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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.

1. Asia-centric approach to increase online and offline trade shows to maintain Thailand’s position as a centre of international exhibitions in Asia.
2. Attracting new shows and clustering events, such as conventions and festivals whose content is aligned with the shows
3. Creating opportunities in potential regions, for example, Thailand LOG-IN Events planned for Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
4. Collaborating with government agencies to promote large-scale trade shows and conventions under “One Ministry, One Expo” concept.
5. 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.

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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.

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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:

1. Helping the industry to implement best-in-class standards under STB’s Safe Business Events Framework;
2. Creating agile business models with a focus on hybridisation;
3. 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:

1. Promoting domestic MICE
2. Attracting international events
3. Implementing innovation
4. 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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:

1. Put Safety First
2. Promote Domestic Tourism
3. Adopt a Phased Approach for Reopening to International Travel
4. Improve Destination Management and Market Segmentation
5. Revise the Current Approach to Marketing and Promotion
6. Build a Supportive Business Environment
7. 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.

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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.