MANILA – The Meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) sector is one of 10 tourism products that the Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) is eyeing to boost its marketing initiatives for 2020, said an official of the agency.

SINGAPORE – Meeting planners now have a new line of green hotels to consider with the launch of UOL Group and hotel subsidiary Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG)’s new ParkRoyal Collection, a move that affirms its commitment to sustainability hospitality.

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia hope to attract more MICE visitors and tourist families from Pakistan after seeing a whooping 45% jump in the January-November period of 2019, said the country’s deputy tourism minister.

NEW DELHI – The India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) is appealing to the government for more support in its bid to drive MICE tourism into the country.

SYDNEY – Tourism Australia has urged companies worldwide to show support for Australia by bringing business events to the country currently savaged by deadly bushfires.

ABU DHABI – Hoteliers in United Arab Emirates are confident that a newly-introduced tourist visa policy will be a “game-changer” for the country’s tourism industry.

ABU DHABI – A new mega entertainment venue on Abu Dhabi’s iconic Yas Island – Yas Bay Arena – has been given a fresh name.

SAN FRANCISCO – PCMA, the global platform for business events professionals, and Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), by Sarawak Convention Bureau, has entered a partnership to provide education, business development opportunities, and increases awareness of the transformative power of business events.

SINGAPORE – The Marina Mandarin Singapore hotel has been rebranded by property group United Industrial Corporation (UIC) and will now be known as Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, Singapore.

HONG KONG – Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the opening of Hyatt Regency Hengqin in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China.

TOKYO – Japan will have another top-class venue for meetings and conventions when the highly-anticipated Nara Prefectual Convention Center opens its doors in the Spring of 2020.

DHAKA – Planners heading to Bangladesh to organise meetings and events must note that there is an imminent ban of single-use plastics in hotels and restaurants, and around coastal areas in the country.

SINGAPORE – Amadeus and Air India have announced that the Indian national carrier will now be available on the Amadeus Travel Platform.

SAN FRANCISCO – Chinese innovation is leading the way for the global meeting and event industry, with products that could propel the industry into the future.