Singapore has scored another win for its 2021 events calendar, with the confirmation of the annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) and the Alternative Ownership Conference Asia Pacific (AOCAP), organised by Northstar Travel Group and The BHN Group.

Macau-based enterprise Suncity Group is on track to begin the second phase development of integrated resort Hoiana in central Vietnam this year, as part of its expansion plans to tap into the Southeast and East Asian markets.

Gordon Ramsay — famous equally for his Michelin stars and snarky insults — has chosen Sunway Resort Kuala Lumpur as the Asia launchpad for his Bar & Grill concept.

Global convention industry consulting firm, GainingEdge's third annual Competitive Index of international convention destinations is out, with Paris topping the global list, Singapore taking the Asia-Pacific (APAC) lead, and Bangkok experiencing greatest growth.

Barely a month into 2021, and IMEX has announced that their annual meetings industry trade show held in Frankfurt, Germany has been cancelled — the second year in a row — due to Covid-19 implications.

A test conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate revealed that facial-recognition technology might reduce the need for travellers to remove their face masks at airports or other ports of entry.

With no end in sight on governments' imposed widespread movement restrictions, the majority of workforces is continuing to strike a balance between employee safety and operational continuity. And while the implications of such a paradigm shift might have been relatively unknown at the start, the effects of what has been deemed the “world’s largest work-from-home experiment” have made it increasingly clear over the last few months that a new era of work has officially arrived.

In a statement, IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac blamed what he called the "full stop" in global travel demand recovery on governments because of their decisions to respond to new virus outbreaks with additional travel restrictions and quarantine measures.

Several travel industry associations condemned the actions of a pro-Trump mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol last week (Wednesday 6 January), in an attempt to prevent Congress from certifying the presidential election results.

The fourth Covid-19 wave continues in Hong Kong with a recent two-week extension to restrictions, an extension on quarantine (21 days now required for all visitors outside China), and flights from high risk destinations remaining cancelled.

As of 1 January 2021, the Shangri-La Group is offering international travellers staying at any of its four Singapore hotels with complimentary Covid-19 insurance should a guest tests positive for the virus during their stay.

Like many in the travel industry, Ritchie Tuano, general manager, AsiaReps Travel Services was a frequent flyer (for business and leisure) prior to Covid-19. The Manila-based travel specialist shares his views on the new world of flying following months of non-travel.

Macau has not had a Covid-19 case in more than six months, and hospitality and tourism in the city are slowly picking up momentum since the reinstatement of tourist visas for all Chinese travellers since 23 September, 2020.

Starting 1 January 2021, Robin Hu assumed his new role as chairman of SingEx Holdings Pte Ltd, succeeding Bob Tan Beng Hai, who held the top position for the past decade.