Bulletin: COVID-19

Cityscpae of bangkok district thailand with blue sky and cloud

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

Thailand’s strategies to boost International Exhibitions
Source: Edited excerpt from Travel Daily News
Date: 20 January 2021
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) aims to be more segmented in its international exhibition promotion in 2021 giving high priority to 12 key industries to strengthen national development and put emphasis on the Asian market.

Asia-centric approach to increase online and offline trade shows to maintain Thailand’s position as a centre of international exhibitions in Asia.
Attracting new shows and clustering events, such as conventions and festivals whose content is aligned with the shows
Creating opportunities in potential regions, for example, Thailand LOG-IN Events planned for Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
Collaborating with government agencies to promote large-scale trade shows and conventions under “One Ministry, One Expo” concept.
Promoting innovation and technology to enhance visitors’ experience through an online platform, create business opportunities, and lower physical touching points at the shows.

Hong Kong adapts online-offline program for business events in Q1 and Q2 of 2021
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 12 January 2021
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will reconfigure its industry trade fairs and conferences in the first half of 2021 as part of its ongoing efforts to find ways to help Hong Kong companies continue doing business during the pandemic. In addition to enhancing its hybrid model that combines online fairs with physical fairs and symposiums, the HKTDC will also organise new local exhibitions and hold a number of its key international conferences online, including those targeting the finance, creative and marketing sectors.

Penang Convention Bureau hosts virtual roadshow
Source: Edited excerpt from Impact News
Date: 25 January 2021
Malaysia’s Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) recently conducted its 4th Annual Penang Roadshow in India for travel agents in 4 prominent cities of Kochi, Chennai, New Delhi and Mumbai. This year’s show was carried out fully virtually followed by a Penang Night special dinner hosted for the Indian travel agents. The virtual show had a total of 25 registered sellers from Penang and the larger Malaysia travel and business events industry, and welcomed more than 200 buyers in total.

AUSTRALIA

Tasmania’s COVID-19 Safe Events Framework
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM and Business Tasmania
Date: 12 January 2021
The Tasmanian Government has launched A Framework for COVID-19 Safe Events and Activities in Tasmania to support event organisers to plan and hold larger-scale COVID-19 safe events from December 2020. Depending on the risk profile of the event, it will be classed as Level 1, 2 or 3, and different controls will apply depending on the level. The Framework applies to gatherings that exceed the ordinary gathering limits.

New South Wales unveils Visitor Economy Strategy 2030
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 19 January 2021
New South Wales has outlined a strategy to host more major events as it looks to transform the state into the largest tourism hub in the Asia-Pacific. The Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 aims to aid recovery and turbocharge visitor economy growth through securing world-class events, boosting regional visitation and building new tourism icons and visitor experiences for the future. Developed by Destination NSW the strategy will also focus on the day trip market, worth an estimated AUD 10 billion (USD 7.7 billion) by 2030, and grow opportunities in regional NSW, with the aim of returning visitation to pre-pandemic levels by 2024. The Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 can be found here.

EUROPE

Germany launches Response Room
Source: Edited excerpt from German CVB
Date: 14 January 2021
The German Convention Bureau (GCB) launched its open innovation platform “Response Room”, initiated in cooperation with PCMA and the IMEX Group. The platform offers a global, interdisciplinary forum to innovate business events. The partners are looking to build a global community of meeting planners, organisers, suppliers, and event participants to jointly develop new solutions and innovative business models.

Scotland’s USD 7.27 million Pivotal Event Businesses Fund
Source: Edited excerpt from KONGRES and VisitScotland
Date: 20 January 2021
At the end of last year, the Scottish government announced that the business events sector was to receive £6 million (USD 7.27 million) from the £104.3 million (USD 126.48 million) Scottish Government package for tourism and hospitality businesses across the country. The Pivotal Event Businesses Fund, to be delivered through VisitScotland, will be prioritised towards those businesses that can evidence and demonstrate they play a pivotal role across the events industry in Scotland and are in financial difficulty as a direct result of COVID-19.

Austria’s USD 364.8 million meetings protection plan
Source: Edited excerpt from M & IT and Vienna CVB
Date: 14 January 2021
Under an approved EUR 300 million (USD 364.8 million) protective shield, the Austrian government will cover financial damage resulting from events being cancelled or restricted due to COVID-19. The Austrian guarantee of liability gives event planners planning security. Starting January 18, 2021, applications can be submitted via the Austrian Hotel and Tourism Bank (ÖHT). The first eligible event date is March 1, 2021. Applications can be submitted through June 15, 2021.

For more articles/news, please visit News & Resources.

Our summary of how destinations are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. We hope this bulletin will help you in planning your own mitigation and recovery strategies.

Bulletin: COVID-19

Berlin, Germany - July 27, 2019: S-bahn train on the platform of Friedrichstrasse station

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.

For more articles/news, please visit News & Resources.

Our summary of how destinations are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. We hope this bulletin will help you in planning your own mitigation and recovery strategies.

Bulletin: COVID-19

REGION WATCH

ASIA

Hong Kong launches USD131 million subsidy scheme for business events
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM and TTG MICE
Date: 29 September 2020
On October 3, the Hong Kong Government launched the Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme worth HKD1,020 million (USD131 million) to help ease financial burdens on the local convention and exhibition industry and help it attract domestic and overseas exhibitors, buyers and conference delegates to Hong Kong. The Subsidy Scheme offers to cover a 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.

Hong Kong focuses on regional source markets
Source: Edited excerpt from M & C Asia
Date: 16 September 2020
Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is working on re-engaging and attracting event planners from regional source markets as well as having discussions with other destinations on forming travel bubbles, lending confidence to the business events sector’s recovery. HKTB is also working on Open House Hong Kong – a co-platform between the government and trade partners serving to inform international visitors and planners of the destination’s COVID-19 safe status, together with a host of attractive offerings and experiences.

AUSTRALIA

Shoalhaven’s AUD170,000 support package
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 25 September 2020
Business events in Shoalhaven which have been postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19 have been given grants worth a total AUD170,000 (USD121,714) to help them in recovery. The funds are from the AUD10 million (USD7.2 million) Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery Grants program, which was set up to support events of all types in fire-affected regions.

EUROPE

Poland’s “Safe MICE Venue” certification
Source: Edited excerpt from KONGRES and Poland Convention Bureau
Date: 24 September 2020
During Meeting Week Poland, Polish Tourism Organisation and Poland Convention Bureau launched the “Safe MICE venue” programme intended to provide business travellers, meetings and events customers and professional congress organisers with access to information about venues capable of delivering services in accordance with regulations of Chief Sanitary Inspectorate and Ministry of Development.

GLOBAL RECOVERY RESOURCE

AIPC, UFI and ICCA release second Good Practice Guide
Source: Edited excerpt from TTG MICE and MeetExpo
Date: 16 September 2020
AIPC, the International Association of Convention Centres; ICCA, the International Convention and Congress Association; and UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, have joined forces to release Good Practice Guide: Addressing COVID-19 Requirements for Re-Opening Business Events – Version 2. The Guide, focused on the reopening for phase, builds on the first report published in May and includes 12 mini case-studies and learnings from business events which successfully too place during July and August 2020 around the world.

Download a copy here.

TOURISM SECTOR RECOVERY

Air Canada offers free COVID-19 insurance for international travel
Source: Edited excerpt from ETurbo News
Date: 18 September 2020
Air Canada announced that it is including complimentary COVID-19 emergency medical & quarantine insurance for Canadian residents booking round-trip international flights. The coverage, available for new bookings made in Canada from September 17 until October 31, 2020, inclusive, provides emergency medical and quarantine insurance designed to give customers added confidence when booking flights and travelling abroad.

For more articles/news, please visit News & Resources.

Our summary of how destinations are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. We hope this bulletin will help you in planning your own mitigation and recovery strategies.

How Accessible is Your Association?

1 October 2020

Empowerment. Inclusion. Access. These are 3 words that will no doubt resonate with Association leaders, staff and members as these have been values espoused as core to the services and functioning of Associations.

With the proliferation of digital engagement adopted by Associations since COVID-19 disrupted our traditional means of engagement and interaction, these 3 words have acquired a new level of importance.

The evolution of digital has been experienced as a key disrupter to Associations – it has challenged their traditional revenue sources and impacted on the organization and operations of events, educational programmes, publications, membership and HR. However, Associations have now started to see the benefits of digital as an enabler. The move towards digital which has proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic, has allowed Associations to broaden their networks, deepen their connections and most crucially it has facilitated accessibility of associations to previously under-served and under-represented communities – including those with disabilities.

According to the 2011 World Report on Disability by the World Health Organisation/World Bank, there are an estimated 1 billion persons with disabilities worldwide. That same report shows that whilst employment rates vary across countries, “the bottom line is that, all over the world, a person with a disability is less likely to be employed than a person without a disability, often much less so”.

Despite legislation on diversity in the workplace, people with disabilities still do not experience the same access to work opportunities as do their counterparts without disabilities.

The role and the responsibility of Associations here is clear. Inclusive and equitable quality education and the promotion of life-long learning opportunities for people with disabilities is fundamental. Without their full inclusion, efforts to achieve the societal transformation envisioned in the UN SDGs will stall. As industry representatives, associations are in a pivotal position to lead and stimulate the development of a more inclusive workforce.

So how can Associations help move the needle towards empowering those with disabilities? How can they contribute to a more inclusive and accessible workplace?

As a point for departure, Associations can start by identifying participation gaps within their existing networks and develop a clear strategy for both stimulating and supporting greater inclusion of people with disabilities across all their programme of activities- both offline and online.

Whilst seeking to understand and address the issues and challenges raised by those already within their networks who have disabilities, they also need to engage with those who remain on the outside of their networks and seek to understand what keeps them there.

Certainly, the inevitability of digital as a permanent feature of associations moving forward creates an opportunity to systemically embed accessibility within their operations. This will also require the supplier community from technology companies to exhibition centers to be ready to provide associations with the solutions they need in order to develop disability-inclusive responses to all their services and events moving forward.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR CHLOE MENHINICK

Chloé Menhinick is the Partner for Association Consulting at GainingEdge with 15 years’ experience in the Associations industry. She is an Active Member of UIA and a Board Member of the European Society of Association Executives (ESAE) where she also co-chairs the Communications & Membership committee.

Email Chloe

For more articles/news, please visit News & Resources.

Inclusive and equitable quality education and the promotion of life-long learning opportunities for people with disabilities is fundamental. As industry representatives, associations are in a pivotal position to lead and stimulate the development of a more inclusive workforce.

Tracking the MICE Sector’s Return in a COVID-19 World: Part 2

Businesswomen wearing office suits and masks, meeting and walking together in city, talking, discussing project. Medium shot. Business during epidemic concept

22 September 2020

Which destinations are open and how are they handling the return of the MICE sector faced with risks of second waves of infections and lockdowns? Less than 10 destinations with effective suppression are fully open for large scale events without capacity limits. But others are lining up.

Reliant on travel and large gatherings, the MICE sector is considered high-risk during the pandemic and remains mostly shut. 41 EU countries have open borders for travel, yet events are restricted.

Covid-19 continues to intensify in many emerging and developing economies. Borders in over 100 destinations including Canada, Australia and India remain completely closed to visitors.

A consensus is emerging that even with our optimism for a vaccine we will not be Covid-free before 2022. We face a long transition phase that is uncertain and volatile before we reach the New Normal. The pace of recovery will vary across regions and segments.

Which destinations are open for MICE events?

It is estimated that over 40 countries are open for events but most have capacity limits and other restrictions.

Country
China
Taiwan
Hong Kong
Korea
New Zealand
Malaysia
Thailand

Japan
Netherlands

Germany

United Kingdom

Singapore
UAE

From
May
May
May
May
May
June
June

June
July

September

October

October
October

Capacity
no size limit
no size limit
no size limit
no size limit
no size limit
up to 250 people
no size limit but maximum 20,000 sqm
up to 5,000 people
limit subject to social distancing capacity
limit subject to social distancing capacity
limit subject to social distancing capacity
up to 250 people
limit subject to social distancing capacity

What does MICE activity look like in the open destinations?

Destinations that are widely open are those that have Covid under control. Even then, they face the risks of second waves of infections and re-imposition of lockdowns.

China and South Korea returned by hosting major domestic construction and automotive expos of 62,000 and 45,000 visitors respectively in May.

First in, first out of Covid, China, supported by the world’s largest domestic market is clearly leading the return of the MICE sector in terms of level of activity. Shenzhen World alone has hosted numerous events with total visitors through its door since Covid reaching 1 million.

Supported by large domestic catchments, consumer expos are leading the return. Trade expos and Government meetings are also showing good form. Local corporate meetings and conventions are only just gaining confidence. Confidence for international conventions is unlikely until vaccination, treatment or effective suppression is achieved. Open borders alone will not restore confidence for the cautious international consumer.

Some of the high profile expos on reopening include:

The 2020 Hunan Auto Show, 20 April – 5 May with 62,000 visitors, daily cap 8,000 – Hunan International Convention and Exhibition Center, China
MBC Construction Expo, 8-11 May with 45,000 visitors – KINTEX, Korea
The 98th Hong Kong Wedding Fair May 22-24, 400 booths and daily cap of 3,000 visitors – Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
Taipei International Graphic Arts Exhibition, 30 July – 3 August with 80,000 visitors – Taipei World Trade Center, Taiwan

Germany has led Europe’s return of large scale events with the Caravan Salon Expo held 5-13 September at Messe Dusseldorf attracting 107,000 visitors with a daily cap of 20,000. This is seen as the first large scale expo with international (EU) attendance.

2020 SEMICON Taiwan scheduled for September is the first comprehensive hybrid trade show with international participants.

Venues in these markets are writing the playbook for hosting in-person events in a pandemic with extensive new protocols like pre-registration, temperature checks, face masks, gloves, elevated hygiene, social distancing, and density monitoring.

Virtual and hybrid events are filling some of the void. It is difficult to determine how much demand for virtual events is driven by the free access, try-out, lack of physical options, and downtime. Drop out rates on virtual events are high, but surely the consumer behavior being acquired will help rapid improvement of digital platforms.

China’s Canton Fair in June was the first large scale expo held entirely on a virtual platform, supported by Tencent. It attracted 25,000 virtual exhibitors but closed with mixed reviews.

Virtual platforms have an enviable window to enhance their offer as a serious commercial option if it is to retain a fair share of the gains made during this covid-normal phase.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR ROD KAMLESHWARAN

Rod leads the Convention and Exhibition Centre Development advisory team at GainingEdge. His expertise is in the development and asset management of hospitality assets – convention & exhibition centres, hotels, and casino integrated resorts. A specialist in mixed-use developments, Rod has advised government and private sector clients on projects with a completion value exceeding US$20 billion. Rod was previously at PwC and IHG.

Email Rod

For more articles/news, please visit News & Resources.

We take a look at the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the business events sector. A consensus is emerging that even with our optimism for a vaccine, we will not be COVID-19 free before 2022. Read Rod Kamleshwaran’s take on the return of the MICE sector in a world that is faced with risks of second waves of infections and lockdowns.

Bulletin: COVID-19

REGION WATCH

ASIA

Korea’s business events association partners with PCMA on training
Source: Edited excerpt from AMI Magazine
Date: 25 August 2020
PCMA and the Korea MICE Association have announced a two-year strategic agreement, aimed at equipping their members for life after COVID-19. A key component of the partnership will focus on the delivery of PCMA’s Digital Event Strategist (DES) course in Korea as well as other training programs to help meeting professionals adapt to the new business environment.

Penang’s digital marketing support for the business events industry
Source: Edited excerpt from M & C Asia
Date: 1 September 2020
Other than the Privilege Penang enhanced support program which was launched in June, the Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) has provided social media support for Penang hotels to promote their offerings during and after Malaysia’s lockdown.

Seoul hosts virtual fam for business events media
Source: Edited excerpt from TTGmice
Date: 14 September 2020
Seoul Tourism Organization (STO) hosted its first virtual media familiarisation programme for journalists specialising in business events on September 17 and 18. The virtual fam comprised of five ‘venues’, each representing the varied charms of Seoul – a conference hall where journalists can access educational sessions; a virtual Seoul promotional booth; a lounge area for network opportunities; workshop; and a virtual theatre to watch business events-related city showcases.

AUSTRALASIA

Perth’s convention bureau to fund delegates at domestic events
Source: Edited excerpt from TTGmice and AMI Magazine
Date: 24 August 2020
Business Events Perth has unveiled a new funding initiative to encourage organisations to hold business events locally. Funding of up to AUD30 (USD21.50) a delegate is available, with total funding support determined by the event duration and number of delegates attending the event in-person. The State Government has also launched a AUD5.5 billion (USD4.01 billion) WA Recovery Plan to help Western Australia emerge from COVID-19, which includes AUD150 million (USD109.5 million) to support the tourism industry.

Australian government program to fund up to 50% of business events costs
Source: Edited excerpt from Business Events News
Date: 11 September 2020
Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison announced AUD50 million (USD36.6 million) in support for Australia’s business events industry. The new Australian Business Events Grants Program will see organisers of meetings, conventions, incentive and exhibitions able to apply for upfront grants to cover up to 50% of their costs (between AUD10,000 {USD7,320} and AUD250,000 {USD183,039}). The funding is part of the Government’s AUD1 billion (USD731.98 million) COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund which supports sectors severely impacted by the pandemic.

New Zealand’s Regional Events Fund
Source: Edited excerpt from TTGmice
Date: 11 September 2020
The New Zealand government has announced a support package of NZD50 million (USD33.3 million) to promote domestic tourism through business events. The injection will go to nine major regional groups across the country via the Regional Events Fund. The fund is an addition to the government’s previously announced Domestic Events Fund, in which 20 of the 200 events receiving support were conferences and business events.

Business Events Sydney launches online foresight series
Source: Edited excerpt from micenet and BESydney
Date: 15 September 2020
BESydney has released an online initiative entitled “Anticipating Tomorrow: Global Insights Series” which brings together leading researchers, business pioneers, groundbreakers and Government to share expert insights from around the globe. The series connects information, ideas and people, including the role that global conferences can play in helping Australia build back stronger and prosper again.

Canberra employs use of “Smart Badge” for business events safety
Source: Edited excerpt from HQ – The Association Magazine
Date: 9 September 2020
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Chief Minister confirmed support for the delivery of new contact tracing and social distancing technology, Smart Badge, to help Canberra attract new business events to the region in the current environment. The funding is part of ACT Government’s new Tourism and Hospitality Package. The wearable ‘badge’ – worn as a watch, lanyard or helmet clip – is registered to the wearer by a QR code and maps their location within the set area of an event. The Smart Badge technology will be available free-of-charge to meeting planners with a confirmed event in Canberra.

EUROPE

Slovenia’s “Safe and Healthy Meetings & Events” certification
Source: Edited excerpt from KONGRES
Date: 26 August 2020
In an effort to bring back live events and help restart the meetings industry, Slovenia has launched a standardisation process for event organisers and venues in Slovenia. The “Safe and Healthy Meetings & Events” certification issued by the Slovenian Convention Bureau in cooperation with the National Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, is based on a comprehensive guide that includes measures and recommendations for reducing health risks connected to the spread of COVID-19. To qualify for the certificate, organizations have to comply with 65 different measures in order to guarantee maximum safety of attendees.

The guide can be found here.

Dublin’s recovery plan
Source: Edited excerpt from HQ – The Association Magazine
Date: 7 September 2020
Dublin’s plan for future events will focus on association conferences and the support they offer to them directly, to their PCOs, the conference ambassador and most importantly how they can help build legacy from their events.

NewcastleGateshead convention bureau launches social media campaign
Source: Edited excerpt from Exhibition News
Date: 1 September 2020
Venues, hotels, and event service providers from across North East England have come together to launch a new campaign, #ItsTyneToMeetAgain, to help support the recovery of the business events industry within the region. Organized by NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, the grassroots social media led campaign focuses on employees in the sector creating video and photography via their smartphones to promote events spaces, the staff working there and the measures they have taken to ensure staff and visitor safety.

Germany categorizes tradeshow attendance as “essential travel”
Source: Edited excerpt from UFI LinkedIn page
Date: 1 September 2020
The German Ministry of Interior, has categorised entering the country to attend a trade show as “essential travel”, a move that demonstrates the critical role exhibitions play in economic recovery post-COVID. Trade fair participants from all countries can enter Germany to attend trade shows, subject to them having valid visas where needed.

MIDDLE EAST

Abu Dhabi successfully delivers COVID-free sanctuary
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 31 August 2020
In a recent event at the Emirate, Abu Dhabi created a world-class ‘safe zone’ for approximately 2,500 people over five weeks on Yas Island, which was locked off and completely secluded from the rest of the Emirate for the five-week period. In line with the principles of the “Go Safe” certification programme, the health and safety procedures undertaken by event staff were extensive and included COVID-19 testing every 72hrs and 14-day isolation periods. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) plans to evolve this concept for the return of tourism and other events in the coming months.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Convention centers in Las Vegas, Florida and Chicago receive GBAC Star accreditation
Source: Edited excerpt from NorthStar Meetings Group
Date: 10 September 2020
The Global BioRisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of the worldwide cleaning-industry association ISSA, has unveiled a new certification to help the meetings industry rebound from the coronavirus crisis. More than 3,000 facilities in 66 countries are seeking GBAC Star accreditation. This includes convention centres, hotels, convention and visitor bureaus, and even airlines and airports.

Facilities will gain accreditation when they show they are implementing the industry’s highest standards of cleaning for COVID-19, and are safe to welcome guests and hold events. The program is backed by 10 industry organizations, including the International Association of Venue Managers, International Facility Management Association, International Association of Exhibitions and Events, Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association and the Go LIVE Together Coalition.

GLOBAL RECOVERY RESOURCE

COVID-19 impact map
Source: Edited excerpt from TTGmice
Date: 2 September 2020
International SOS has launched a new map representing the impact of Covid-19 on health, security and logistics for domestic operations, aimed at helping multinational organisations navigate the pandemic. The COVID-19 Impact Map complements International SOS’ suite of risk analysis maps, including Security, Medical and Road Safety.

The scales in the map represent the following business operations impacts due to Covid-19:

The map is available here.

TOURISM SECTOR RECOVERY

Myanmar’s white paper on the priorities for restarting tourism
Source: Edited excerpt from TravelDaily News
Date: 31 August 2020
Myanmar Tourism Marketing (MTM) with the support of the Development Partners Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business, Hanns Seidel Foundation and Myanmar Responsible Tourism Institute, has released a White Paper that is intended to provide guidelines and principles for the recovery of the tourism sector. The White Paper outlines seven recommendations:

Put Safety First
Promote Domestic Tourism
Adopt a Phased Approach for Reopening to International Travel
Improve Destination Management and Market Segmentation
Revise the Current Approach to Marketing and Promotion
Build a Supportive Business Environment
Invest in Human Resources – Managing Talent During and After COVID-19

Download a copy of the White Paper here.

UNWTO Tourism Recovery Tracker
Source: Edited Excerpt from UNWTO
Date: 16 September 2020
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has developed the first comprehensive tourism recovery tracker worldwide, monitoring a number of relevant indicators throughout the recovery of tourism.

The tracker is available here.

For more articles/news, please visit News & Resources.

Our summary of how destinations are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. We hope this bulletin will help you in planning your own mitigation and recovery strategies.

Bulletin: COVID-19

Panorama of the luxury center of Dubai,Dubai,United Arab Emirates

REGION WATCH

ASIA

Japan’s business events sector makes up for the Olympics
Source: Edited excerpt from Mix Meetings
Date: 4 August 2020
J-Team is organising an event that brings together business events organizations in Japan to show the country’s readiness to welcome back events as soon as global logistics make that possible. Sixteen organisations have agreed to take part in a 60km-plus Great Tokyo Odyssey to help fill the void left by the postponement of the Tokyo Summer Olympics. Also known as Not the Tokyo Marathon (#NTTM), the event is scheduled for September 6, the original date of the 2020 Paralympic Marathon.

Sarawak’s digital marketing strategy
Source: Edited excerpt from TTG MICE
Date: 17 August 2020
Business Events Sarawak has unveiled several marketing videos to instill confidence in event organizers, by showcasing business events that have already taken place in Sarawak in abidance with the guidelines and SOPs set by the government. These videos will be uploaded on social media platforms and promoted through related business events digital media platforms.

AUSTRALIA

New Zealand NZD50 million (USD33 million) business events support package
Source: Edited excerpt from KONGRES
Date: 19 August 2020
The Minister of Tourism announced that more than NZD300 million (USD196 million) funding has been approved to protect strategic tourism businesses, drive domestic tourism through regional events and lift digital capability in the tourism industry. The package includes:

Over NZD230 million (USD150 million) in grants and loans for 126 strategic tourism businesses, that could help protect the jobs of around 3,000 people directly employed in the industry.
NZD50 million (USD33 million) for a Regional Events Fund.
NZD20 million (USD13 million) inbound tour operator loan scheme.
NZD10 million (USD 6.5 million) to lift digital capability in the sector.

Gold Coast’s support package
Source: Edited excerpt from Business Events Gold Coast
Date: 5 August 2020
Destination Gold Coast in Australia, is now offering a cash incentive to support business events on the Gold Coast. Business events, confirmed by 31 December 2020, will be eligible to apply for cash incentives based on delegate numbers:

100+ delegates – AUD25,000 (USD17,878)
200+ delegates – AUD50,000 (USD35,756)
500+ delegates – AUD100,000 (USD71,513)

AFRICA

South Africa business events association tests the waters with a hybrid event
Source: Edited excerpt from Business Events Africa
Date: 13 August 2020
South African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) hosted “The Proof of Concept” event to evaluate the feasibility of additional COVID-19 requirements. In successfully delivering the event, SAACI hopes to encourage further activation of the business events and exhibition sector.

The event was held in five different venues around South Africa, with 50 people in each venue, in line with the government regulations, thus enabling a total of 250 people to attend in-person. An additional 305 attendees tuned in online.

EUROPE

Brussels’ venue rental subsidy fund
Source: Edited excerpt from CMW – Conference & Meetings World
Date: 27 July 2020

visit.brussels recently launched €2 million (USD2.3 million) fund to encourage organisers to choose Brussels as a destination for future events, offering financial support to B2B event organisers for events with at least 200 participants, and an overnight stay in Brussels. The support is in the form of a subsidy which must be injected into the rental payment of the event venue, whether it takes place now or in the future. Up to €50,000 (USD58,000) is available per eligible event.

The Netherlands’ COVID-19 Reopening Protocol
Source: Edited excerpt from NL Netherlands website
The Protocol contains guidelines for meeting and convention organizers, suppliers, and delegates of meetings, conventions and events taking place in the Netherlands. Business events include trade shows and corporate events. In putting together these guidelines, NBTC Holland Marketing (NBTC) obtained information from the Dutch government, the National Institute for Public Health & the Environment (RIVM), (strategic) partners and other suppliers as well as via desk research.

MIDDLE EAST

MOUs to formalise and reinforce partnerships to bring more business events to Dubai
Source: Edited excerpt from HQ magazine
Date: 10 Aug 2020
Dubai Business Events has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with public and private organisations in an effort to formalize and reinforce collaborations that are set to attract more business events to Dubai. These include Dubai Customs, Arab Association of Petroleum Professionals, Emirates Nursing Association and Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Meanwhile, the Roads Transport Authority, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government, and RIT University renewed their MOUs.

GLOBAL RECOVERY

PCMA’s COVID-19 Recovery Dashboard
Source: Edited excerpt from KONGRES
Date: 6 August 2020
On July 7-15, PCMA conducted a survey focusing exclusively on the APAC region. 531 event industry professionals — 342 planners and 189 suppliers responded to questions about what they have experienced since the pandemic began and where they see the recovery headed.

Download a copy here.

For more articles/news, please visit News & Resources.

Our summary of how destinations are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. We hope this bulletin will help you in planning your own mitigation and recovery strategies.

The MICE Sector in a Covid-19 World: Lockdown, Transition, New Normal

Asian business girl wear face mask drag luggage stand on escalator look around walk to terminal at international airport. Business travel social distancing concept. Panoramic banner background.

7 August 2020

On 30 July, UNWTO reported that 40% of destinations have eased travel restrictions. On the same day, WHO issued guidelines for resuming travel saying travel bans due to Covid-19 cannot be indefinite.

We are now in a Transition Phase where economic activity is resuming in a world inclusive of Covid-19. This phase will last until widespread vaccination, probably not before 2022, when the New Normal without the virus begins.

IATA, July 2020 reports that passenger numbers in 2020 will drop by 55%, to 2006 levels, and may not recover to 2019 levels until 2024.

STR, June 2020 predicts that USA hotel revenue per available room (RevPAR) is unlikely to return to 2019 levels before 2023.

Air traffic and hotel demand are broad indicators for the meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) sector. Recovery of the MICE sector seems unlikely to take less than 5 years.

The pace and level of recovery will vary by region and business segment. Domestic markets will return before international, and leisure segments will precede business segments. As the crisis is unprecedented and still evolving, the full recovery period remains uncertain.

The “Lockdown Period”

The relates primarily to March through May after the Covid-19 pandemic was announced spurring a global lockdown. This led to the closure of borders and most economic activity. In many countries, non-essential activities ceased for up to 4 months. Many imposed curfews.

Past crises were confined to smaller segments of the world. Not this time. On 6 April 2020, WHO reported that 96% of all worldwide destinations had introduced travel restrictions. IATA reported a 94% drop in air traffic for April 2020.

Many emerging and developing economies remain in lockdown as Covid-19 intensifies.

The “Transition Phase”

Most countries are now in this second phase. The reopening is not just of countries that have suppressed Covid-19 but also those with high active cases and so with the risks of second waves of infections and re-imposition of lockdowns.

June marked widescale relaxations in restrictions allowing domestic market activity in many countries. In the same month, some destinations began opening up to regional markets.

In July, UNWTO reported that 40% of destinations easing travel restrictions, up from 22% in June. Of the 87 countries to ease travel restrictions, four completely lifted all travel restrictions – Albania, Maldives, Serbia and Tanzania.

115 destinations including Australia, Canada and India continue to keep their borders completely closed.

The gradual opening is largely attributed to the Northern Hemisphere summer season led by the opening of borders in the European Union on 1 July. Europe leads the opening with 41 nations, 20 in the Americas, 13 in Africa, 10 in Asia-Pacific, and 3 in the Middle East.

China and USA – countries with strong domestic bases are leading the recovery pack with weekly occupancies of up to 55% and 48% respectively in late July. STR is reporting other regions at barely much more than 20%. USA hotels tend to rely more on MICE business than in the Asia Pacific where the leisure market is more dominant. Without this group business, the USA hotel recovery will plateau.

If the 87 countries manage this large-scale travel without a significant rise in cases, it will go a long way towards creating the consumer confidence needed for a genuine recovery. Conversely, a spike in cases risks a major setback.

Hotel recovery is led by non-luxury categories with domestic leisure peaking on weekends. Corporate travel recovery has begun in some markets, but many small meetings will not return from the virtual platforms adopted during the lockdown.

MICE sector recovery is led by domestic events. Protocols include contactless registration, thermal scanning, face masks, elevated hygiene and social distancing. Social distancing is easier to handle with exhibitions than conferences. Countries like China, Korea, Taiwan and Germany are leading the return of large-scale events with exhibitions and government events.

Many events have turned to virtual or hybrid formats in the short term. The importance of digitisation and flexibility of venues has escalated. Multi-location events where in-person events in different regional locations connect online to form a larger global event are growing. This is appealing in the current phase as attendees lack confidence for travel and large gatherings.

The “New Normal”

This has been described as a once-in-a-century pandemic. It has challenged us to completely re-evaluate how we think, live and work.

The 9/11 terror attacks led to dramatic changes in attitudes to safety, security and privacy. Covid-19 is having a dramatic impact on geopolitics, technology and social attitudes. Technology has proven fundamental to coping with this disruption. Driven to better prepare for the next pandemic or biosecurity threat, organisations will seek to strengthen agility and resilience.

It has long been accepted that there is a strong relationship between the unemployment rate and hotel demand. Hence, at some point, consumer behaviour will be dependent on economic, not health factors. After borders are wide open and consumer confidence in safe travel has returned, economics will influence hotel demand.

There will be significant shifts in the MICE industry in the post Covid-19 era. Some will be structural and permanent. Some will be temporary. Some are already in place.

Once the viral threat has faded, the attention on hygiene and social distancing may also fade.

In-person interaction remains powerful and unlikely to be replaced by virtual events in a dominant way. In-person events are attractive for commercial and networking purposes. Most events will return as in-person events, but a high portion will be hybrid events.

Covid-19 will accelerate digital trends. Consumer exhibitions will embrace virtual event formats more readily than trade exhibitions. Corporates will in future distinguish between essential and non-essential travel. Some meetings, especially internal meetings, will not fully return to pre Covid-19 levels.

Venue offers will include in-person, hybrid or virtual options with enhanced technology infrastructure and flexible rooms. Virtual tours for venues will be the norm. Virtual meeting and event software will improve at a rapid pace. Contactless operations beyond check-in is here to stay.

New certifications, accreditations and quality standards on hygiene will be normal.

Solutions for crowd monitoring, electrostatic sprayers to disinfect surfaces in function rooms and public spaces, automated self-cleaning machines for escalators, and enhanced air filtration systems for ventilation will be promoted as safety features at many venues.

Venues will need to assess both “hardware” and “software” readiness for this New Normal.

When this New Normal without Covid-19 begins is unclear. Even after a vaccine is found, it may take a year or more before widespread vaccination and the confidence for mass travel returns. A consensus is emerging that the virus will stay for a while and the world has to figure out how to live with it.

We shouldn’t let our high hopes for a vaccine deter us from finding solutions that let us live as close to normal as possible now, even in a highly disrupted world with Covid-19. But we must also be cognisant of the risks of second waves of infections and re-imposition of lockdowns.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR ROD KAMLESHWARAN

Email Rod

For more articles/news, please visit News & Resources.

Bulletin: COVID-19

Close up detail of skyscrapers the business district of Johannesburg - Aerial view of modern buildings of the skyline in South Africa biggest city with southafrican flag painted on structure walls

REGION WATCH

ASIA

Singapore’s “Safe Business Event” framework
Source: Edited excerpt from Biz Events Asia
Date: 22 July 2020
Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has developed a risk management framework for business events of up to 50 attendees, based on strict safe management measures. The framework covers 5 major outcomes:

Infection control measures for every stage of an event attendee’s journey (pre- to post-event)
Limits on crowd density
Limits on close contacts between individuals
Ensuring a safe and clean environment
Preparing for emergencies relating to COVID-19

Two hybrid events, scheduled for August and September, will serve as pilots for the framework.

Penang’s new guidelines for business events
Source: Edited excerpt from Biz Events Asia
Date: 22 July 2020
Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) has launched the first edition of “Next Normal Guidelines for Business Events Penang”, a comprehensive document detailing the new standards of organising business events in this Malaysian state. The guidelines were created by a task force of 29 industry partners to ensure all facets of planning business events are considered. PCEB also unveiled new souvenirs for Business Events Penang: Penang Turtle Cares signature batik turtles wearing ‘N95 respiratory masks’ as a safety measure.

“Meet in Malaysia” campaign
Source: Edited excerpt from Mix Meetings and TTG MICE
Date: 28 July 2020
Malaysia’s Convention Bureau (MyCEB) has launched the Meet in Malaysia campaign, which runs until December 2021 and includes two initiatives:

“Let’s Meet Tomorrow” designed to help the industry prepare for international business events to be organised in Malaysia once borders re-open;
“Let’s Meet Locally” that centres on domestic events.

Malaysia’s industry associations “BE Ready” initiative
Source: Edited excerpt from KONGRES
Date: 28 July 2020
The Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS), in collaboration with the Business Events Council Malaysia (BECM), have jointly launched their ‘BE-READY’ initiative. This is designed to showcase the industry’s safe execution of events in line with their Business Events (BE) Guidelines, which have been developed in accordance with the approved Malaysian National Security Council (MKN) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

China’s SPA Plan
Source: Edited excerpt from ITCM China Daily 2020
Date: 5 Aug 2020
To guide companies and their staff towards new standards of operations, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Commercial Sub-council has espoused Surviving/Service, Preparation and Actualisation (SPA) – a plan to enable MICE enterprises to survive and find opportunities in the current crisis.

The Sub-council had pushed for new industry standards due to the rise of contactless delivery services in the region. Within 26 days, it launched a set of association standards, and in some 100 days, it achieved global standardisation by the International Organization for Standardization.

Macau’s Health and Safety practices
Source: Edited excerpt from ITCM China Daily 2020
Date: 5 Aug 2020
The Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) is working to put in place health and safety practices before the industry reopens and also, that technology for hybrid events are set to be introduced.

Financial and other forms of support were also being reviewed to aid recovery.

AUSTRALIA

Business Events Australia wooing the Chinese market
Source: Edited excerpt from BEN
Date: 28 July 2020
Business Events Australia has announced the development of a We Chat mini program to provide a platform for organizers in China to save, download and share information about Australia’s business events offering. The existing platform at businessevents.australia.cn will retain a role in facilitating initial research and planning, but will aim to drive traffic to the WeChat account.

Australia keeps connections
Source: Edited excerpt from meetingnewz
Date: 20 July 2020
To keep event planners dreaming whilst travel is restricted, Tourism Australia has pulled together six ways to soak up Australia from the comfort of their lounge rooms. Whether it is to read a book, watch a film, or tune in to a podcast, Tourism Australia wants its audience to be enticed to travel to Australia when the time is right.

EUROPE

Scotland’s 10 M Euros recovery package
Source: Edited excerpt from M & IT
Date: 29 July 2020
The Scottish government has allocated a funding package of 10 million euros to help the business events sector recover for the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will provide direct support to event organisers as well as to supply chain firms facing hardship, to help keep them in business while restrictions on events are still in place. It will also look to increase community engagement and support adaptations to event delivery to enable a safe restart.

Belgium launches safe meetings toolkit
Source: Edited excerpt from Northstar Meetings Group
Date: 17 July 2020
VisitFlanders Convention Bureau and EventFlanders, in collaboration with the Alliance of Belgian Event Federations, the Expertise Centre for Public Impact KdG and the government of Belgium, has developed three web-based tools to help in organization of business events that are compliant with the government’s health-safety measures. The tools are available in four languages and include:

The COVID Event Risk Model
The Covid Event Protocol
The Guidebook to Corona Prevention for Venues

Meet brUSsels’ 2 M Euros recovery package – B2B
Source: Edited excerpt from Global Travel Media
Date: 27 July 2020
Visit Brussels has launched a call for projects aimed at providing financial support to B2B event organisers (at least 200 participants, 2 days, one overnight stay in Brussels) by granting them a subsidy of their event venue. The total budget is 2 million euros, with a maximum of 50,000 euros per eligible event and 50% of the maximum room rental amount.

Brussels’ 1.5 M Euros support package – B2C
Source: Edited excerpt from Visit Brussels
In addition, Visit Brussels has allocated 1.5 million euros to support B2C events in Brussels in the procurement of protective and hygiene equipment, tools for flow/visitor management, circulation and counting, security costs (guards, stewards, etc.) and costs relating to the implementation of touchless solutions. The grant will be made according to the following breakdown:

Maximum 10,000 euros for events hosting up to 200 people
Maximum 17,500 euros for events hosting up to 500 people
Maximum 25,000 euros for events hosting more than 500 people

UK’s COVID-19 safety labels
Source: Edited excerpt from M & IT
Date: 22 July 2020
Lack of standardised Covid-19 safety procedures from the UK government has led to many UK industry associations producing their own safety guidelines. Meetpie has compiled a list of safety accreditations from across the UK’s event industry, including:

AIM Secure
Safe,Clean and Legal
We’re Good to Go
COVID-19 Confident
Reopen with confidence

AFRICA

Business events to lead recovery of South Africa’s tourism sector
Source: Edited excerpt from Voyages Afriq
Date: 24 July 2020
The South African Minister of Tourism among other priority areas singled out the business events sector as an area which will quicken the recovery. Mrs. Kubayi-Ngubane noted that South Africa will aggressively bid to host large international events in anticipation of the opening of the borders so that upon opening, they can immediately drive up demand for their supply market and also build confidence that South Africa is safe and open for business.

GLOBAL RECOVERY

EIC’s “Meeting and Event Design Accepted Practices” guide
Source: Edited excerpt from KONGRES
Date: 24 July 2020
The Events Industry Council (EIC) has issued the Meeting and Event Design Accepted Practices Guide that provides customisable tools to help the business events industry professionals for the COVID-19 period. The guide provides:

A meeting and event decision grid
Guidelines and a code of conduct for pre-event, post-event and onsite
Meeting and event success metrics (pre- and post-vaccine)
Attendee communication considerations
Resource guide

PCMA’s “Business Events Compass” report
Source: Edited excerpt from M & C Asia
Date: 24 July 2020
The inaugural PCMA Events Compass report, which provides research-based insights on geographic and industry sector business events recovery, reveals that:

APAC is leading the road in recovery of the business events industry largely due to reopening plans in Japan and China, and a decisive pandemic response in countries like New Zealand and Australia.
Best case economic recovery scenario (virus contained) for business events is currently estimated to be Q3-2021.

An executive summary of Business Events Compass is free for PCMA members, however a subscription to the full service and inaugural report, including updates through December 2020, is available for US$495 for members ($895 for non-members).

JMIC releases ‘The JMIC Global Manifesto’
Source: Edited excerpt from NORTHSTAR meetings group
Date: 20 July 2020
The Joint Meetings Industry Council has released a Meetings Industry Manifesto, which makes the case for why conventions, trade shows and other business events are key to driving a global economic recovery. This manifesto is developed as a resource for industry professionals to advocate for the safe reopening of business events in their respective communities. The manifesto concludes with 10 “critical success” points that meeting professionals can follow to advocate for their industry on a local and regional level.

Download the full manifesto here.

For more articles/news, please visit News & Resources.

Our summary of how destinations are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. We hope this bulletin will help you in planning your own mitigation and recovery strategies.

Bulletin: COVID-19

a bird's eye view of shanghai

REGION WATCH

ASIA

Sarawak’s new incentives for the industry
Source: Edited excerpt from M&C Asia
Date: 14 July 2020
Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) has unveiled the Tribe Legacy campaign which includes a trio of new initiatives to kickstart the business events industry. Event organizers can tap into incentives such as the BESLegacy Reward program and BESTribe Reward program. Tribe Legacy will aid in training and upskilling local industry players.

BESarawak will also launch Tribe Digital Xchange, a virtual roadshow and B2B platform for industry partners to present their latest products and services.

Thailand’s DMCs team up
Source: Edited excerpt from TTGMICE and Mix Meetings
Date: 16 July 2020
The DMC community in Thailand has come together to formulate and implement a set of standards entitled Thailand Hygiene Plus Initiative (THPI), to get the message that Thailand is safe to visit. The standards cover six areas and include, but are not limited to, those to be certified by the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA).

Collaboration from Tokyo’s industry stakeholders
Source: Edited excerpt from Mix Meetings
Date: 7 July 2020
TOKYO Convention Bureau has united the Japanese capital’s business events stakeholders in establishing “new normal” guidelines and assuring overseas clients that the city is safe for international conferences and corporate events. The stakeholders have also created initiatives to show that Tokyo is a “flexible” city for business events. Strong restrictions on entering Japan from abroad are still in effect, but travellers from Vietnam were permitted to enter from the beginning of July. Talks are underway to extend entry to travellers from Thailand, Australia and New Zealand.

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand’s $10 million domestic events support package
Source: Edited excerpt from MICENET
Date: 3 July 2020
New Zealand’s government has allocated a $10 million fund for the domestic sector after dialogue with the local events sector. The Domestic Events Fund is designed to support events that provide the greatest flow-on benefit to regional economies and to stave off the loss of such critical events.

Queensland’s “Good to Go” safety mark
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 10 July 2020
Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) has specified criteria for businesses on how to be COVID-Safe. Businesses that meet the requirements can display a Good to Go ‘stamp’ in their marketing. Developed by the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) and approved by the state’s Chief Health Officer, the Queensland Industry Plan for Tourism and Accommodation and the Queensland Industry Framework for Events outline COVID-Safe practices and recommendations that allow tourism businesses and event organisers to maintain safety and operate viably.

EUROPE

European convention bureaux launch a joint website
Source: Edited excerpt from KONGRESS
Date: 30 June 2020
The Strategic Alliance of the National Convention Bureaux of Europe launched its new website to provide customers, suppliers and partners with useful resources as well as direct channels of communication to its 28 members from all over Europe.

Germany’s new marketing strategy
Source: Edited excerpt from KONGRESS
Date: 10 July 2020
During their first ever hybrid AGM, the German Convention Bureau presented its post-corona recovery concept and new marketing strategy “At the heart of future events – meetings made in Germany 2021+”. The strategy outlines the recovery phases as:

Phase 1: Exchange of information, analysing the situation and the current organization of face-to-face and hybrid events in compliance with hygiene and security measures with a focus on the domestic market.

Phase 2: Increase in personal meetings, growth in attendee figures at face-to-face events and the gradual expansion of activities in European and overseas markets.

Phase 3: Combination of analogue, hybrid and virtual formats.

GLOBAL RECOVERY

PATA’s recovery planner
Source: Edited excerpt from TTG Asia
Date: 29 June 2020
As part of their Crisis Resource Center (CRC), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has launched a recovery planner, which is a digital resource that destinations can use to create personalised, five-phased COVID-19 tourism recovery plans.

Global trade shows collaborate
Source: Edited excerpt from Boardroom
Date: 2 July 2020
JMIC, together with AIME, IBTM, IMEX and Meetings Africa, have released a 2-part webinar showcasing the industry speaking with one voice. All the major trade shows for our industry, leaders of associations and leading experts in the sector united to put together a joint message – to governments, decision makers, stakeholders – about the role business events have to play in the economic recovery post COVID-19.

IACC recovery protocols for venues
Source: Edited excerpt from Meetings Net
Date: 15 July 2020
IACC (formerly known by its full name the International Association of Conference Centers) has released the “Critical Pathway for Reopening Meeting, Conference, and Training Spaces” report, a detailed blueprint of protocols and tactics that meeting venues can use to ensure cleanliness and social distancing. This 52-page report is free for IACC members.

For more articles/news, please visit News & Resources.

Our summary of how destinations are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. We hope this bulletin will help you in planning your own mitigation and recovery strategies.