SINGAPORE - The country’s MICE sector is facing an extended circuit breaker period for another month till 1 June and MICE experts are pressing on with creative ways as they prepare for a new future.

LONDON – Travalyst Coalition, a global partnership founded by the Duke of Sussex, Booking.com, Skyscanner, Tripadvisor, Trip.com and Visa, are developing sustainability frameworks to serve as a guide for sustainability practices across the travel and tourism industry.

CORFU - Ultima Collection is opening its sixth resort, Ultima Corfu, on 1 June 2020. Perched on a dramatic hillside overlooking out the Ionian Sea, Ultima Corfu will be the brand’s first beachside residence, offering bespoke services and a highly sanitised environment.

KOH SAMUI – Comfort food has never been more important in these tough times and executive chefs in hotels all over the world are working to whet the appetites of their guests when travel resumes again.

In an effort to effectively prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Taiwan government has implemented many measures to protect public health. For instance, utilizing its powerful technological capabilities, Taiwan developed a big data electronic checking system to track the contact history of confirmed cases while conducting surveys to prevent further spread.

FRANKFURT - IMEX Group, organisers of the IMEX Frankfurt and IMEX America meetings industry trade shows, will launch PlanetIMEX, a new virtual learning and networking experience, on May 6. The event is based on the organisers’ "desire to give back to the international business events, meetings and incentive travel industry," following the cancellation of IMEX Frankfurt 2020.

ASIA – Whilst the transformation and innovation of the meetings and conventions industry play a key role in the region’s recovery, having strong alliances with partners who share the same vision and work load is vital to success, said GainingEdge CEO, Mr Jon Sivertson.

BANGKOK – Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has launched relief measures on Monday (20 April) aimed at supporting the industry’s transition to virtual events and to encourage an upgrade of health and safety measures.

KUALA LUMPUR – With the country in lockdown, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) has succeeded in rescheduling 66 events for the latter half of 2020, according to the centre’s GM, Mr Alan Pryor.

WORLDWIDE – A Global Travel Staffing Barometer has been launched as a free-to-use tracker by videc, a boutique advisory and analytics firm. The barometer offers industry insights on the state of terminations, furloughs and pay-cuts, across industry categories and countries, collated from various sources and updated on a daily basis.

VIETNAM - Amanoi is a remote resort perched on a cliff along the jagged coastline of Vietnam’s Nui Chua National Park. About an hour’s drive from Cam Ranh Airport, its spectacular natural setting as one of Vietnam’s most isolated retreats, lends itself as an ideal location for travellers’ desires to explore the outdoors.

ASIA - Ascott is launching its #StayHomeWithAscott campaign to rally the global community to curb the spread of COVID-19 by staying home. It has pledged a total of US$200,000 through the campaign. The donation will go towards Save the Children’s1 food security and assistance programmes, to support about 12,000 underprivileged children affected by COVID-19.

WORLDWIDE - Since the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic, Northstar Meetings Group has engaged in pulse surveys to ascertain how meeting and event planners have been managing the crisis.

DANANG – The lockdown in Thailand is keeping Danang hoteliers busy as they review and restructure their businesses and anticipate a surge in domestic travel after it ends come end-April.