SINGAPORE - Although the value of face-to-face interaction will never be replaced, there are times when going virtual is a necessary part of an event programme.

PHU YEN, VIETNAM - Zannier Hotels Bãi San Hô is counting on its remote and prestine location to draw small meetings and incentive groups when it opens this December.

WORLDWIDE – A new desert destination is now open to event professionals. Networking Island is not a physical destination, but a virtual platform created by IMEX for industry peers to network, do business and keep up with industry news. Launched on 14 May, the platform is the third component on IMEX’s PlanetIMEX, a virtual platform with educational content that event professionals can join for free.

SINGAPORE — STR, a leader in data benchmarking and analytics for the global hospitality industry, has partnered with the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA), the umbrella body for hotels in Singapore, to provide tools for hotel benchmarking and performance advancement.

KUALA LUMPUR – Business Events Council Malaysia (BECM) has appealed to the government to establish a restart date for its businesses. Currently, under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), conferences and exhibitions are prohibited from taking place. Malaysia recently extended its CMCO for a further month until 9 June.

SINGAPORE – Digital transformation in the MICE industry is something that is foremost on the mind of Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) chief technology officer, Mr Quek Choon Yang. He shared his views on how STB is working with industry partners to come through this crisis and re-emerge to take on the challenges ahead.

HONG KONG – Heritage Tourism Brands has launched a promotional video of Hong Kong featuring the song “Touch of Love” performed by the city’s artiste Jacky Cheung. The video showcases the beauty and diversity of Hong Kong as it emerges from the coronavirus crisis and as a first step, it aims to encourage people to enjoy their home and appreciate what makes it unique.

MALDIVES – Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas has launched a new room package to commemorate its re-opening in Q3 2020.

SINGAPORE - The National Environment Agency (NEA) has launched a S$1.76 million (US$1.24 million) Food Waste Fund that will cover the capital cost of food waste treatment solutions for Singapore businesses.

USA - The Association for Computing Machinery’s presidential task force members have assembled a practical guide for virtual conferences. As heavy users of online technologies and researchers responsible for developing them, the ACM community is well-positioned to offer advice that is helpful to other groups dealing with the same problems.

MACAO - Sands Resorts Macao has launched its health and safety protocol, Sands SafeStay, which focusses on sanitisation, prevention and contactless services.

LONDON - The Meetings Show – due to take place from 24-25 June – is being postponed to the autumn. The UK’s leading exhibition for event and meetings professionals will now be held from 19-20 October at Olympia London.

SINGAPORE, HONG KONG – Informa Markets has launched FOOD & HOTEL DIGITAL WEEK, a new series of bi-monthly online events. The initiative is a collaboration between its Hospitality, Food & Beverage portfolio in Asia, and Saladplate, Informa Markets’ online marketplace business serving the food and hospitality trade.

MALAYSIA - Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) has partnered with International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) and Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre to launch an online education platform for the events industry.