CAT BA ISLAND, VIETNAM – Cat Ba island’s first international luxury resort has opened. Nestled within Lan Ha Bay, Hôtel Perle d’Orient Cat Ba – MGallery welcomes guests to the ecologically diverse region that is home to Cat Ba National Park.

SUZHOU – The 178-room Park Hyatt Suzhou has opened its doors, offering views of Suzhou’s Jinji Lake, and five events spaces dotted with Chinese aesthetics.

USA - More planners are sourcing and booking meetings, and confidence in holding future events has improved, according to Northstar Meetings Group's latest Pulse Survey.

SINGAPORE – Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), which oversees the development, management, marketing and promotion of Sentosa, is working with its various partners and stakeholders on a “strong marketing and promotional plan” to bring visitors back to the island when the green light is given by the government to resume tourism activities.

SINGAPORE – As more tourism businesses anticipate their re-opening in Phase 2 of Singapore’s exit from its Circuit Breaker, some will have to restart later than others, depending on the nature of their activities, and whether it is practical to implement the necessary safe management measures.

SINGAPORE – Marina Bay Sands is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to ready itself for its re-opening. Flexibility, continuous and open engagement with planners on how precautionary measures are being implemented, and innovation are vital criteria to securing deals in the days ahead. Mr Ong Wee Min, VP of Conventions & Exhibitions, MICE, Marina Bay Sands, shared his thoughts on the road ahead.

ABU DHABI – Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island will host the UFC Fight Island events from 11-25 July 2020. The four events featured by the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation, UFC, in the UAE capital is a much welcome coup for the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi.

INDIA, CHINA – In a time when many are extolling the merits of retraining, associations such as the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) are also welcoming new members into their fray.

SINGAPORE – After shutting its doors temporarily since April, the Singapore outpost of meetings and events brand, HUONE is turning to new ways to keep afloat while “living to fight another day”.

WELLINGTON – With the lifting of restrictions on social distancing in the country, New Zealand’s Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ), together with MBIE (NZ Major Events), has released a new Voluntary Code for event organisers.

BANGKOK - The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is asking the Thai government to further loosen restrictions on meetings and exhibitions to get the sector back to work and reduce unemployment.

SEOUL – The Seoul Convention Bureau (SCB) has revealed a next wave of safety measures to support its newly revised PLUS SEOUL programme rolled out earlier this March, aimed at boosting the city’s MICE scene in response to COVID-19.

ITALY – Innovation has played a big part of AIM Group International’s business strategy. One of its clients, the Italian Academy of Prosthetic Odontology (AIOP), had already defined the scientific content of its congress, the sponsors had been confirmed, and a good number of participants had also registered.

Following the success of the first post-COVID-19 fair to be held at Hong Kong Convention Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) late May, the venue is anticipating a return to regular events in the second half of 2020.