Singapore has just announced a unified brand – “Passion Made Possible” – to market itself both for tourism and business events under one umbrella. Singapore’s Tourism and Economic Development Boards are jointly behind the move. The idea is to capture the spirit of the nation and communicate its value proposition both for both travellers and companies. From Boardroom…
After the Barcelona terror attack, messages of international support for the city included one from the European Society of Cardiology, whose congress is bringing in 32,000 to the Catalonian capital. “Our sympathy is with the victims and their families.” its statement read. “Our solidarity is with all the people of Spain.”. Photo: Tiputini. From Association Meetings International…
While the meetings industry usually clusters around big cities, the New South Wales Government in Australia has just announced a new conferencing strategy to drive more business events to rural and regional destinations. The AU$6 million plan was launched in Tamworth, one of the smaller cities to benefit from the shift in thinking. From Association Meetings International…
After the recent fight over Visit Florida’s annual $76 million budget, a number of local destination marketing organisations in the state are rethinking ties with the state’s tourism promotion board. The new settlement imposes restrictions on contracts, staff salaries and travel and entertainment for Visit Florida, as well as for boards working with it. From Meetings & Conventions…
With passengers at some European airports facing lengthy security queues, a new study reveals that while enquiries about safety are rising, over a quarter of corporate travel managers do not have emergency planning in place. But the research also shows that the concerns have not yet led to changes in corporate travel policies. From Meetpie.com…
Opening the new Lake Nyasa exhibition hall, the tourism minister of Tanzania, Jumanne Abdallah Maghembe, has challenged the Arusha International Conference Centre to fully exploit the potential of conferences which he said generated $670m for the country last year. Tanzania has also announced a $156m World Bank financing plan to boost tourism by upgrading roads. From the Event…
The four month US ban on carrying larger electronic devices in aircraft passenger cabins – a restriction placed on all flights from ten proscribed airports in the Middle East and North Africa – is now completely lifted. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, became the last airport to implement new US security measures. From the Event…
Twenty US travel and meetings industry organisations have signed a letter asking the White House to reconsider a recent Executive Order amendment. In it a target of interviewing 80 percent of temporary visa applicants within three weeks has been abandoned. The signatories – including several Iceberg partners – say the move will have negative economic impact. From Meetings & Conventions…
A federal judge in Hawaii has expanded the list of family relationships with US citizens that permit successful visa applications from countries proscribed in President Trump’s Travel Ban II. US District Judge Derrick Watson ordered the administration not to bar citizens’ grandparents, grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. From Meetings & Conventions…
The US Department of Homeland Security is lifting the ban on large electronic devices in passenger cabins on flights from ten proscribed Middle East and North African airports. Enhanced security protocols and passenger screening – both technological and canine – on all inbounds flights to the US will be introduced in its place. From Meetings & Conventions…
The US Supreme Court has allowed a limited reinstatement of President Trump’s Travel Ban II. Pending a hearing in October, judges have upheld the ban on visitors from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen where there is no “credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the US”. From Meetings & Conventions…
Korea lead the world in global congresses through 2016, according to the new International Meetings Statistics Report released by the Union of International Associations. The country’s meetings in 2016 rose by 11.89% thanks to expanding infrastructure. Projects include a second terminal at Incheon International Airport, new regional convention bureaus and new services from the Korea MICE Bureau. From Boardroom…
As European Union officials meet to discuss the threat of the US expanding its ban on large electronic devices in certain flight cabins, and as the travel industry says the ban has seen Middle East business drop by 2.8% and cost the sector $198 million, the US Homeland Security chief has clarified US policy on any potential widening. From Meetings & Conventions…
After more twists and turns in the saga than on any of its legendary theme park rides, Florida’s legislature has in the end voted to restore Visit Florida’s current annual budget of $76 million. This leaves the agency and state once again able to continue breaking visitation records. We can all now retire to Miami! From Meetings & Conventions…
After the 10-3 ruling of a federal appeals court that Trump Travel Ban II probably violates the Constitution and “drips with religious intolerance, animus and discrimination”, the Justice Department has asked the US Supreme Court – the nation’s highest legal authority – immediately to reinstate it. The Trump administration says the US will be safer under Executive Order 13780. From Meetings & Conventions…
After a rollercoaster ride, Visit Florida and the saga of its budget allocation may in the final reel be getting a fairytale ending. Governor Rick Scott and Florida legislators have hammered out an agreement to continue with the current funding of $76m. If there are any further shocks before the credits roll we’ll let you know. Photo: Dancorona21. From Meetings & Conventions…
To audible sighs of relief from much of the international meetings industry, the US Department of Homeland Security has announced that America will not extend to flights from Europe its ban on carrying large electronic devices in passenger cabins. A bar is currently in force on flights from ten Middle East and North African airports. From Travel Weekly…
More on the fight for Brand USA! MPI President and CEO Paul van Deventer has attacked the proposed cutting of its federal funding. He points out that meetings contribute 15% of the overall US travel and tourism dividend. Also campaigning on the grounds of economic contribution, Katie O’Neill of the Power of Travel Coalition. From Meetpie.com…
The fight for Brand USA continues. A loud voice of opposition to the proposed cut to the organisation’s federal funding, US Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow, has made a video calling for a rethink and encouraging Congress to keep funding in place. Congress has the final say, and has previously supported Brand USA. From Meetings & Conventions…
Brand USA – the organisation promoting the US as a welcome destination for visitors – is to lose its federal funding under a proposed new budget from President Trump. The move has been attacked by US Travel association President Roger Dow as throwing away an $8.9 billion contribution to the economy and 28-to-1 return on investment. From Meetings & Conventions…
How does President Trump’s proposed withdrawal of funding for Brand USA – the Obama-created organisation which promotes the US as a welcoming destination for visitors – square with his commitment to putting American jobs first? Two key president CEOs – the US Travel Association’s Roger Dow and PCMA’s Deborah Sexton – lead the meetings industry call to arms. By David McMillin at PCMA…
Powered by 
