION WATCH
ASIA
Thailand’s support for its exhibition industry
Source: Edited excerpt from Exhibition World
Date: 21 April 2020
Thailand has introduced a support package for exhibition organisers and industry stakeholders. More than US$3.03bn has been approved to help companies in Thailand combat the temporary suspension of business brought about by Covid-19.
Complementing the wider government relief plan is TCEB’s own support package, ‘Thailand Extra Exhibition Plus’ which provides support for exhibition stakeholders to sustain core tradeshows in Thailand. The measures announced form part of a comprehensive set of measures to accompany the USD1m for immediate term relief for the exhibition sector and the US$14m first phase of Thailand’s industry recovery plan.
How Hong Kong is spending its US$52 M in recovery promotion
Source: Edited excerpt from TTGAsia
Date: 27 April 2020
Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) previously announced a planned HK$400 million to support promotions by the trade. HKTB executive director Dane Cheng said a three-phase plan has been devised to reinvigorate Hong Kong tourism. The exact timeline depended on the development of the pandemic:
Phase 1 (Now) – Resilience – HKTB is preparing a recovery plan for Hong Kong tourism.
Phase 2 – Recovery – When the pandemic shows signs of abating, the HKTB will focus on the local market to promote a “positive ambience in Hong Kong” by encouraging locals to rediscover different neighbourhoods and community cultures in order to send a positive message to visitors and restore their confidence in the city. Meanwhile, the HKTB will launch tactical promotions with the trade in selected markets based on the developments of individual markets to stimulate people’s interest to visit Hong Kong.
Phase 3 – Relaunch – Mega events and a new tourism brand campaign will be launched to rebuild Hong Kong’s tourism image.
Singapore launching phase 2 of US$14 M marketing programme
Source: Edited excerpt from Meetings & Conventions Asia
Date: 24 April 2020
Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will launch the second phase of its Marketing Partnership Programme to include the rest of the MICE sector in early May. Under this $20 million (US$14.02 million) programme, STB will support part of the marketing costs, and award additional funding to companies that work with other tourism stakeholders to create value-added experiences to visitors.
MEET Taiwan using tech to facilitate business during the pandemic
Source: Edited excerpt from Meetings & Conventions Asia
Date: 21 April 2020
Taiwan has launched online and virtual 3D exhibitions for trade partners around the world, enabling visitors to view products and shop directly online. In addition, Taiwantrade.com offers customized online sourcing services via its Meet Supplier Online service.
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
Visit Auckland waiting for the right time
Source: Edited excerpt from VisitAuckland YouTube Page
Date: 9 April 2020
In a breathtaking video showcasing captivating scenery of the landscape, the people and cuisine, using their native names, VisitAuckland encourages people to sit at a distance, stand as one. “When the time is right, we welcome you. But for now, listen. Papatūānuku (our earth mother) is breathing.”
Australia’s revises its Business Events Advance Program
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM Business Events
Date: 27 April 2020
Business Events Australia has revamped its Advance Program for financial year FY20/21. Changes include greater access for smaller projects by lowering the minimum amount requested for each project to $10,000; offering two rounds of applications each year; and streamlining the application process.
EUROPE
Scotland will wait
Source: Edited excerpt from VisitScotland Business Events LinkedIn Page
Date: 17 April 2020
VisitScotland Business Events has shared an encouraging video reminding the industry that what they all do is important. The video features several industry stakeholders from across Scotland saying in solidarity that “Scotland Will Wait”.
Germany launches #MeetGermanyFromHome
Source: Edited excerpt from Kongres Magazine
Date: 16 April 2020
The German Convention Bureau (GCB) has launched its new #MeetGermanyFromHome campaign. The bi-lingual English and German social media campaign enables cities, venues, hotels and other meeting and event suppliers to share updates, news and new initiatives on Twitter and Instagram, with a focus on offers for the second half of 2020 and for 2021.
INDUSTRY POST-COVID
Expected norm for Post-Coronavirus Events
Source: Excerpt from Event Manager Blog
Date: 21 April 2020
- Insurance – coverage for cancellation of event, delegates and staff that may contract the virus.
- Social Distancing
- Thermal Scanning
- Sanitation and Disinfection
- Triage and Handling of Those Who Show Symptoms
- Vulnerable population management
Reinventing the Association Wheel
Source: Edited excerpt from Boardroom Magazine
Date: 24 April 2020
- Hyper-personalized advertising which is based on a model of delivering advertisements purely relevant to the recent behaviours, requests and permissions of a specific individual. The benefit for members in this model is that they receive highly relevant information tailored to meet their exact current needs.
- Being a trusted independent crowdsource enabler that connects researchers, media, government agencies and other data collectors with verified industry professionals.
- Associations becoming the go-to source that can secure a percentage of human assurance in any content produced by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Hong Kong reinventing itself
Source: Edited excerpt from Skift
Date: 27 April 2020
Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is engaging its stakeholders to review and rethink Hong Kong’s position in the global tourism market and elevate service standards. HKTB foresees a new tourism landscape post-pandemic – hygiene standards will be the top priority; short breaks and wellness-themed trips will be popular.