Information Provided by the Members of the IAPCO Global Taskforce of National PCO Associations IAPCO has put together, in one single document, the current COVID-related protocols and procedures in place within each of its Task Force Members’ destinations. Source: Edited excerpt from Boardroom MagazineSee additional Fact Sheets per Country here.
Region: Asia Pacific
Bulletin: COVID-19
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.
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.
GainingEdge Advisory Issue
Destination Planning: Evolving the Role of CVBs
CVBs need to ensure they stay relevant in the rapidly changing world of business events, not only in the marketplace but in their own destination. For too long, CVBs have drawn an invisible circle around themselves and a few trusted allies. Not venturing outside the circle, or letting others in, they too often are only seen when requesting funding.
To be and stay relevant, CVBs need to understand the gaps and opportunities in the destinations they represent. The best way to acquire this knowledge is to speak with and listen to as wide an audience of local stakeholders as possible. And these conversations should not only occur with those who CVBs are most familiar with, but those from outside the industry. In other words, from sources beyond the invisible circle.
By casting a wider net, the CVB will be able to enhance its influence on matters of importance in their communities. Ultimately, being involved will help improve the products and experiences the CVB is promoting to the market. CVBs should be finding ways to engage in discussions around infrastructure development, capacity building, public policy, accessibility, and social, environmental, health and security matters. This does not mean diverting from the CVBs role to sell and market the destination but evolving to a broader mandate. Without such a perspective, the voice of the industry – and the customer – will not be heard when decisions are being contemplated which shape the future of the community (destination).
Destination planning is a tool which all CVBs should become familiar, as a way to widen influence and enhance relevancy. A relatively new field, destination planning is facilitated and encouraged by the CVB. Destination plans are long-term, have a broad engagement process, and outcomes which focus on the destination. Strategic plans, by comparison, focus on the CVB itself with outcomes directly influenced and controlled by them. The table below illustrates the key differences between these two types of planning.
Another key tool for CVBs is to carry out objective and quantitative-based assessments, designed to uncover the strengths and weaknesses of the destination. For example, how does a destination stack up on hygiene factors, competitive advantages, and key differentiators? And based on these attributes how well should the destination be performing? Conducting such an assessment enables a CVB to be better equipped at pushing for ways to address shortcomings with the public- and private-sector.
Another tool is for CVBs to determine their role in key destination matters. Most CVBs are accountable and responsible for sales, marketing, and branding of the destination. It is important to be clear whether other organizations also might see themselves as having this responsibility. If so, how does this get addressed? And how about such issues as infrastructure, mobility, services, product experiences, policy and regulatory? The CVB should identify what role it would like to play. If not leading, the CVB should strive to be consulted or, in the least, be kept informed.
Being invited to the table where consequential decisions impacting a destination is something which is earned. CVBs will benefit by stepping out of their comfort zone, getting acquainted with community needs through broad engagement, and in turn bringing the perspectives of the industry and marketplace to the decision process. Tools such as destination planning, destination assessment, and role identification, help CVBs establish a meaningful contribution to these discussions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR PAUL VALLEE
Paul Vallee is Executive Consultant – Americas, with GainingEdge. He has extensive experience consulting on strategic and destination master planning, organization development, and industry capacity building. His assignments include providing advisory support in Canada, the U.S., Denmark, Brazil, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Panama, and Thailand.
Email Paul
For more articles/news, please visit News & Resources.
Advice: COVID-19 for destinations and convention bureaus Issue #6.
Bulletin: COVID-19
REGION WATCH
ASIA
Thailand’s three-year road map for the business events industry
Source: Edited excerpt from Destination Thailand News
Date: 24 August 2021
Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has unveiled a three-year roadmap for the country’s business events industry. Covering 2021–2023, the roadmap outlines an array of action plans to attract more business events to Thailand and elevate the country’s international profile. It comprises three key strategies:
- To upgrade the Thailand’s conventions ecosystem through active lead generation and industry consultation;
- To upskill the industry with targeted developmental programmes;
- To upstage Thailand in world conventions arena via international partnerships and global agenda conventions.
Singapore’s business events industry study grants
Source: Edited excerpt from TTGMICE
Date: 16 August 2021
SkillsFuture has opened applications for study awards for the business events industry, to help Singaporeans develop and deepen specialist skills needed for future economic growth. The courses chosen should be relevant to the needs of the business events industry and to the applicant’s current/ future job function. Courses relating to emerging skills identified in the Skills Framework for tourism and/or required in a post-Covid world (such as but not limited to Data Analytics, Digitalisation and Experience Design), will be favourably considered.
International award for Business Event Sarawak’s post pandemic marketing film
Source: Edited excerpt from M&C Asia
Date: 27 August 2021
Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) has bagged a Los Angeles Film Award for its humorous short film on Covid-safe protocols for MICE events in the new normal. The film outlines a series of safe meeting measures recently introduced across the country, while highlighting Malaysian greeting styles and incentive experiences such as culinary explorations, joining festivals, traditional village visits and nature-driven outings.
AUSTRALIA
Northern Territory’s support package
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 23 August 2021
The Northern Territory has announced a new joint state and territory AUD 10.3 million (USD 7.47 million) support package for struggling event, tourism and hospitality operators. Conference organisers who saw a 30 per cent decline in revenue will be able to receive payments between AUD 5000 (USD 3,627) and AUD 30,000 (USD 21,761).
Tasmania’s Event Support and Attraction Fund
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 23 August 2021
Funding applications have opened for Tasmania’s AUD 8 million (USD 5.8 million) Events Support and Attraction Fund, which will help draw visitors into regional Tasmanian communities and attract new business events to Tasmania. Eligible businesses can apply for funding to assist meet the costs associated with live performances, event staging, minor works, marketing and promotion, or other initiatives that contribute to the revival of their business and help bring visitors into their region.
Victoria’s business events recovery recommendations to parliament
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 4 August 2021
The Parliamentary inquiry into Victoria’s Event Industry has released its findings in a final report tabled in parliament, with a series of recommendations to help the industry on its pathway to recovery. Among the key recommendations were a return of JobKeeper (wage subsidy) support to help businesses stay afloat and retain skilled staff; establish a shared risk underwriting scheme to allow organisers to insure against Covid cancellations; and establish an events industry taskforce to review and revise its consultation processes with the business events sector in Victoria.
National Events Alliance launches staff sharing initiative
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 3 August 2021
In Australia, the National Events Alliance (NEA) has created a unique “co-operative program” for its affiliates to share staff in an effort to overcome the double challenges of ongoing border restrictions and a skills shortage following a mass exodus of experienced staff from the business events industry. Under the program one business may be able to use staff from another business as “contractors”. A general confidentiality document has been drawn up to form a base for interested parties.
Queensland increases funding for business events
Source: Edited excerpt from M&C Asia and Tourism & Events Queensland
Date: 3 August 2021
Extra funding has been pumped into Queensland’s business events industry to encourage more in-person meetings. The funding is part of the Government’s Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan. Applicants may apply for funding between AUD 17,500 (USD 12,693) and AUD 95,000 (USD 68,908) excluding GST. To qualify for funding, events must include more than 350 delegates with a minimum stay of two days. Half of all delegates must be visiting from outside the Local Government Area where the event is being held. Programme funding must also be spent in Queensland to cover costs associated with venue hire, accommodation, or ground transfers.
South Australia’s buffer package
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 11 August 2021
Up to AUD 25,000 (USD 18,134) is on offer for South Australian business events that were forced to cancel or suffered a significant financial loss because of the lockdown or social distancing restrictions.
Free Event Space – Reignite Adelaide strategy
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 16 August 2021
Adelaide City Council is looking at ditching business event fees for organisers in a bid to boost the city’s recovery from the last week-long lockdown. Under the proposed Reignite Adelaide strategy, organisers would no longer have to pay fees to use council-owned spaces to hold shows or exhibitions. Fees for sites in the Adelaide Parklands would also be temporarily scrapped.
EUROPE
“Vienna: A pleasure doing business” Campaign
Source: Edited excerpt from Conference and Meetings World
Date: 4 August 2021
Vienna Convention Bureau has launched an image-led campaign showcasing traditional business phrases in a new context, juxtaposed against images of Vienna. The campaign will run online via social media in the UK, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland, with a focus on cities where many international trade associations and companies have their headquarters. The campaign also targets decision-makers and the general public in Frankfurt with over 250 in-person advertisements in the city centre.
UK launches “Live Events Reinsurance Scheme”
Source: Edited excerpt from MICENET
Date: 9 August 2021
The UK Government has launched a national reinsurance scheme for the business events industry to provide COVID-19 cancellation insurance. The Live Events Reinsurance Scheme is worth over £750 million (USD 881.854 million). The insurance initiative will run from September 2021 until the end of September 2022 and there will be no cap on the costs being claimed by event organisers.
Ireland increases financial support for business events
Source: Edited excerpt from KONGRES
Date: 20 August 2021
Meet in Ireland has tripled the amount of funding for business events activities and is now offering up to a maximum of €100,000 (USD 137,000) per international event, for applications received up until December 2022. This funding may be used to enhance event programmes. Site inspections receive both practical and financial supports from Meet in Ireland, up to the value of €6,000 (USD 8,221) for in-person site inspections and €1,000 (USD 1,370) for virtual site inspections. Meet in Ireland also continues to support costs related to bidding for international association events, with virtual bid supports now also eligible.
GLOBAL RECOVERY RESOURCE
Destination International releases new industry recovery study
Source: Edited excerpt from Exhibitor Online
Date: 2 August 2021
Destinations International has released the 2021 DestinationNEXT Futures Study. The study is a critical roadmap for destination organizations looking to rebuild their visitor economies while creating more sustainable destinations and enriching their communities. Three transformational opportunities destination organizations need to look to in order to be successful include:
- Destination Alignment: Aligning the public, private and civic sectors drives destination performance
- Sustainable Development: Destination and product development should marry people, planet, profit and policy
- Values-Based Marketing: Community values, goals and energy is the new competitive advantage
Read or download the report 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
REGION WATCH
ASIA
Malaysia’s COVID-19 Free Destination Programme
Source: Edited excerpt from KONGRES and Conference and Meetings World
Date: 19 July 2021
Malaysia is implementing the Covid-19 Free Destination Programme which would enable main tourism and business events cities to reopen once the targeted herd immunity of 80% is achieved, thus accelerating recovery. So far, more than 2,000 industry frontline workers have been vaccinated. Sarawak’s business events and tourism industry became the first industry in Malaysia to initiate the Industrial Covid-19 Vaccination Centre, led by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Sarawak (MTAC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC), Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF), Ministry of Health of Malaysia (Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia) and Timberland Medical Centre.
Singapore Tourism Board, PCMA and UFI’s ‘Reimagining Business Events – Through COVID-19 and Beyond’ White Paper
Source: Edited excerpt from Conference and Meetings World and STB
Date: 29 June 2021
Singapore Tourism Board (STB), in partnership with the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) launched a white paper that outlines how the sector can reimagine its offerings and better future-proof itself through innovation. The white paper provides an overview of global industry insights and provides ideas for business events organisations to transform across three pillars: Business Models, Delegate Experience, and Talent and Capabilities.
Read the White Paper here.
Korea ramps up its Unique Venue Program
Source: Edited excerpt from Travel Daily News and TTGMICE
Date: 26 July 2021
Korea MICE Bureau has turned to digital outlets to promote the updated Korea Unique Venue program virtually with a brand-new marketing campaign. The new campaign features a set of promotional videos along with SNS and media content. The new promotional video combines the unique charms of the venues in collaboration with dancers to highlight a specific mood and feel for each venue.
Seoul goes local
Source: Edited excerpt from Mix Meetings
Date: 27 July 2021
With no international market at present to trade their goods and services, Seoul’s business event suppliers are going local by inviting “Seoulites” to sample what visiting business event groups would otherwise be experiencing if not for the pandemic. Seoul Convention Bureau teamed up with Seoul MICE Alliance to organise a week-long online shopping promotion offering luxury products, access to unique venues, hotel stays and city travel experiences.
AUSTRALIA
Extension of the “Event Here Now” fund
Source: Edited excerpt from Conference and Meetings World
Date: 21 July 2021
Western Australian business events will get a further boost, with Business Events Perth announcing a six-month extension of its Event Here Now fund. Through the fund, business event organisers planning a new business event for Western Australia can apply for sponsorship of up to AUD 15 (USD 10.97) a delegate, to a maximum of AUD 10,000 (USD 7,366), for new in-person events.
Tasmania’s support package
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 12 July 2021
Tasmanian regional events can now apply for up to AUD 100,000 (approximately USD 73,600) in funding as part of the Tasmanian Government’s AUD 1.5 million (USD 1.1 million) Regional Event Recovery Fund. Start-up and existing events held in regions across the state are able to use the funds to resource the measures required to overcome a challenge or support their organisation.
Dubbo Region support package
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 6 July 2021
Event organisers who are new to hosting events in the Dubbo Region (New South Wales) are invited to apply for the first round of the Event Assistance Program for this financial year. There are multiple channels of support available including: Emerging Events Fund, Community Events Fund and the Event Support Program all depending on the scope of the event and the benefits that the activity brings to the Region.
Adelaide’s Growth State plan to convene, connect and collaborate
Source: Edited excerpt from MICENET
Date: 8 July 2021
While COVID-19 put a pause on life as we know it, it didn’t completely stall momentum in Adelaide, South Australia – a city that continues to grow from strength to strength as a business events destination. The South Australian capital’s recovery phase has included the opening of a raft of new hotels, along with the expansion of the city’s world-class innovation districts.
EUROPE
“Not in Milano” Campaign
Source: Edited excerpt from Conference and Meetings World
Date: 26 July 2021
Milan has launched a new international communication campaign with the slogan “Not in Milano” based on the refutation of the negative stereotypes and clichés usually attached to business trips, while portraying the city, instead, as a destination with an effective professional environment and a high quality of life. The campaign will involve testimonials from local professionals and influencers from the fields of art, business, design, sport, and fashion, who are actively connected with the city and are willing to let the world know Milano is buzzing with fun and activity anew.
Destinations encouraged to embrace citizen-first approach for business events recovery
Source: Edited excerpt from Conference and Meetings World
Date: 2 July 2021
Professor Greg Clark CBE highlighted during the Virtual Advocacy Discussion by the IMEX Group that many parts of the business events industry need to embrace the citizen-centred approach now adopted by many destinations in the wake of the pandemic. He argued that it’s more vital than ever for business events to align with this citizen-first concept by better serving local communities. Professor Clark’s suggestions included prioritising local suppliers in the procurement process and reflecting local priorities in event content.
Gothenburg’s recovery strategy
Source: Edited excerpt from Conference and Meetings World
Date: 7 July 2021
Gothenburg is preparing for the future and recently launched a hybrid experience project to facilitate post-pandemic recovery. A continued focus on sustainable development, collaboration and strategically important meetings and events, is Gothenburg’s strategy for emerging strong again in the business events sector.
Frankfurt’s safe new journey path to meetings and events
Source: Edited excerpt from Conference and Meetings World
Date: 2 July 2021
Frankfurt Convention Bureau (FCB) a division of the Frankfurt Tourist+Congress Board (TCF), is publicising the comprehensive hygiene concepts now in effect at all major touch-points throughout Frankfurt to ensure the health and safety of guests during their stay. This is backed up with a short video as well as full information available on the FCB website.
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.
A Strategic Road Map for the NEXT Generation of Destination Organizations
Destinations International has released the 2021 DestinationNEXT Futures Study. The study is a critical roadmap for destination organizations looking to rebuild their visitor economies while creating more sustainable destinations and enriching their communities. Three transformational opportunities destination organizations need to look to in order to be successful include: Destination Alignment: Aligning the public, private and… Continue reading A Strategic Road Map for the NEXT Generation of Destination Organizations
Interview “Lessons from Tokyo Olympics whirldwind”
19 July 2021
The fallout from the sporting meet has events experts ruminating on the path forward for planners and destinations.
Gary Grimmer’s Takeaway: Tokyo 2020 Olympics tells a story about potentials of tapping into remote engagement.
For more articles/news, please visit News & Resources.
Meetings & Conventions Asia interviews Executive Chairman Gary Grimmer on Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Bulletin: COVID-19
REGION WATCH
ASIA
Malaysia’s Safe Business Events Venue Certification
Source: Edited excerpt from TTGMICE
Date: 9 June 2021
Business Events Council Malaysia (BECM), Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), and Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Organisers (MACEOS) are driving the Safe Business Events Venue Certification. This is part of a broader strategy to ensure business recovery and continuity, and to instil trust in the industry’s commitment to its clients, stakeholders and the community. The certification programme has been endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and an internationally-recognised certification body has been approached to undertake the venue auditing and assessment and the implementation of the safety certification process.
Taiwan’s AR and VR choices for event organizers
Source: Edited excerpt from Mix Meetings
Date: 17 June 2021
MEET Taiwan, under the Taiwan Bureau of Foreign Trade has provided an online interactive exhibition template that can be used by event organisers to provide a virtual setting featuring five exhibition halls and six booth designs. This innovation, can also be customised by planners by adding webinars and more for their particular event. 360° video formats are being used to give on-demand views of destinations, venues and pre-arranged product presentation.
AUSTRALIA
North Coast’s USD 74,958 support package
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 15 June 2021
The North Coast Business Events Incentive Fund has opened this week after receiving grant funding from the Federal Government under the Recovery for Regional Tourism program. The Business Events Fund provides event managers with the opportunity to secure funding from a pool of AUD 100,000 (USD 74,958) to help offset costs associated with holding an event on the North Coast.
Perth launches digital tours of venues
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 8 June 2021
Business Events Perth, supported by Business Events Australia’s Boost Program, unveiled a suite of digital tours of Western Australia’s most iconic and impressive conference venues. The fifteen 3D digital tours of Perth venues can be found on Business Events Perth’s new website and viewed on any device.
EUROPE
VisitBritain’s Domestic Support Fund
Source: Edited excerpt from Conference and Meetings World
Date: 9 June 2021
In an initiative to kick-start the recovery of the UK business events industry, VisitBritain has announced a £100,000 (USD 141,565) Domestic Support Fund for not-for-profit organisations and charities hosting meetings, conferences and events in the UK from 21 June to 17 December 2021. Events with from 100 to 500 delegates taking place in the UK are eligible to apply, with the fund open for bids from 9 June 2021. The financial support available is based on the number of delegates attending, with up to £15,000 available for each event.
AMERICAS
Colombia unveils business events reactivation plan
Source: Edited excerpt from Conference and Meetings World
Date: 18 June 2021
The Colombian Convention Bureaux´ Network outlined its reactivation strategy for strengthening and promoting the business events industry in the country at a hybrid media conference on 16 June. The Network also unveiled its website, designed to support the promotion and reactivation efforts implemented by the 11 destinations that are part of the Network, in Colombia and abroad. This website tool is accompanied by the promotional campaign #HazTuEventoEnColombia – #HostYourEventInColombia, aligned with Colombia´s promotional programme that describes the country as “the most welcoming place on earth”.
USA’s “Let’s Meet There” campaign
Source: Edited excerpt from MeetingsNet
Date: 17 June 2021
The U.S. Travel association has launched the “Let’s Meet There” campaign, an initiative to communicate the distinct difference between professionally managed events (PME) and ‘large gatherings and drive more consistency around pandemic regulations. The association has worked together with the Ohio State University to unveil a White Paper called “The Scientific-Based Evidence for Conducting Safe and Healthy Professional Meetings and Events.”
Read the White Paper 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
REGION WATCH
ASIA
Hong Kong’s Convention Ambassador Program
Source: Edited excerpt from Travel and Tour World
Date: 26 May 2021
Over 100 distinguished leaders of business and professional bodies in Hong Kong have joined forces with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) as Hong Kong Convention Ambassadors to promote the city as the premier choice for business events. The Hong Kong Convention Ambassador programme is formulated not only to bring business events to the city when travel resumes but will also promote the advantages of Hong Kong to the global business community and help drive multi-sectoral recovery. The strong alliance of Convention Ambassadors will amplify Hong Kong’s appeal in drawing more business events to the city, thereby driving a robust recovery post-COVID-19.
Penang’s virtual road show to China
Source: Edited excerpt from Mix Meetings and M & C Asia
Date: 13 May 2021
Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau embarked on a virtual roadshow tour five regional markets in China with the Malaysian state’s first event of its type. The inaugural Penang Virtual Roadshow to China 2021 (PVRTC 2021), May 18-20, showcased 26 of the island’s tourism and business events products to some 150 pre-qualified buyers across Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Chengdu.
Seoul’s digital transformation
Source: Edited excerpt from Conference and Meetings World and TTGMICE
Date: 5 May 2021
Seoul Convention Bureau (SCB) has digitally transformed the charm of Seoul starting with a platform called Virtual Seoul for hosting online business events such as conferences, summits, and round tables. The promotion booth has become Seoul MICE World, which introduces mini cultural events along with other tourism and MICE industry information in the city by clicking on the link on the event website. The virtual teambuilding program is the latest resource with 49 360 VR videos for virtual site inspection to invite online participants to digital Seoul. The Virtual Seoul Playground is designed to present a stimulating teambuilding experience to online participants. When utilising the Virtual Seoul platform, not only are the 3D graphics offered at no charge, 10 million Korean won (USD 8,980) will also be provided as a stipend to event planners to offset operating expenses.
Seoul’s Reassuring package
Source: Edited excerpt from TTGMICE
Date: 28 April 2021
In addition, SCB also released a Reassuring Package, aimed at providing MICE delegates with a peace of mind when visiting the city. The package includes emergency medical insurance, language services, and general concierge services for hotel and transportation reservations.
Thailand’s “Winnovation” program
Source: Edited excerpt from PR News Wire
Date: 5 April 2021
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has partnered with other organizations to launch ‘MICE Innovation, Winning with the Innovation’ which is aimed at offering enhanced support for Thai business events entrepreneurs to source and implement innovation in all aspects of event management. ‘MICE Winnovation’ is made up of four components:
- MICE Innovation Catalog – an online innovation and technology databank listing products and services for pre-event, onsite, and post-event management.
- Technomart – a business-matching platform for MICE entrepreneurs and start-ups throughout Thailand.
- Inno-Voucher – a funding scheme to promote innovation implementation.
- Digital Literacy for MICE – an initiative to encourage MICE entrepreneurs to attend online or offline workshops where they can exchange ideas with experts to advance their digitalisation strategy. TCEB is set to launch a quarterly podcast in 2021 to help MICE professionals stay abreast of relevant technology and trends.
AUSTRALIA
Melbourne’s USD 33.08 million business events funding
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM and Travel and Tour World
Date: 20 May 2021
The Victorian Government will invest AUD 42.913 million (USD 33.08 million) over four years to support the Melbourne Convention Bureau and Business Events Victoria to acquire business events for the state through its Business Events Program.
List of Australia’s support packages for business events
Source: Edited excerpt from MICENET
Date: 13 May 2021
- Melbourne Convention Bureau – up to AUD 25,000 per event to offset event costs through their National Business Events Program for events up to December 31, 2022.
- Business Events Geelong – AUD 50 per delegate for business events up to 100 pax. The total funding pool is AUD 30,000.
- The New South Wales (NSW) Government through Business Events Sydney – Up to AUD 90,000 per event is available through Kickstart 2021 Sydney Business Events Fund. In total, the NSW government has allocated AUD 5.5 million to directly fund business events.
- Business Events Perth – up to AUD 25,000 to help secure a keynote speaker for business events held anywhere in Australia in 2021 and AUD 30 per delegate to a maximum of AUD 30,000.
- Brisbane Economic Development Agency – AUD 50 per in-person delegate for events in Brisbane until December 2022. Funding is to be spent on event costs.
- Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef – an average of AUD 50 per delegate, with subvention funding granted on a case-by-case basis.
- Mackay Regional Council – up to AUD 75,000 per event through the Council’s Invest Mackay Events and Conference Attraction Programs.
- Northern Territory Business Events – AUD 100 per delegate to be spent on local event costs through the NT Business Events Support Fund.
- Business Events Tasmania – up to AUD 150 per delegate through Tasmania’s Business Events Attraction Fund.
EUROPE
UK Government’s Business Events Growth Programme
Source: Edited excerpt from Conference and Meetings World
Date: 24 May 2021
VisitBritain is accepting funding applications of between £5,000 to £20,000 per event or bid to support all organisations in hosting international business events in the UK, whether they would like to win international events or to develop, grow and internationalize existing events. VisitBritain will offer three types of support.
- Bid Enhancement and Support to bid and win new international business events for the UK.
- International Delegate Growth to support the growth, development and internationalisation of business events in the UK.
- Government Advocacy to support the UK’s business events industry and adding value to your events by working with HM Government.
Finland’s “Virtual Helsinki” initiative
Source: Edited excerpt from Conference and Meetings World
Date: 18 May 2021
The city of Helsinki has digitised some of its major event venues, in a new initiative called Virtual Helsinki. Its aim is to promote Helsinki as a destination remotely, allowing people to attend virtual fam trips while travel restrictions remain in place.
Vienna Meeting Fund 2021-2023
Source: Edited excerpt from Conference and Meetings World
Date: 4 May 2021
The City of Vienna is providing the Vienna Tourist Board and Vienna Convention Bureau with €4million (USD 4.875 million) of financial support for meeting organisers in the city. The Vienna Meeting Fund 2021-2023 will also extend funding to corporate conferences and hybrid events, which it previously had not. Any event is eligible which takes place in a Viennese location and includes at least 50 people for a minimum duration of four hours. Further financial support can be obtained for events that generate overnight stays in hotels, and which incur costs in implementing hybrid features. The maximum funding per event is €60,000.
Poland’s protocol for the business events industry
Source: Edited excerpt from KONGRES and Polish Tourism Organization
Date: 6 May 2021
The KRAKÓW Network Protocol is a set of good practices and recommendations adapted to the new post-pandemic reality outlining a list of key strategies that will allow for the further development of the meetings and events industry. The protocol received 182 signatories from a diversity of stakeholders in the business events industry who highlighted the following courses of action: the need to establish innovative business models based on joint risk management, digital restructuring, the promotion of hybrid events and the creation of the competitive edge of Kraków through the engagement of local representatives of the business events industry.
Read the protocol here.
Europe’s three recovery scenarios for the business events industry
Source: Edited excerpt from Conference and Meetings World
Date: 12 May 2021
The Strategic Alliance of the National Convention Bureaux of Europe has published an update of its 2020 study, ‘The Impact of Coronavirus on Europe’s Convention Sector’. The report, prepared by Tourism Economics, provides three recovery scenarios:
- Baseline Scenario – forecasts that different types of events will recover at varying paces, with small domestic-oriented cooperate meetings and events leading the way and almost reaching 2019 levels by the end of 2022.
- Optimistic Scenario – anticipates an early easing of restrictions, a rapid upturn in economic growth, and limited negative sentiment effects.
- Pessimistic Scenario – predicts that the continued prevalence and effects of the virus will see some additional restrictions maintained into 2022 and that many future events will be either hybrid or completely virtual.
Read the report here.
Berlin’s Congress Fund
Source: Edited excerpt from Meetings HQ
Date: 10 May 2021 The Berlin Congress Fund is a funding programme initiated by the State of Berlin to restart Berlin’s event industry. The aim of the fund is to support and encourage all event organisers to realise planned B2B events in Berlin’s conference hotels and event locations. The Berlin Congress Fund provides financial support amounting to a possible total of max. 60 euros (USD 73.13) for each in-person attendee.
AMERICAS
Washington DC fully reopens for business events
Source: Edited excerpt from Conference and Meetings World and Destination DC
Date: 21 May 2021
Washington, DC has reopened for in-person meetings, conventions, tradeshows, groups and special events with no restrictions. The hospitality alliance, comprised of Destination DC (DDC), Events DC, the Hotel Association of Washington, DC and Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, is now leading an industry-wide effort to support meetings customers with a two-fold Still Connected approach. First is a focus on health standards and second is a focus on commerce thriving in the city. DDC has launched the DEI District, a content hub to help showcase Washington, DC as a global destination that promotes and validates diversity, equity and inclusion. Within the Meet section, event planners discover unique venues such as women-owned hotels, active community hubs and sustainable spaces.
Incentive market likely to lead recovery in South America
Source: Edited excerpt from Conference and Meetings World
Date: 19 May 2021
The Convention Bureaux of Bogota, Buenos Aires, Lima, Sao Paulo and Quito Tourism presented, the results of their reactivation survey ‘Towards the new meetings industry’. It shows association business set for a sustained medium-term recovery but the incentives sector likely to make the quickest return, but with some changed priorities for buyers. The report had the objective of showcasing the new reality for the MICE industry, in the associative and corporate markets, based on the results of a survey in the Latin-American, Interamerican, Ibero-American, Pan-American and global markets.
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GainingEdge Launches Online Training
PRESS RELEASE GainingEdge, a global leader specializing in providing advice to the business events industry, is pleased to be offering its first round of instructor-led, online courses as of May 10th. These 90-minute courses will provide industry professionals an opportunity to upskill their expertise through practical and interactive learning sessions. Led by senior GainingEdge specialists,… Continue reading GainingEdge Launches Online Training