At the Wellness Tourism Summit’s debut last week, attendees in Australia meditated on silver linings amid challenging times. For the event organiser on the other hand, a break in the clouds came in the form of virtual event technology — and the potential for next-level interactivity.

Over the next five years, Sarawak will focus on strengthening its corporate meetings and incentive segment by 20 per cent, in a bid to “multiply the economic impact of business events,” said Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Sarawak and Minister of Youth and Sports Sarawak, Datuk Karim Rahman Hamzah, at a meeting in Sibu last week.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we do business and spurred a ‘new normal’ for meetings and events across the region. To help event planners prepare for the future of meetings in Asia, Northstar Meetings Group has launched the Asia Planner Pulse Survey — a dedicated piece of research focused on the business outlook and unique needs of event planners in our richly diverse region.

Accor is gearing up to open its first Fairmont Resort in China, following the rebrand (and extensive renovation) of the Wanda Vista Resort Sanya. Set to open in December 2020, the Fairmont Sanya Haitang Bay features views overlooking the diving hotspot of Wuzhizhou Island and Yajia Daling Mountains close by.

After some years of dormancy, the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) is spearheading an attempt to revive the Asian Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (AACVB).

As Taiwan continues to lead the way for the safe re-opening of MICE events in Asia, winners of the 2020 Taiwan MICE Awards prove the strength of Taiwan’s events industry.

In response to the hit taken by the tourism industry, the Thai government is examining a number of proposals, referred to collectively as the Phuket Model, aimed at reopening both the leisure and business markets — including meetings and events.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we do business and spurred a ‘new normal’ for meetings and events across the region. To help event planners prepare for the future of meetings in Asia, Northstar Meetings Group has launched the Asia Planner Pulse Survey — a dedicated piece of research focused on the business outlook and unique needs of event planners in our richly diverse region.

Conventions & Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) has welcomed the announcement of a NZ$50 million Regional Events Fund by the New Zealand government, which will support nine major regions across the country.

Sustainable events planner Andy King, who is widely known for his role in planning the infamous Fyre Festival in the Bahamas which saw founder Billy McFarland land a hefty jail sentence on wire fraud charges, is set to lead The Meeting Show’s keynote session on 21 October 2020.

Pico Group subsidiary Global International Convention and Exhibition (Tianjin) Company Limited (GICE) has formed a strategic alliance with Tianjin Binhai New Area Cultural Center Investment Management for the development of the Binhai Cultural Center at Tianjin’s Binhai New Area.

Slow and steady wins the race — that’s the approach the Singapore Government is taking when it comes to reopening the Lion City’s meetings and events industry. Cautious steps, however, are being to gain momentum as the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) this week announced that event organisers can now apply to host MICE events of up to 250 attendees from 1 October 2020.

Following the success of M&C Asia Connections Virtual (MCAC) — Asia Edition last month,  the invitation-only business exchange is set to return on 28 October with an all-new Global Edition. Event planners from Asia, North America and Europe will now join the virtual experience, which will take across multiple time zones.

Despite ongoing political tensions and challenges related to Covid-19, Hong Kong has secured four international MICE events — two of which will be held in the city for the first time — proving the destination's reputation as a global business hub continues to hold firm.