DAVAO CITY – Fresh from recording impressive growth in foreign visitors for the year so far, the Davao City Tourism Operations Office (DCTOO) will be working to put in place MICE programmes to grow that number.

SINGAPORE – The global retail industry has, in recent years, struggled to fend off the threat from online retailer, with industry analysts warning that the forecast for 2020 will be not be any rosier.

TOKYO – Prefectural and local governments in Osaka have started the selection process to choose an operator for an integrated resort in the Japanese city. That puts it ahead of competing Japanese regions in the quest to become home to one of the country’s first three gaming properties.

BRISBANE – More than A$20 million (US$13.9 million) will be pumped into the Brisbane economy with seven new major international business events set to attract more than 7,000 delegates to Queensland over the next few years.

DELHI – The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, in the Indian capital of Delhi, has appointed Suman Julka as its new Director of Sales and Marketing.

HONG KONG – The worst of Hong Kong’s months-long pro-democracy protests might now be over, a top adviser to Hong Kong’s leader said, as the city experiences a lull in demonstrations after local elections in late November and ahead of the Christmas holiday.

ABU DHABI – The Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau has set up the first advisory committee in China to engage with the rising outbound MICE market there.

BINH DUONG – Vietnam’s southern province of Binh Duong will soon have a new World Trade Centre after a launch ceremony for the development of the complex was held last month.

GENEVA – The head of the world’s association for airlines says it needs to explain better the commitments it made years ago to reduce carbon emissions, and not make new pledges collectively – despite rising environmental concerns.

BANGALORE – The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in the Indian technology city of Bangalore may soon be further developed into an airport city, with plans to build convention centres, business parks and hotels.

HUIZHOU, CHINA – Thailand-based hospitality giant Dusit International has opened Dusit Thani Sandalwoods Resort Shuangyue Bay Huizhou, Guangdong, a deluxe resort overlooking the South China Sea in Pinghai Ancient City.

KUALA LUMPUR – Wyndham Hotels & Resorts on Dec 19 announced the opening of its flagship Wyndham hotel brand in the Royal Town of Klang, just 30 minutes from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

NEW YORK – The Events Industry Council has launched the EIC Knowledge Hub, an online resource providing event professionals with the latest education, courses and trends regarding the meetings industry.

JAKARTA – When he first took over the portfolio of Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy in October, Wishnutama Kusubandio was taken aback at the lack of a national tourism masterplan.