SINGAPORE – The Singapore government’s introduction of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 has been a short-term refuge from contractual obligations for distressed enterprises and individuals.

USA – The latest research issued by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) indicate that health and safety measures are now of significant importance as the industry tries to gain momentum for recovery.

PENANG – Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) has appointed key industry players to a new taskforce that will draft new standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure domestic events can restart safely.

ASIA - In preparation for the return of travel, Banyan Tree Group has partnered with Bureau Veritasto to develop a proprietary label and set of protocols, to launch the SafeSanctuary Programme, an integrated health and wellbeing programme that incorporates protocols of assurance and wellbeing standards.

SINGAPORE - Singapore Airlines has set up an internal task force to review all aspects of its operations to ensure that it is ready to ramp up services when air travel recovers.

PERTH - Business Events Perth, the new name for Perth Convention Bureau, is gearing up to welcome MICE business back with renewed confidence due to Western Australia’s relative isolation and limited COVID-19 community transmission.

WORLDWIDE - BlueJeans is a meetings platform and offers cloud service to connect desktops, mobile devices and room systems in one video meeting. Organisations across industries use its technology for video, audio and web conferencing meetings, and large interactive events.

HONG KONG – Specialist audio visual provider Creative Technology has launched its Virtual Event Studio space. Most of its studios are located in North America and Europe. This new virtual event platform with augmented reality capabilities aims to achieve the look and function of live events.

WORLDWIDE - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) upholds the use of middle seats in passenger aircraft as it stated that evidence, although limited, suggests that the risk of virus transmission on board aircraft is low even without special measures.

KUALA LUMPUR - Dorsett Grand Subang’s 3 Wishes campaign is getting a boost with two additional deals: Book with Confidence and Book Now Meet Tomorrow.

WORLDWIDE – Accor and AXA have announced a partnership to provide medical support to guests across the 5,000 Accor hotels globally.

USA - Meeting planners have adjusted their expectations for when live events will resume, revealed Northstar Meeting Group's latest Pulse Survey. The majority (58%) still expect to hold meetings in this calendar year, but this is down significantly from 71% two weeks ago. While most are still working full-time, they have grown a bit more hesitant to put new business on the books.

BANGKOK - Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has rolled out new initiatives in the MICE industry as it readies itself to resume business events this June.

AUCKLAND – The New Zealand government has given the green light for ticketed large events like business events and conferences to restart with a 100-person limit and strict precautions, following an appeal from Conventions & Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) last week.