MS Feb 2022 by exhibition showcase

AFFILIATIONS

Feb 2022 Vol 1 Issue 11

ASSOCIATION FAITH Releases India Tourism Vision Document 2035

PARTNERSHIP

TECHNOLOGY PATA And Vynn Capital Share How Technology Can Enable Travel Recovery

Abu Dhabi & Miral Team Up To A ract Larger MICE Groups

AT THE CORE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION We were one of the first to raise concerns around data ownership and even made a checklist for organisers. We also have a large data science & insights team that is providing an innovative dashboard to organisers as part of our platform to enable them to better understand event participants and their behaviour. TIM GROOT, CEO AND FOUNDER AT GRIP

A community of MICE industry professionals who know that sustainability & technology are actionable priorities in the present

Welcome Onboard

Hanif Shaikh Emirates Holding Group

Abhinav Gupta IRCTC Tourism

Rungphech Chitanuwat Informa Markets

John Burke Kuala Lumpur Conven on Centre

Rishi Kudale HuddleXR Virtual Event Pla orm

Karl Boga Qatar Tourism, India

Ludivine Bas en IELA

Mohammed S. Al Alsheikh, Events & Exhibi on Gurus

Ganesh Parkar FairAct Exhibi ons & Events

Dee Dee Quah Medical Conference Partners

Dr. G. Anil Kumar Chennai Trade Center

Devika Sood Inspiring Travel Solu ons

Harsh Mukherjee Bombay Exhibi on Center (Division of Nesco Ltd)

Rajesh Batra IICA Indian Ins tute of Corporate Aﬀairs

Jus n Pau Swapcard Ptd Ltd

Anna Paul InOrbit Tours Pvt Ltd

Bryan Paul Greentek Investment Group

Dr. Sweety Jamgade University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore

Marvin Pinto World Expo 2020 Dubai

Angeline Van Den Broecke Al s Business Solu ons

Htar Nu Wai NMT Ltd

Renjini Liza Varghese WriteCanvas

Mohd Hanapi Bin Bisri Petra Energy

Hima Pujara BugRaptors | Seasia Group Companies

JOIN MST NETWORK COMMUNITY NOW!

M I C E Showcase

As we march towards recovery in 2022, I invite you to participate in our very special initiatives for the industry. We have created the MICE Sustainability & Technology Network initiative to bring together like minded MICE professionals from across the globe, who would like to learn more and share best practices on how to implement solutions towards sustainability and use of technology in our industry. You can join this initiative and there are no commercials to it. I also invite you to participate in our upcoming India Associations & Corporate Leadership Raghav Khosla Summit that will bring together various national associations under one roof for networking and knowledge exchange. It is a matter of fact that associations play a key role in the MICE ecosystem so this event will be a crucial platform for building new connections with decision makers. Recently, I was truly humbled to be invited for a special dinner ceremony hosted by Sh. Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to the UAE. It was a great forum to meet some really renowned men & women from all walks of life. My special thanks to Teamwork Arts & Mr. Sanjoy Roy also for inviting me as a hosted speaker in their powerful session on #CreativeEconomy during their agship event #FestivalofIdeas at the India Pavilion, at Dubai Expo 2020 on February 20-21, 2022. Festival of Ideas has been curated as a series of insightful discussions to envisage a future of innovation and foresight across genres and nd cohesive solutions for our present.

INSIDE 20-26

10-16

QUICK NEWS

NEWS BUZZ

33-34

28-31

ASSOCIATION NEWS Monthly

PARTNERSHIPS

INTERVIEWS

SUSTAINABILITY

41-55

TECHNOLOGY

GLOBAL NEWS

Industry In Pictures From The World Of Social Media

ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath sharing insight on how associa ons impact des na on and the role it plays in developing economy. #dac2022 #iccaworld

The AFC Delega on visits Doha Exhibi on and Conven on Center (DECC) to check on the latest prepara ons of the country regarding its bid to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, with the oﬃcial declara on of the winning bid approaching. #QBEC #decc #qatar

Inaugura on of Indian Pavilion at Home @ Sourcing at MAGIC 2021, at Las Vegas, USA, Dtd.13.02.2022 by Dr. T. V. Nagendra Prasad, Consul General of India, San Francisco, CA, along with Shri Rajesh Naik, Deputy Consul General of India, San Francisco,CA, Shri Mahesh N. Sanil, Execu ve Director, PDEXCIL and Mr. Bob Berg, Director, Magic Show.

The Fes val #SOBEWFF turns 21! February 2427, 2022 and will once again feature interna onally renowned talent and leaders of the hospitality industry at uniquely cra ed events showcasing world-class wine, spirits, food, and fun. Join SOBEWFF's mission to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, situated in the historic city of Agra in U ar Pradesh, the Agra Fort takes you through the magniﬁcence of medieval Indian architecture. Located on the bank of river Yamuna, it was built back in the 16th Century, featuring a fortress of red sandstone, home to various imperial palaces and audience halls, such as Khas Mahal and Diwan-iKhas. #DekhoApnaDesh

Ambassador Pooja Kapur hosted representa ves from cultural, business, community, academic and sports ﬁelds for a s mula ng exchange of ideas on Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebra ons in Denmark and on how to further energize the #IndiaDenmark rela onship.

A moment of immense pride for India as Atal Tunnel has oﬃcially been cer ﬁed by World Book of Records, as the ‘World’s Longest Highway Tunnel above 10,000 Feet’.

The #Kerala Investors Meet with Sharaf Group, Tristar Group and IFFCO Group, in the presence of Shri P. Rajeeve, Minister of Industry, Law & Coir, Kerala, highlighted the ample opportuni es for investments and collabora ons in various sectors of the state.

Kimpton Margot Sydney has opened its Art Deco doors as Australia’s ﬁrst Kimpton hotel, paving the way for Sydney’s – and the country’s – 2022 travel take-oﬀ! One of the best examples of Art Deco architecture in Australia.

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Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

London In May 2022, Tate Britain will present the ﬁrst major survey of Cornelia Parker’s works in London. The exhibi on will bring together such iconic suspended works as Thirty Pieces of Silver 1988–9 and Cold Dark Ma er: An Exploded View 1991; the immersive War Room 2015 and Magna Carta 2015, her monumental collec ve embroidery, as well as her ﬁlms and a wealth of her innova ve drawings, prints and photographs.

Bahamas Atlan s Paradise Island, the lush oceanside resort on Paradise Island in The Bahamas, announces the launch of Taste of Paradise, a two-week food and wine fes val kicking oﬀ March 2nd. The new program is an expansion of the resort’s “EAT: Extraordinary Atlan s Taste” restaurant week series. Guests and diners can visit the Taste of Paradise website to book reserva ons, and purchase food and beverage credits. For every $100 credit purchase, guests will receive an extra $20 in value. Credits can be added to new or exis ng reserva ons.

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Cape Town The 14th African Energy Indaba Conference (AEI) combines the hybrid model of virtual discussion and debate from March 1-3 with an on-site Exhibition on March 1 and 2 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in Cape Town.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

Dublin Ireland will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a parade through the streets of Dublin for the first time in three years next month - and organisers hope the green-festooned festivities will energise a tourism sector hammered by a tough lockdown regime. The St. Patrick's Day festival will be crucial in working towards the recovery of the tourism sector.

India Promoting Kerala as a safe and glamorous honeymoon destination, Kerala Tourism has launched a highoctane campaign by stapling it with lyrical micro video songs to lure honeymooners from across the world to the state. As part of the campaign, the Department of Tourism has produced a music album titled ‘Love is in the air’, featuring eight micro love songs with each song having a duration under one minute.

Bahrain Bahrain announced the creation of longterm visas for foreigners in an effort to “boost the economy”. Dubbed the “golden residence”, the new Bahraini visa can be allocated to those who receive a salary of at least 2,000 dinars (about $5,300) or pensioners with an income of 4,000 dinars, the interior ministry said. Those who own properties worth at least 200,000 dinars are also eligible to receive the golden residence, as well “talented” individuals, the ministry added.

Manila Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines have launched Virtual Destination Videos and 360° VR Experiential Tours, highlighting the countr y’s top tourist spots and attractions. The Virtual Destination Videos support TPB’s marketing programs on domestic welcome-back and global tourism through the “It’s More Fun With You” campaign.

Sydney International Convention Centre Sydneyhas developed an accelerated recruitment process providing job seekers with feedback within a day of their application. Applicants will be invited to the venue’s casual open day to be run each week, with the first open day commencing on, 10 February 2022.

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QUICK BYTES

February 2022

Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department Launches Integrated Tourism Portal

State Govt To Bring Tourism Back On Track: Rajasthan CM

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta, o n Fe b 8 , l a u n c h e d t h e integrated web portal of the Tourism department which shall provide a one stop solution for tourists and visitors. The web portal will provide all the information related to tourism in Jammu and Kashmir including its allied agencies like Tourism Development Authorities, J&K Cable Car Corporation, J&K Tourism Development Corporation, Golf Courses etc., and shall be available to the users under a single window. The web portal will have provision for online bookings and operator registration for tourists. While launching the web portal, the Chief Secretary said that providing best services to the people should be the focus of the department. He said the primary aim of launching the portal has been to facilitate tourists in their enquiries about destinations, services and products. Through the multi facility portal, the Department intends to make people familiar with Jammu and Kashmir including the 75 lesser known destinations and also provide them with the knowledge of the shrines, heritage sites, wildlife, adventure sports and cuisine of the Union Territory.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Feb 14 said efforts are being made to further strengthen the tourism sector in the state so that maximum employment opportunities are created. The chief minister said the state government is working with commitment to promote the tourism sector, which faced a lot of problems due to Covid. Efforts are being made to further strengthen the tourism industry in the state so that more and more tourists come to Rajasthan, & maximum employment opportunities are generated, Gehlot told reporters. Noting that tourism is a very important sector, the chief minister said the economy of many countries in the world depends on activities related to it. However, this sector faced a lot of problems due to the Covid pandemic. It is the priority of the govt. to bring the tourism industry back on track, he said. The chief minister also wished newly-appointed Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Dharmendra Rathore after the latter assumed charge. Several state ministers, chairman of boards, commissions and corporations, MLAs and other public representatives and officers were present on this occasion.

OVO Arena Wembley Is The New Name For London’s Legendary Arena

J&K Government & OYO Launch 'Crown Of Incredible India' Rural Homestay Project

OVO Arena Wembley is the new name for one of the UK’s most coveted live e n t e r t a i n m e n t ve n u e s, managed by ASM Global, the world’s leading venue management and services company. Synonymous with some of the world’s biggest artists and shows for over 60 years, the iconic concert and events venue is expected to welcome around 1million visitors in 2022. In what is set to be a stellar year of entertainment at the OVO Arena Wembley, the venue will also continue to develop its sustainability credentials as part of a journey to achieve ‘Greener Arena Certification’. With a shared vision for a greener live events industry, OVO will support venue operator, ASM Global’s goal to achieve this ‘Greener Arena Certification’, set to be implemented across all ASM Global venues. Through funding of specific carbon-reduction and environmental initiatives recommended as a result of the annual accreditation process, the certification will allow fans and artists to experience the joy of live entertainment at the iconic London venue, with the feel-good factor of minimising their impact on the environment.

Jammu & Kashmir Government and the world’s leading travel tech platform, OYO Group on February 10, launched rural homestay under the project “Crown of Incredible India” in a special event presided by Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha. The LG announced 50,000 special financial assistance to youth willing to set up a homestay unit. “We are making attempts to encourage microentrepreneurs in villages and revitalising local art and craft besides redevelopment of rural areas,” added the LG. “Nature has blessed J&K with great scenic beauty and rural homestays will offer a piece of eternal culture, cuisine, traditions, and warm hospitality to domestic and international travellers,” he said. By December this year, at least 200 homestays will be available on OYO platform, he added. Under this collaborative approach, OYO will also partner with the government's 'Mission Youth' programme to open home stays across 75 villages to promote entrepreneurship and create self-employment opportunities.

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Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

M I C E Showcase

INTERNATIONAL M.I.C.E. SHOWCASE SUMMIT 3rd Edition An Empowering Summit For The Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions & Events (MICE) Professionals To Learn, Connect And Build Meaningful Business Connections

INTRODUCING IMS2021 Highlights

MICE & BUSINESS TOURISM

AWARDS o honour the resilience of ou r in d ative t ustr initi n A y

2022 dates will be announced soon

1000+ 90+

Distinguished Speakers

50+ 20+

Attendees

Countries

Sessions

NEWS BUZZ

February 2022

Travel And Tourism Ignored Once Again: TAAI To FM: Budget 2022 being ignored. Further, he stated that, it was also expected that earnings from inbound travel would have been supported by Export Status, which would have enabled trade growth enhancing the economy.

n the statement released post budget on 1st February, 2022, by TAAI, India’s premier and largest travel and tourism Association, it is stated that : our trade has suffered tremendously due to the pandemic and it was expected that the Government would atleast work towards positive upliftment of the travel and tourism in India, which they always portray as a priority ?

Our trade has been ignored once again, stated Jyoti Mayal, President – Travel Agents Association of India. industry status, she added.

In our representations to the Finiance Minister over last two months, we had requested for GST input credits be made available across states for hotels and traveltour operators. TCS which has been a hindrance to growth of outbound tourism making Indian tour operators less competitive in the international market due to the 5% being levied on all package tour options over and above the GST, stated Jyoti Mayal. We were also expecting to the least that travel and tourism be brought under the concurrent list for 10 | www.miceshowcase.com

Jay Bhatia, Vice President – TAAI stated that it is frustrating that the Government’s focus is on 2047 rather than looking at current challenges faced by the travel and tourism trade in India. In her budget speech the Hon’able Finance Minister setout “Amritkal” being positive for the growth of the country, we feel that this is not Amritmanthan but “Mahapralaya” – dissolution of the travel and tourism trade in India. Our appeals to the government to liberalise taxes and grant tax holidays on GST for boosting travel and tourism has

Travel and Tourism contributed nearly 10% of India’s GDP, being one of the highest in the service sector and not a mention for development and prosperity of the trade, stated Bettaiah Lokesh, Hon. Secretary General, TAAI. We had appealed for opening up of the sector and making it more liberalised for ease of doing business, but it seems that the focus of the Hon’able Minister was only to present a populist budget and not growth oriented. Hon. National Treasurer – TAAI, Shreeram Patel stated that the Government has totally sidelined the trade and the only point mentioned was in Gati Shakti which would relieve foreign travellers. TCS and GST being the biggest hindrance, not being considered was a shameful and a death knell for our trade. We at TAAI on behalf of the travel and tourism trade, totally condemn and express our displeasure on the Budget 2022 presented by the Hon’able Finiance Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman. The growth of travel and tourism required a catalystic boost, but with none coming our way, the pandemic shall continue to dampen our miseries multifold.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

NEWS BUZZ

February 2022

The Indian Hotels Company Limited Reports 85% Revenue Growth At Rs. 1134 Crore In Q3 FY 2021-22

he Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) reported its consolidated financials for the third quarter ending December 31st, 2021. Ÿ Ÿ Revenues up by 85% toRs. 1134 crore in Q3 FY 2021-22 vs Q3 FY 2020-21 Ÿ EBITDA improves by 805% to Rs. 344 crore in Q3 FY 2021-22 vs Q3 FY 2020-21 resulting in 30.4% EBITDA Margin for the quarter Ÿ Reports PAT of Rs. 76 crore in Q3 FY 2021-22 Ÿ Signs five new hotels including two SeleQtions hotels in Jaisalmer and Bhubaneswar, and three Ginger hotels in Coimbatore, Dehradun and Goregaon Opened three new hotels across brands including: Ÿ Ÿ -Taj Lakefront, Bhopal at a landmark location in the heart of the city Ÿ -Strengthened presence in the North East with the launch of Vivanta Sikkim in Pakyong Ÿ -Expanded presence in East India with the launch of Raajkutir,an IHCL SeleQtions hotel, in Kolkata Ÿ The amã Stays & Trails homestay portfolio grew to 72 bungalows across the country Ÿ IHCL achieves milestone of 50 years of managing the iconic Taj

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Lake Palace, Udaipur Ÿ Qmin, IHCL’s culinary and food delivery platform, expanded its presence with 11 Qmin outlets in Bengaluru and two Qmin gourmet stores in New Delhi Ÿ Received global awards across categories at the Worldwide Hospitality Awards 2021 Mr. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, said, “The momentum of quarter-on-quarter growth has continued in the third quarter led by the upswing in domestic demand and recovery in international markets. IHCL reported a Profit After Tax of Rs. 76 crore in Q3 for the first time in this fiscal. With an EBITDA Margin of 30.4% in Q3, the company’s performance is closely reflective of pre-COVID levels. We will continue to strengthen our portfolio and growing the new businesses while maintaining our asset light strategy.” Despite the ongoing challenges of the pandemic,

IHCL continues on its path of business expansion and consolidation with the acquisition of the balance shares of Roots Corporation Limited. Mr. Giridhar Sanjeevi, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, IHCL, said, “IHCL has maintained a strong performance with a significant increase of 85% in revenue this quarter compared to corresponding quarter in the previous year. We have also deployed the recent equity raised through the rights issue to retire debt as per the objects of the issue, thereby strengthening IHCL’s objective of being a zero-debt company in the long term.” Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Jamsetji Tata, the Company opened its first hotel – The Taj Mahal Palace, in Bombay in 1903. IHCL has a portfolio of 232 hotels including 61 under development globally across 4 continents, 12 countries and in over 100 locations. IHCL is India’s largest hospitality company by market capitalization. It is primarily listed on the BSE and NSE.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

NEWS BUZZ

February 2022

Collinson Launches Domestic Lounge Experience “Priority Pass™ Access

INDIA”

riority Pass, the world’s leading airport lounge and experiences programme owned and operated by Collinson, has announced a new domestic lounge experience in India – “Priority Pass™ Access India”. Launched through a strategic partnership with Pine Labs, a leading merchant commerce platform, the programme enables brands to reward their customers with seamless access to Priority Pass’s extensive lounge network in India, as well as the largest lounge network globally, through one single provider. Priority Pass™ Access India is an extension of Priority Pass, which provides discerning frequent travellers access to over 1,300 lounges and airport experiences – resulting in travellers being able to indulge in at least one experience at 90 of the top 100 airports globally. Through the launch of Priority Pass™ Access India, the enhanced programme stands alone in its ability to offer Indian cardholders access to lounges both domestically within India and internationally via their payment card. Eligible payment cardholders in India can now enjoy access to 50 premium lounges and airport experiences located across all major cities in India, simply by tapping or swiping their payment card on Pine Labs’ point of sale (POS) terminals. The existing lounge coverage will continue to expand with additional airport lounges and lounge experiences being added to the domestic network over the coming months.

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The launch of Priority Pass™ Access India ensures travellers are better served when travelling domestically during the pandemic. Alongside the increased demand for domestic travel, research* by Collinson also revealed over three quarters of respondents (79%) believe travel will feel ‘more stressful’ than before the pandemic, while 87% of travellers** will want access to socially-distanced spaces such as a lounge experiences to ‘de-stress’ and ‘relax away from the crowds’. Priyanka Lakhani, Senior Vice President, Commercial EMEA at Collinson said, “Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, India remains one of the world’s busiest domestic travel hubs. With the ‘new normal’ of travel being more stressful than before, travellers in India are seeking a hassle-free experience where

they feel safe and secure. Our partnership with Pine Labs to launch Priority Pass™ Access India enables us to respond to this growing need – offering a seamless solution for our clients to reward their customers with memorable, domestic and international experiences in the most frequently traversed locations.” Kush Mehra, Chief Business Officer, Pine Labs, added: “At Pine Labs, we are constantly innovating our technology solutions to cater to the evolving needs of our partners and provide simplified solutions for their customers. We are all aware of how stressful travelling can be, especially during current times. We are excited to partner with Collinson to launch Priority Pass™ Access India, to ensure a seamless experience for Indian travellers.”

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

NEWS BUZZ

February 2022 who is leading a delegation from Kerala to Expo 2020 Dubai to showcase the state’s strengths, said the new projects have opened up investment possibilities in MICE facilities, resorts and hotels, caravans and caravan parks, farmstays, adventure holidays and travel and tour operations. The delegation includes Dr. Venu V, Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism) and Shri. VR Krishna Teja, Director, Tourism.

KERALA Opens Huge Investment Avenues In TOURISM Sector:

Minister Mohamed RIYAS

s tourism in Kerala is set to bounce back from the covidinduced crisis, the state offers high investment opportunities in travel and hospitality sector with the government unveiling several ambitious projects to tap its potential as an extended tourist haven, Tourism Minister Shri PA Mohamed Riyas said. Addressing a press conference in Dubai on the sidelines of the Kerala Week at Expo 2020, Shri Riyas said the state is keen to partner with UAE based investors and Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) in scripting a new story of growth and development in key sectors, especially tourism.

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Major initiatives promising attractive investment opportunities are ‘Exploring the Unexplored’ destinations, opening up the untapped Malabar region, Caravan Tourism, safe and regulated adventure tourism, experiential tourism, workcations and active holidays, the Minister said. While the recently launched Caravan Tourism is sure to provide a riveting experience to visitors, houseboats will continue to be one of the top holiday experiences in Kerala. Caravanning will help Kerala tourism to expand beyond established destinations, he said. Shri Riyas,

Kerala has an investor-friendly institutional mechanism to provide quick approvals and mandatory clearances for investment proposals, the Minister said. When the pandemic fades away, Ayurveda/health and wellness holidays will become important, for which the state is wellpositioned to attract clients from the Middle East for wellness and rejuvenation holidays. A must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts, Kerala is well positioned to attract young travellers with soft adventure activities in the hills and forests of Western Ghats. Kerala’s forests cover nearly 30% of the total land area and there are 15 wildlife sanctuaries, 2 tiger reserves, 5 national parks and 60 plus eco-tourism destinations. On the caravan tourism initiative, Shri Riyas said the aim of the project is to popularise this mode of holidaying among common people.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

NEWS BUZZ “About 297 potential investors have evinced interest in caravans and have registered for availing subsidy so far under the project. The construction of caravan parks is underway. The response to the registration process for setting up caravan parks has been overwhelming. So far, we have received as many as 78 registrations for caravan parks,” he said. Shri Riyas also urged the Keralites in the UAE to be the brand ambassadors of the tourism projects of the state. Kerala’s tourism development is centred around the idea of Responsible Tourism with community participation. Sustainable growth is the right approach to development, he said.

February 2022 Emphasising on the strong government-to-government relations with UAE and people-to- people social and cultural ties, Mr Riyas said he is confident that tourism will be a key driver in this relationship with more and more Keralites travelling to UAE, and vice-versa, in the future. The reception accorded to the Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan by the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has further strengthened the ties, he said. Noting that the last few years have been challenging for Kerala, Mr Riyas said the offer of help from the ruler of UAE and NRKs to carry out relief, rehabilitation and revival

measures have been great. “We have been successful in weathering these crises under the able and visionary leadership of the Honourable Chief Minister, Sri Pinarayi Vijayan. There is growing optimism among the industry and the people that the worst is behind us,” he added. Dr. Venu said Kerala provides world class services to visitors to ensure them a different experience. “Now we have a host of new and exciting projects envisaged by the Tourism Minister, who represents the vibrant youth in tourism sector. UAE is one of our important markets and we hope an exponential growth in the business in the next four to five years,” he added.

MoU Signed between Ministry of Tourism and Alliance Air Aviation Limited on Cooperation for Promotion & Marketing of Domestic Indian Tourism

he Ministry of Tourism in order to boost tourism throughout the country signed an Memorandum of Understanding with M/s Alliance Air Aviation Limited (AAAL) on 17th February,2022 at New Delhi. The Ministry of Tourism endeavours to position India as a preferred tourism destination in the tourism generating markets whereas M/s Alliance Air Aviation Limited with its vast domestic network, plays a vital role in the promotion of tourism in India. The MoU was signed with a view to achieve the common purpose of joint domestic promotion and considering the need to synergise the activities of MoT and AAAL in the tourism markets. Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional

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Director General on behalf of Ministry of Tourism and Mr. Vineet Sood, Chief Executive Office on behalf of M/s Alliance Air Aviation Limited jointly signed the MoU. Alliance Air is the front runner in promoting “Regional Connectivity Scheme” (RCS) of Government of India which is being promoted under the Prime Minister’s UDAN- (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme. The

objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding are to meet an integrated marketing and promotional strategy and a synergised campaign in association with the M/s AAAL. The specific elements of promotional efforts undertaken include Advertising in the Print & Electronic Media, Participation in Fairs & Exhibitions, Organising Seminars, Workshops, Road Shows & India Evenings, Printing of Brochures and Collaterals, Brochure Support/Joint Advertising, inviting the Media and Travel Trade to visit the country under the Hospitality Programme etc. The Ministry shall be bringing together the travel tourism stakeholders to benefit from this MOU.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

February 2022

NEWS BUZZ

Panaji To Host Novel Beach Carnival

ready popular for its annual carnival parade, Panaji is looking to get into the prestigious UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) by organising its first-ever beach carnaval, scheduled for later this month. Panaji Corporation Commissioner, Agnelo Fernandes said: “‘The Beach Carnaval’ will focus on a bouquet of culinary experiences and help put local ‘foodpreneurs’ on the map. “The Corporation of the City of Panaji has partnered with FIERCE Kitchens, India’s First Culinary Incubator based in Goa, to create ‘The Beach Carnaval’ – a dedicated zone for local culinary entrepreneurs or ‘foodpreneurs’ at the newly renovated walkway along the Miramar beach. The carnival will feature a host of local entrepreneurs who can put up their culinary creations at the venue.” One of the focus areas of ‘The Beach Carnaval’ will also put the spotlight on individuals who turned into foodentrepreneurs opening up small scale food and beverage businesses during the economic dip witnessed during the pandemic. “The pandemic has been tough on many. During the pandemic many people have turned into foodpreneurs, opening small-scale, aat-home’ businesses offering a variety of food. These ventures are largely driven by passion. We have decided to put the spotlight on foodpreneurs this year in an effort by the city to encourage them and offer the foodpreneurs a platform to showcase their creations,” Fernandes added. “The event will also portray the culture, heritage, and welcoming spirit of Goa. The event will feature foodpreneurs ranging from home cooks, women micro entrepreneurs, pastry and bakery enthusiasts and other hobbyists in the culinary ecosystem. We aim to provide a platform to showcase the local and regional cooking talent to the audiences of the carnival,” he added. The beach carnival this year is being organised in association with the Atal Incubation Centre at Goa Institute of Management.

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India and Australia sign Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism cooperation

ndia and Australia have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tourism cooperation in the field of Tourism on 11th February 2022 in New Delhi. The MoU on behalf of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, was signed by Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles and on behalf of Government of Australia it was signed by The Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of tourism will enhance cooperation and encourage Expansion of bilateral relations in tourism. The MoU will facilitate Exchange of information and data related to tourism, Cooperation between tourism stakeholders, particularly hotels and tour operators, Cooperation and exchanges between training and education providers in tourism and hospitality, Investment in the tourism and hospitality sectors, Visits of tour operators and wholesalers, media and opinion makers, High quality, safe, ethical and sustainable tourism development, Interest in major cultural, artistic and sporting events, Opportunities for traveler education on applicable laws, rules and instructions in each other’s country and Enhanced tourism engagement in multilateral fora. Australia is one of the most important tourism generating markets for India (ranked 4th in terms of Foreign Tourist Arrivals to the country in 2019 and contributing 3.4% in total tourism share of foreign tourists in the country). The signing of Memorandum of Understanding with Australia will be instrumental in increasing tourists’ arrival from this important source market. India and Australia had previously signed a Memorandum of Understanding on tourism cooperation in the field of tourism on 18.11.2014. Under the framework of the said MoU three meeting of Joint Working Group Meeting on tourism between India and Australia were conducted. This above Memorandum of Understanding had expired in the year 2019. Presently, Ministry of Tourism has MoUs with 45 countries. The present MoU between India and Australia in the field of Tourism is expected to give a fillip to tourism promotion post pandemic between two countries.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

NEWS BUZZ

February 2022

Tremendous Potential For Luxury Homestays In India: NOESIS ‘Home Away From Home’ Report

oesis, India's leading hotel investment advisory firm presents 'Home away from Home' report that highlights the trend and opportunity in luxury rental and boutique homestay sector. According to the report the potential for luxury homestays in India is tremendous. While India's travel market is projected to grow at 11% to 11.5% which has reached around a whopping of 48 billion dollars in 2020,India still needs to add 2.5 million rooms in the homestay segment as reflected by an increase in foreign tourists' arrival in 2017 which was 16.81 million to 17.81 million in 2019. In the aftermath of the pandemic, the notion of homestay is gaining traction. Travellers now want to enjoy all of the amenities of home, but the homestay transforms it into an immersive experience at a leisure destination of their choice. As opposed to hotels, travellers may approach homestays with particular and unique requests and engage in a more personalised manner. India stands tall in the tourist destination lists of the world, and inbound tourism has been increasing over the past decade. In Fact, many homestay facilities have catered to tourist accommodation. According to Noesis internal research, hotels and resorts account for 67 % of India's accommodation, while homestays account for 5% of the accommodation. In the top 50 emerging tourist's destinations in India, Homestay comprises 13% of the total accommodation. From this, 72% of the homestays are located in the southern

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part of India, while 13% is located in the northern part of India. The homestay market consists of properties that fit into all price brackets. Budget travellers have plenty of choice in a homestay, with 65 % of the accommodations being about 4500 INR per night and 31% of home stay catering to the midscale and luxury segment. The number of homestays is the highest in Kerala, followed by Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Data from Airbnb also revealed that farm stays are the unique accommodation type followed by cottages, earth houses, and treehouses that are searched very often. The Government of India has also realised the potential of homestay in the Indian hospitality market, taking active steps to increase various forms of tourism available. Airbnb, Oyo, Vista Rooms have already extended their services to include homestays. The main objective is to provide good

quality products and services at the right price and location. The Indian govt under the ministry of tourism over the years has granted many incentives such as subsidies and relaxation in licensing rules for homestays as it helps in promoting eco-tourism, rural tourism and improves the socio-economic condition of the population in the region, as it provides a second income. Moreover, this will decrease the gap between demand and supply at various destinations, especially in remote places which are not commercially developed. For instance, homestays in northeastern states of India, as well as Leh and Ladhak, have played a major role in boosting tourism in these regions. The Ministry of Tourism has also introduced training workshops to enhance the hospitality skills of homestay owners within the country. This initiative has also created awareness amongst local communities about the benefits of a homestay. The Tourism Ministry has also set a few guidelines for homestays in India.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

ASSOCIATION

CORPORATE BUZZ

IACLS

India Associations & Corporate Leadership Summit

ASSOCIATI

LEADERS

LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Recognizing the leading associa ons for the outstanding contribu ons in serving their industry

CONFERENCE

Power-packed sessions and panel discussions by renowned speakers on wide ranging topics

NETWORKING

Build your business network by engaging with key stakeholders from leading associa ons and corporate

H AWARDS

PROFESSIONAL/TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

BRINGING TOGETHER LEADING

20 April 2022 II Expo Centre Noida, Delhi/NCR

AND CORPORATE ON ONE PLATFORM TO DISCUSS, FELICITATE , COLLABORATE AND NETWORK FOR A BETTER FUTURE Consul ng Partner

Supported By

IACL Summit Esteemed Advisory Board Members

#IACLS

Bringing Together Industry Associations To Learn, Network & Engage

SUNIL SETHI

P. UDAYAKUMAR

DR. ASIF IQBAL

SANDIP DAS

JYOTI MAYAL

Director - P&M, National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC)

President, Indian Economic Trade Organisation

Dy. Director General, Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI)

President, Travel Agents Association Of India (TAAI)

Chairperson, Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI)

AMARESH TIWARI

BARUN GUPTA

RENU SHARMA

RONJON LAHIRI

TARANG KHOSLA

Vice Chair, India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB)

President, SITE India

VP, People of Indian Origin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PIOCCI)

Ex. ADG, Ministry of Tourism

Special Editor, Exhibition Showcase Magazine

DR. MANOHAR SAJNANI

JANAKIRAM SHANKAR

J SHEKHAR

J GUNA SEKARAN

Dean, Amity University

Director General, Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Government Relation and Policy at Federation of Indian Export Organisations

Consultant, Ministry of Commerce & Industries

Esteemed Speakers at IACL Summit 2022

RISHABH C. KOTHARI President - Fragrances & Flavours Association of India

SONIA PRASHAR Deputy Director General, Indo German Chamber of Commerce

ISHWAR GILADA President, AIDS Society of India

DAYAKER REDDY Immediate Past President, IPAMA

INDRAJIT GHOSH Global Chairman, MSME Chamber of Commerce And Industry of India

MAHAVIR PRATAP SHARMA Chair, TiE India Angels

#IACLS

Why India Associations & Corporate Leadership Summit?

Acclaimed Supporting Bodies

Visionary Speakers

Distinct Award Categories

Industry associa ons - both trade & professional as well as various trade bodies play a cri cal role in promo ng the cause of their respec ve industry by genera ng business opportuni es for their thousands of corporate members. There are over 1000 ac ve associa ons in India across various domains and such associa ons are one of the most signiﬁcant harbingers of MICE business for both na onal as well as interna onal markets. Similarly, Corporate organiza ons & MSMEs are the most important stakeholders in business travel & MICE business. It is therefore signiﬁcant to bring various industry associa ons, trade bodies and corporate stakeholders together on one pla orm to understand their concerns & thought process on various issues. Over 300 associa on heads, EPC’s, trade bodies, corporate MSME's, and professional MICE stakeholders including event organisers & PCOs will a end the IACL summit scheduled on 20 April 2022 at the Expo Centre Noida.

300

Association & Corporate Stakeholders

A unique event on na onal associa ons

Meet key associa on heads

Make long las ng business connec ons

For more informa on and par cipa on op ons at IACL Summit, please visit www.associa onbuzz.in/iacl-summit

COVER INTERVIEW

February 2022

Enabling The Next Level

AI-Powered Event

Networking I think there are still massive innovations possible in the

participant experience and ways to facilitate conversations between people. Right now, people still need to do quite a bit of the heavy lifting in terms of requesting and accepting meetings. Through new advancements in anticipatory computing, more data and a deeper understanding of the event experience, we'll be able to reduce the number of steps people need to take in order to have the best possible conversations. I also think there is incredible growth potential in making sure we're helping organisers find who is missing from the event for the optimal networking mix. TIM GROOT CEO & Founder at Grip

COVER INTERVIEW

February 2022

MS. Could you provide the readers about your early life and career? What was an early project you are particularly proud of and an early defining career moment? Tim Groot. When I was 15, I travelled abroad to the UK from the Netherlands to support a company in lifting their tulips for 6 weeks in the summer. Looking back, the level of responsibility that was given to me by my father at such a young age was incredible. I’m grateful for the opportunities that were provided to me in my teenage years and proud of how I made the most of them. MS. How did the concept for Grip occur to you? What role does it play in people's networking? Tim Groot. When at Nodes Agency, working on mobile app development, I was working with its Managing Partners on the idea of a “Tinder for Networking” for Cannes Lions, the Media & Advertising event in Cannes. Following the successful launch of Grip, we’ve expanded on our mission to connect people, ideas, and opportunities. Our Event Success Platform plays a pivotal role in making sure that event participants get an incredible Return on Time and Investment out of attending Virtual, Hybrid and In-Person Events. MS. A variety of event networking apps are available. What makes Grip special, how does it use artificial intelligence, and what data does it use to create networking matchups?

5 Q’s for Tim Groot, CEO of Grip sophisticated pairings, and a better user experience? What do you want to do with Grip's technology now that you can't do yet? Tim Groot. Great question, I think there are still massive innovations possible in the participant experience and ways to facilitate conversations between people. Right now, people still need to do quite a bit of the heavy lifting in terms of requesting and accepting meetings. Through new advancements in anticipatory computing, more data and a deeper understanding of the event experience, we'll be able to reduce the number of steps people need to take in order to have the best possible conversations. I also think there is incredible growth potential in making sure we're helping organisers find who is missing from the event for the optimal networking mix. MS. Your system has been used at a number of international events. How soon has it been adopted by users? Do you observe any differences in how people network across countries, cultures, and professional environments?

Tim Groot. We have created a unique participant experience across the web and mobile that makes networking fun and engaging while resulting in better recommendations of people to meet. We've combined this while creating a more streamlined process for setting up meetings at events resulting in better conversations. Data, AI and technology, in general, serve the purpose of making our lives better. That's what we've been able to do better than anyone else when it comes to networking at events.

Tim Groot. In general, adoption has been great and has picked up significantly since we first started as a mobile app only in 2015. There are significant differences based on industry, country and cultures but the most important thing is the execution of the event organiser. Grip is an incredibly powerful and flexible tool and the way that you configure it and communicate its value to your customers has the biggest impact on success. Just like a CRM system doesn't make your sales go up in itself but when you use it correctly, it unlocks a completely new level of value creation.

MS. What would need to be changed in your technology to deliver greater quality, more

MS. How do you keep track of your user's data, share it, and help them understand what they've learned? What has been the company's evolution

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Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

COVER INTERVIEW

February 2022

during the pandemic, and what have been some of the challenges? What can we expect from Grip in the coming years? Tim Groot. We were one of the first to raise concerns around data ownership and even made a checklist for organisers. We also have a large data science & insights team that is providing an innovative dashboard to organisers as part of our platform to enable them to better understand event participants and their behaviour. Before the pandemic, organisers didn't actively ask for data and insights anywhere near the same level as they are doing now. Both for virtual events but also for inperson events there is a much greater need to prove the Return on Investment for Exhibitors and Sponsors. We're continuously launching new innovations to enable organisers to gain a deeper understanding of their audience and also want to play a more active role in personalizing the omnichannel experience. MS. What is Grip's unique selling proposition, and how does it vary from its competitors? What are the hybrid model's major difficulties and opportunities?

MS. What trends and difficulties do you expect in the near future for events? What are your thoughts on how

Tim Groot, CEO and Co-Founder at GRIP - and former winner of the #IMEXPitch

Tim Groot. For us, Hybrid is a Strategy, not an event type. Organisers need to provide more Moments of Belonging that involve Content & Connections beyond the physical event. That's where the opportunity lies and will also make the in-person experience even better. The challenge lies in how to do this effectively and we've seen significant success in our hybrid strategy and see a convergence of ideas at the moment that is starting to capture the opportunity in a profitable and sustainable way while avoiding some of the pitfalls of pre-pandemic 365 platforms. MS. What are the advantages of using your system for an individual, a business, an event exhibitor, or an organiser?

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Tim Groot. In the end, our goal is to deliver Event Success. This means that all stakeholders, within the event need to be successful. This ranges from Return on Time for Event Participants, Return on Investment for Exhibitors & Sponsors and most importantly, Insight & Growth in rebookings, retention, NPS and revenue for Event Organizers.

technology can be used to generate new revenue streams? Tim Groot. Anticipatory computing in terms of predicting the success and networking mix of events and greater data capturing will unlock a deeper understanding. New levels of investment are going to result in the creation of more seamless event experiences. Revenue streams are a constant area of innovation, we'll see organisers slowly move away from the square meter model and move towards value-based pricing, subscription models that combine event participation and 360 value propositions into exciting new packages that are objectivebased as opposed to tiered in the classical 'Bronze, Silver and Gold'.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

COVER INTERVIEW

February 2022

MS. What are your ambitions for Grip in the future, and where do you envision the firm in the next three to four years? Tim Groot. We'll double down on creating incredible moments of belonging for the communities we work with through Connection & Content and deliver Event Success. At Grip, we enable our customers to Win and as such, we'll continue to invest in making event experiences smoother, help them spot new opportunities for growth and create more sticky and long-term business models. MS. What tips would you give event planners for finding and hiring a tech provider? Tim Groot. Align on the long-term strategy first, and features afterwards. While there are a plethora of solutions available there are significant differences in strategy depending on the market and customer types they serve. Product innovation is so fast nowadays that it's much more important than your business and technology provider are

true partners and have long-term alignment on how the future will look. Customer Success and g reat strategic workshops are therefore fundamental in our opinion and the partnership between event organisers and technology providers goes way beyond a transnational SaaS purchase. We're a strategic partner for organisers and are part of shaping the future of their business. MS. Would you like to share any message with the industry? Tim Groot. “The best way to predict the future is to invent it” is a famous quote from Steve Jobs. I love it when organisers involve us in creating a long-term strategy and involve us in the journey they are on. We've had customers that have gone from doing a single virtual event to doing 20+ in-person and virtual events all over the world in the last 2 years. Don't be afraid to create long-term plans in moments of flux like the current situation, you can be firm in your strategy and flexible in your tactics for achieving it. Be bold and be authentic!

Artiﬁcial intelligence (AI) has been hailed as a key driver of digital transformation across practically every industry, and event sector is no exception. 23 | www.miceshowcase.com

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

All businesses have to be adoptive towards the changing scenario caused by any internal and external factors. This can be made possible only when there is a collective effort from all the stake holders including the management and employees. SYED JUNAID ALTAF BUKHARI, Promoter and Managing Director Empyrean Skyview Projects Private Limited

2022 is set to be an important year for us MS. Please tell us about your professional journey and significant accomplishments thus far in your fascinating career as someone with experience in the tourism business. Syed Junaid. As the Managing Director of Empyrean Skyview Projects and the Executive Director of the FIL Group, I have had the opportunity to be involved in the inception and growth of the business. I am passionate about the tourism sector and the business involved. India does not only have a significant domestic tourism business, but also has several unexplored destinations that can find their place on the global tourism map. The establishment and commercial opening of Skyview by Empyrean was a result of deep strategic planning, international collaboration, and the vision of creating a destination unlike anywhere else.

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MS. Please tell me about your approach to implementing best practices and principles in establishing mountain tourism development in India. How would you describe Empyrean Skyview as a one-stop service for bringing the best of outdoor leisure, adventure, and sports activities to tourists? Syed Junaid. India has immense scope for mountain tourism. Empyrean Skyview Projects Private Limited seeks to create a benchmark for mountain tourism of the highest standard. This is made possible through a series of practices and principles that we implement in our everyday operations and overall business. We are the signatory to Future of Tourism, a member/affiliate of the following tourism associations and bodies: ATOAI, TAAI, ADTOI,

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

INTERVIEW

February 2022 natural and cultural heritage. MS. When it comes to handling adventurous rides and sports, many safety precautions must be considered. What measures do Empyrean Skyview Projects take to avoid accidents and ensure tourist safety? Syed Junaid. You have rightly pointed out that the safety of tourists and our guests are of utmost importance. To ensure this, we follow several preventive and safety checks. To begin with, our CEN certified gondola undergoes over 200+ safety checks every day. It is also pertinent to mention that Skyview Gondola is maintained by a team that is a competent mix of experienced and young POMA certified ropeway engineers. We also ensure that guests using our zig-zag zipline and tubing sledge follow a series of safety drills and checks in addition to the use of safety equipment. We have also launched outdoor activities such as camping, hiking trails, and mountain biking. All these activities are led by trained guides and professionals. Furthermore, we also have an in-house medical room, where all first aid and emergency care is provided.

IATO, and J&K Tourism. Additionally, we are an Associate Member of World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Grand Patron of Responsible Tourism Society of India (RTSOI), a Signatory Member of World Travel Mart (WTM), member of “Leave no trace” and of the Indo French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI). Additionally, we offer leisure and adventure activities that are unique to India. MS. As a wholly owned subsidiary of FIL Industries Private Limited, what is the business focus of Empyrean Skyview Projects? Syed Junaid. The business focus of Empyrean Skyview Projects Private Limited is towards tourism, lifestyle, adventure, and public infrastructure. It endeavours to be the frontrunner in rustic luxury, adventure tourism, and lifestyle activities. It focuses on mountain tourism and seeks to introduce the thrill of being outdoors while abiding wholistically to responsible and sustainable tourism. We are determined in promoting green urban mobility by collaborating with leading global brands and partnering with the best national and international names. Furthermore, we seek to celebrate the oneness of the human spirit with nature in its abundance. We believe in sustainable tourism activities based on natural and environmental values, a fundamental for mountain areas seeking to attract tourists without negatively impacting the

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MS. Maintaining a healthy environment while creating a positive impact on the local population is how sustainable tourism maximizes business efficiency. What have you done to manage sustainable tourism operations without severely damaging the natural and cultural heritage? Syed Junaid. As a responsible member of the society, we are committed to ensuring that we do all that it takes to adhere to responsible tourism. I would like to mention here that responsible tourism is an aspect that is very close to me personally and to the stakeholders of the organisation. We have made sure that we take all steps to ensure that we offer a world-class destination while we ensure that the natural and cultural environment of our surroundings is preserved and promoted. Skyview Gondola is one of the leading sources of green urban mobility, which does not emit any pollution. It gives me immense pride in sharing with you that we are the first gondola in India which hovers over trees and we had made sure that not a single tree was cut during our construction. Our destination receives a significant amount of rainfall and we have taken several measures to promote rain-water harvesting. The raw material used in our restaurants, café, and employees cafeteria is procured locally and is all organic. Our unique architecture is inspired by the culture and heritage of the region. We also have provided employment to 200+ employees from the region and provided them with international standards of training.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

INTERVIEW

February 2022

MS. What are the governments and private sector's roles and responsibilities in the development of sustainable tourism? Syed Junaid. The government and private sector need to go hand in gloves to ensure that the development of sustainable tourism is executed. Since 2019, we have worked closely with local and national level government organisations and associations to ensure that we fulfil our roles and responsibilities towards the development of sustainable tourism. MS. What has been the most challenging component of handling the current state of uncertainty? What measures do you employ to maintain your motivation and optimism? Syed Junaid. As an entrepreneur, challenges are not new to me or to our organisation. We are confident and optimistic that with proper planning, strategies, and collective effort we can tackle any situation and come out even stronger. To ensure that our employees are regularly motivated and optimistic, we ensure that there is regular two-way communication within the organisational set up. We also have several employee centric initiatives to ensure that they are able to refrain from being demotivated and can tackle any challenge. MS. What are your thoughts on the claim that COVID-19 is a catalyst for reinventing the future of work and skills? How has Empyrean Skyview Projects handled the obstacles during and after Covid-19? Syed Junaid. COVID-19 undoubtedly was an unexpected event in modern day history and like all businesses, we too were impacted. However, on the bright side, it gave us an ample amount of time to train ourselves, establish strategies for the future, and look at ways of handling any situation. I am also of the opinion that COVID-19 is a part of our lives and all we can do is take all preventive

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measures to ensure the safety of our guests and employees. We were audited by SGS, which is a leading audit company in the world, it closely checked our numerous preventive measures. We also have taken all the precautions as rolled out by the government and WHO. MS. New technologies will need new jobs; how has Empyrean Skyview Projects solved the challenges during and after Covid-19? Syed Junaid. It gives me immense pride in saying that we have been able to adapt and overcome the challenges that COVID-19 brought with itself. We witnessed a decent footfall to our property of guests from across the country. One of the major challenges was to ensure that our guests and employees were safe while they visited or worked for us. We made sure that guests had to go through temperature checks and fill out the health declaration form. We also ensured that all our employees were vaccinated and trained as per the WHO and local government guidelines. MS. What do you have in mind for the year 2022? What would be your message to the entire industry? Syed Junaid. 2022 is set to be an important year for us, where we look forward to revamping our restaurant in Skyview by Empyrean, offering the highest standards of hospitality and service in our rooms and suites, along with enhancing our offerings. We will also be progressing towards completing our upcoming project in Mussoorie, where we aim to establish one of the longest ropeways in the world. The message that I would like to share with the entire industry would be that all businesses have to be adoptive towards the changing scenario caused by any internal and external factors. This can be made possible only when there is a collective effort from all the stake holders including the management and employees. Together, there can be no challenge that cannot be overcome.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

SUSTAINABILITY

February 2022

TAT Stockholm Launches “Meaningful Travel Campaign” For Sustainable Tourism

he Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced the launch of the “Meaningful Travel Campaign”, a collaboration between the TAT Stockholm Office and Thailandregistered social enterprise Socialgiver that aims to help visiting tourists support nature conservation and protect green spaces throughout Thailand. A non-profit organization, Socialgiver partners with social and environmental projects from across Thailand, helping them raise funds for the wonderful work they do. In the “Meaningful Travel Campaign”, the partner is the Big Trees Project – an environmental volunteer and advocacy group that works with communities, government agencies, and the private sector to promote awareness and help

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preserve green spaces in Bangkok and around Thailand. Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said “The Meaningful

Travel Campaign is in line with TAT's commitment towards more sustainable and more responsible tourism in Thailand as the country reopens to international travellers, which is a key element of the 'Visit Thailand Year 2022 Amazing New Chapters' marketing strategy. Tourists will be able to enjoy not only a fantastic holiday, but also a meaningful holiday,

as they will be giving back to the local communities and the environment.” With the Meaningful Travel Campaign, when Nordic and Baltic tourists book hotels, restaurants, attractions, and other experiences through the Socialgiver platform, 50 percent of the revenue will go to Big Trees. Founded in 2010, Big Trees sees the general public and organisations working together to preserve public green spaces and the environment. Its work includes creating awareness on how big trees can help reduce pollution in the atmosphere and decrease dust particle levels and produce oxygen, grow seedlings, conduct reforestation efforts, create jobs for the local people through arborists training, and help property owners maintain their big trees.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

ASSOCIATION NEWS

ASSOCIATION

February 2022

CORPORATE BUZZ

LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF ASSOCIATIONS & CORPORATE

TAAI To Hold 66th Convention In Sri Lanka Signs Tripartite agreement with SLTPB and SLAITO

n the invitation from Sri Lankan Tourism Promotion Board (SLTPB) and Sri Lankan Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), TAAI shall be holding its 66th Convention in Sri Lanka from 19th – 22nd April 2022.A tripartite Agreement was signed on 23rd February, 2022 between the parties in Colombo. TAAI will be organising its 66th Convention in Sri Lanka in April 2022. Sri Lankan counterparts shall be extending full support in terms of accommodation, logistics and all arrangements to welcome around 400-500 delegates from India’s oldest and nodal Travel & Tourism Association, stated Mrs. Jyoti Mayal, President of TAAI. This convention shall not only strengthen bilateral tourism ties between the two countries but, will act as a catalyst in reviving the travel industry for both countries post the pandemic, she added. We shall create opportunities to sell products of Sri Lanka as a tourism destination but also shall be promoting Incredible India to

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local Sri Lankan stakeholder partners. Jay Bhatia, Vice President stated that TAAI Conventions (Indian Travel Congress) are the most eagerly awaited events of the Travel & Tourism industry not only in India but in the overseas markets as well. The visibility this annual event of TAAI brings to the global tourism stakeholders is fantastic. Generally, 500 to 1000 TAAI delegates are offered an excellent opportunity to network; attended b2b interactions, promote or buy and more importantly take home some great learnings from the knowledge sessions and updated information from the destination. We are excited and are looking forward to a great opportunity after nearly 2 decades to come back to Sri Lanka for our Congress. TAAI has a large membership who is actively involved in several industry verticals, and thus its focus is to promote these effectively and connect members with opportunities for all stakeholders i.e., Airline Ticketing, Outbound Tourism, MICE & Specialty

Events, Adventure sports, Rail Journeys and Self-drives, Cruises, Destination Promotion, Wellness and Weddings etc. said Bettaiah Lokesh, Hon. Secretary General. TAAI does these conventions for Facilitation of Bilateral Tourism, Interactions with Dignitaries i.e., Diplomatic Missions, Governments, High Commissioners, Ambassadors, etc. and Networking Events / Knowledge Sessions / Round Tables added Shreeram Patel, Hon. Treasurer. The 66th Convention shall be historic, creating greater opportunities and enhance travel and tourism from and to India, to create opportunities post the crisis of the pandemic. Present on the occasion from SLTPB and SLAITO to sign the MoU were Managing Director of SLTPB Ms. KPP Siriwardana, Mr. DP Daluwatte, Director Events, President of SLAITO Mr. Thilak Weerasinghe, IPP Mr. Maheen Kariyawasan, along with their core teams and committee members and the 4 National Office Bearers of TAAI.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

ASSOCIATION NEWS

ASSOCIATION

February 2022

CORPORATE BUZZ

LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF ASSOCIATIONS & CORPORATE

BIPA Signs Two MoUs, One With Manage And The Other With PJTSAU

io Agri Input Producers Association (BIPA), a Hyderabad based not for profit industry body working towards the use of biological technology for sustainable Agri in India and across the globe signed two separate MoUs (Memorandum of Understandings). One is with National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) and the other one is with The Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU). These were signed in a special function held on 12 Feb late evening in Hotel Park Hyatt, Hyderabad. MANAGE is an autonomous Institute by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India. PJTSAU is a state agriculture university. The MoU with MANAGE was signed and exchanged between Dr KRK Reddy, President of Bio Agri Input Producers Association and Dr. P. Chandra Shekara Director General MANAGE. The second MoU with PJTSAU was signed by Dr KRK Reddy, President, on behalf of BIPA and Dr. S. Sudheer Kumar, Registrar on behalf of PJTSAU and exchanged by Dr KRK Reddy and Dr. V. Praveen Rao, Vice Chancellor of PJTSAU.The two MoUs are to carry out bio-efficacy trials and other studies required for regulatory purposes as well as collaborate research, extension. These will be mutually beneficial for students, faculty for exchange, collaboration, and utilisation of in house R&D for mutual benefit. The two MoUs are the first such things in India in the Bio Agri Input

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Industry. Speaking on the occasion Dr KRK Reddy said the objective of BIPA is to integrate Indian Industry and give it, its due recognition. The action points after these MoUs will be extension, collaboration, research and trials. Speaking on the occasion Dr. P. Chandra Shekara said MANAGE is appointed by the Ministry as the nodal agency to promote Natural Farming. Though there are no package practices readily available, we will look at community validated practices, screen and validate them. And mobilise scientific evidence and prepare the ground for natural farming to grow. He highlighted various opportunities which BIPA can encash from MANAGE such as talent pool of Agri Business Management Alumni, Agri Trained Youth, Micro enterprises, trained input dealers and Agri StartUps. All these platforms and talent pool is open to BIPA, he said. Dr. Praveen Rao said it was first time PJTSAU signed a MoU with an industrial body. We have always partnered with Institutions and

Industries. No individual can address the challenges faced by the industry. It has to be with collaboration and partnership. Let us come together and address common challenges of the industry of which we all are a part. The MoUs are very important development both for the industry as well as for all the stakeholders to carry out bio-efficacy trials and other studies required for regulatory purposes. Biological efficacy is a method or a process to find out the effectiveness of specified material, input, and process at affecting biological organisms Collaboration between industry and academia is key to catalyse innovation and growth in technology, added Dr Venkatesh Devanur, Secretary of BIPA. University-industry collaborations can stimulate companies’ internal research. University researchers help industrial scientists identify current research that might be beneficial for the development of innovative products, materials and processes, Dr Venkatesh added.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

ASSOCIATION NEWS

February 2022

ASSOCIATION

CORPORATE BUZZ

LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF ASSOCIATIONS & CORPORATE

needed to be made as tourism leaders, rather on collaboration and needing to work together for the benefit of the global industry.” Additional signatories included Gabriella Stowell, ATTA’s regional director for Latin American and Caribbean, and Fernando Fondevila, director general Promotur Panama. The declaration, entitled: Transformation Towards The Tourism of the Future proclaimed:

Adventure Travel Trade Association Facilitates Commitment Towards a Transformative Future for Tourism Among Forward Thinking Nations

he Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) has facilitated the signing of an important declaration towards a more transformative future for tourism among countries seeking to build their adventure travel industry while contributing to a sustainable and regenerative recovery for the tourism industry overall. During ATTA’s AdventureNEXT Latin America held earlier this month, Panama’s Minister of Tourism, Iván Eskildsen gathered tourism counterparts from Colombia (Ricardo Galindo Bueno), Costa Rica (Gustavo Alvarado), Ecuador (Niels Olsen), Guatemala (Alejandro De León) and Honduras (Luis Guillermo Chévez Contreras). They joined high authorities from Brazil (Secretary of Tourism, Mato Grosso do Sul, Bruno

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ATTA helped facilitate this discussion as part of its ongoing commitment to act on UNWTO’s call for the public and private sectors to work together and seize the opportunity to place sustainability and inclusivity at the heart of the tourism sector’s restart and recovery.

WE AGREE that the future of tourism is collaborative, bringing together the ancestral wisdom of local and Indigenous communities with pioneering scientific, business and economic knowledge in service to long-term stewardship of integrated ecosystems. WE BELIEVE the future of tourism is regenerative. It is our opportunity to rethink the way we interact with nature and people to regenerate invaluable ancestral knowledge in order to face the current anthropogenic climate crisis. WE RECOGNIZE that the future of tourism is green and blue. It is imperative that our industry protect and regenerate the last wild places and carbon sinks in both land and ocean. WE ARE COMMITTED to the transformation towards a carbonneutral and more socially resilient tourism economy -including new business models through digitalization – thus providing the opportunity to ensure a fair distribution of its benefits and contributing to a global economic reactivation.

“It was inspiring to have all of these countries who arguably see the biggest benefits from a robust tourism industry, gathered together and agree unanimously on how tourism needs to recover sustainably,” says ATTA’s CEO Mr. Shannon Stowell. “There were no questions on the commitments that

AdventureNEXT Latin America also marked the first meeting of tourism ministers from these often competing destinations, and the establishment of a cooperative working group for sharing best practices and measures of success to be reviewed annually, facilitated by the ATTA.

Wendling) and Jordan (Director Malia Asfour, JTBNA) for a round table discussion on commitments toward a more sustainable and transformative future for tourism.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

February 2022

ASSOCIATION

CORPORATE BUZZ

LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF ASSOCIATIONS & CORPORATE

FAITH Releases India Tourism Vision Document 2035

he Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) on 16 Feb unveiled the ‘Vision 2035’ road map outlining strategic pillars to achieve tourism goals to mark the 75th year of India’s Independence. Nakul Anand, chairman of FAITH said FAITH’s vision statement for Indian tourism entails making Indian tourism preferred and loved by global and domestic tourists, creating economic and wealth creation opportunities for tourism, travel and hospitality entrepreneurs for India, positioning tourism rightly as a social economic job and infrastructure creator for India, and becoming a role model sector for sustainable and inclusive growth. These goals target 75 million inbound tourists, aim for 150 billion of foreign

exchange earnings from inbound tourism, eye 7.5 billion domestic tourism visits, and target 15 crore direct and indirect employment from tourism, among other objectives. The vision document proposes four strategic pillars to achieve the goals, including a shared national tourism approach, value accretive regulations, investment drivers and market excellence. It recommends tourism to be a concurrent subject as a shared execution between the Centre & states,

and setting up of a National Tourism Council of PM and CMs, among others. The vision also suggests travel credit for domestic travel and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions), single-window eclearance for all projects and national seamless tourist transportation. The investment drivers suggest setting up 200 centres of excellence across states through Swadesh Darshan and Prasad schemes each with to 0.1 million foreign tourists and 20 million domestic tourists. Moreover, establishing five mega tourism zones is also recommended to achieve the outlined objectives, besides having global tourism brand ambassadors in all markets and Rs 5,000-crore annual average tourism expenditure by the Centre and equivalent by states.

CM Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma Proposes Tea

Tourism In Assam At Indian Tea Association’s AGM

Industry Special Incentive Scheme. He also proposed a move to help 40 tea gardens develop tourist resorts to promote tea tourism. The CM urged the members of the association to take advantage of the state’s initiatives during the meeting.

hief Minister of Assam Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on 2nd Feb attended the 138th annual general meeting of the Indian Tea Association virtually. He took to Twitter to write, “Happy to attend the virtual 138th AGM of Indian Tea Association, which has been playing a major role for development of tea industry since its inception. Our government also is working closely with ITA to strengthen the industry in the State.” CM Sarma said that the state

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government was working closely with the association to strengthen the tea industry in the state. CM Sarma also said that during the meeting he informed the Indian Tea Association about the Assam Tea

He tweeted, “Informing ITA members about ‘Assam Tea Industry Special Incentive Scheme’ and the proposed move to help 40 tea gardens develop tourist resorts to promote tea tourism, I urged them to come forward to take advantage of the state government’s initiatives.”

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APPOINTMENT

February 2022

DDC Welcomes William Adams As New Director Of Convention Sales

estination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for Washington announced William Adams’s appointment as director of convention sales. In his new position, Bill will attract convention business and develop sales policies and programs to bring meetings of all sizes to DC. His work will drive local hotel room nights and economic impact from business events, which is a crucial element of pandemic recovery. He will also oversee DDC’s convention sales team and work alongside DDC’s vice president of convention sales and services, Melissa A. Riley. Bill joins DDC with more than 20 years of experience in the attraction, tourism and hospitality industry and a

successful career in convention sales. In his most recent role as national sales manager with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Bill oversaw 800 active accounts and

generated 16 percent growth while bringing in business with an economic impact of $473 million, which represented nearly one million hotel room nights.

BECA Appoints New Independent Chair guidelines for assessing the economic impact of business events and was heavily involved in the early work to identify the ‘beyond tourism’ value of business events. For much of the last 20 years, Dr Jago has been a Professor and Director of tourism-related research centres at universities in Australia and the UK.

he Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) has announced the appointment of Dr Leo Jago OAM as the new Independent Chair of the peak industry body. Dr Jago has a strong research background in business

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events and the visitor economy. He is widely recognised for his leadership in the inaugural landmark National Business Events Study as Deputy CEO and Director for Research of the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism. He also helped establish the UNWTO

He also spent three years as the inaugural Chief Economist and General Manager of Tourism Research Australia where he was responsible for the establishment and management of Australia’s national tourism research agenda. Dr Jago currently runs a consultancy that focuses on business events.

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PARTNERSHIPS

February 2022

Yatra.com JOINS HANDS With Cleartrip.com in a Strategic Association To Offer Them India Hotel INVENTORY

atra Online, Inc. (NASDAQ: YTRA) (“Yatra” or the “Company”) has announced their partnership with Cleartrip, owned by the Flipkart Group (part of the Walmart Group). Under this agreement, Cleartrip customers will now have access to Yatra.com‘s inventory of 94,000 hotels and homestays of various kinds ranging from 5-star luxury properties to alternate accommodations such as villas, guesthouses, and service apartments amongst others in over 1,400+ cities and towns. The addition of Yatra’s inventory with real-time pricing on Cleartrip, will enable both domestic and international travelers to have access to a wider selection of relevant and ideal accommodations to meet their travel needs. Additionally, it will expand and increase opportunities and business avenues for the hotel partners. Yatra.com will also benefit from this association through the large customer

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base of Flipkart and Cleartrip. This strategic association between Yatra and Cleartrip, both leading brands in the online travel space in India aims to provide a boost to the entire hospitality and travel ecosystem and uplift the sentiments of both customers as well as suppliers for hospitality as we emerge out of the pandemic. Commenting on the partnership with Cleartrip, Dhruv Shringi, Co-Founder & CEO, Yatra Online, Inc. said, “We appreciate the confidence and faith shown by Cleartrip and Flipkart in Yatra by selecting Yatra as their supplier of choice for domestic hotels. Through this partnership, Cleartrip and Flipkart’s customers will have access to Yatra’s industry leading inventory of domestic hotels and Yatra’s hotel partners will get the added benefit of gaining access to Cleartrip/ Flipkart’s large and growing customer base. This will allow for synergies between the

companies and partners and help uplift the hospitality ecosystem, which has been tremendously affected by COVID-19.” This partnership further solidifies Yatra’s position as the leading supplier of domestic hotels in India. Speaking on the strategic partnership with Yatra.com, Ayyappan Rajagopal, CEO, Cleartrip, said, “With rising customer expectations, we identified a need to provide flexibility to choose from a wide-range of stay options to meet their travel needs. By partnering with Yatra.com, we will be able to further strengthen our existing vertical of hotels and accommodation, enabling us to offer a wider selection of stay options at the most competitive rates to our customers. It also demonstrates our on-going commitment to enhance a customer’s travel booking experience and seamlessly provide a broader range of offerings.”

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PARTNERSHIPS

February 2022

Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau and Miral Team Up to Attract Larger MICE Groups to UAE Capital

bu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (ADCEB) has announced a new partnership with Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading curator of magnetic experiences, to strengthen the emirate’s position as a leading destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), specifically targeting business events with more than 500 attendees. The partnership has resulted in the creation of the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau and Miral Joint Business Event Fund, a first-of-itskind fund that aligns with the Tourism Strategy of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) to synergise efforts with industry partners across different sectors aimed at attracting and generating larger meetings and

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inbound incentive groups to the emirate. With global destinations increasingly bidding and attracting corporate groups by offering enhanced support, the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau and Miral Joint Business Event Fund will create a compelling proposition to attract corporate clients and will be an additional tool for local and international DMCs and meeting planners to promote the UAE capital. With the programme adopting a gradual rollout, which started on 1 January 2022, the pilot phase will focus on meetings and incentive travel only. Based on the success of these two units, conferences and exhibitions are set to join at a later stage. Mubarak Al Shamsi, Director of

ADCEB, said: “When selecting a host city for any event activity, many factors come into play — accessibility, accommodation availability, venue capacity, meeting spaces, unique experiences and, of course, budget. In Abu Dhabi, individually, there is a lot of competition, but collectively, we have a unique proposition to target niche groups where we can offer Abu Dhabi as a lucrative option to potential clients. Looking at Yas Island, with its increased hotel occupancy and venue availability, the island is now capable of hosting events of 500 delegates or more and is a strong contender, globally, when it comes to attracting MICE events.” Putting full force behind their bidding efforts, both ADCEB and Miral’s sales and marketing teams will pitch the emirate as a leading MICE destination, locally, regionally and globally. Leveraging stakeholder international brand hotel connections and a network of sales teams, ADCEB and Miral will join forces to strengthen sales and marketing activities, such as hosting familiarisation trips, site inspections, sales calls and hosting clients’ event to promote Abu Dhabi. Taghrid Al Saeed, Executive Director of Marketing and Destination Strategy, Miral said: “We are proud to be partnering with Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau to promote Yas Island and the UAE capital as a destination of choice for MICE travellers. Our strategic vision for Yas Island has delivered a premier location for leisure, and entertainment, with 2021 seeing the addition of new world-class facilities and amenities such as Etihad Arena and three leading accommodation and hospitality offerings. This partnership will strengthen Abu Dhabi’s global appeal and further attract both local and international business stakeholders.”

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AVIATION

February 2022

easyJet Launches Industry-rst Carbon Certicates

To Help Corporate Customers Measure Carbon Offsetting And Cost Savings For Business Travel

urope's leading airline easyJet has launched carbon emissions reporting for its corporate customers, to help businesses measure the impact of the carbon emissions offsetting when flying with easyJet, and the resulting cost savings for their business travel programmes. The airline has issued the first certificates to its largest corporate customers across Europe this week. The reports – believed to be an industry first - share facts, based on real flown data to enable companies to the measure the carbon emissions offset when flying with easyJet and to help them set objectives for future travel. The reports will also help businesses to identify cost savings made as easyJet offsets the carbon

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emissions from the fuel used for all its flights, at no extra cost to its customers. easyJet is the only major European airline to offset the carbon emissions from the fuel used for all its flights at no additional cost to its customers and only support projects that are certified by Gold Standard or the Verified Carbon Standard, which are internationally recognised certification schemes. The reports also provide information about the projects that the airline supports through its carbon offsetting programme, as well as the airline's wider sustainability work. easyJet is already working with a number of industry-leading partners including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions and

Wright Electric, to accelerate the development of zero-emission aircraft technology and supporting infrastructure for the future of flying. The airline is optimistic that it could begin flying customers on planes powered by hydrogen-combustion, hydrogen-electric or a hybrid of both by the mid to late-2030s. easyJet flew more than three million business customers in FY21 and has seen business travel returning, more quickly than expected. SME's have always flown disproportionately on easyJet while corporates are looking for value as well as airlines which help them to reduce their carbon footprint. James Marchant, Senior Business Development Manager for

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AVIATION easyJet commented:“We can see that businesses are travelling again, and they are looking not only for value but for airlines like easyJet which help them to reduce their carbon footprint. And, as we have seen in previous downturns, easyJet is expected to disproportionately attract more business travel, with corporates and SMEs attracted by our value, network and approach to sustainability. "So, we are delighted to be launching our carbon certificates for our corporate customers to help them better understand their businesses' carbon impact, make even more

February 2022 informed flying choices from a sustainability perspective, as well as easily identify cost savings which come as a result of easyJet being the only major European airline to offset the carbon emissions from the fuel used on our flights across our entire network, at no extra cost to any of our customers. “easyJet remains absolutely committed to flying as efficiently as we can today and working towards a future with zero-emission flying and we know that technology is a key driver to achieve our decarbonisation targets. We are working with industry leading

partners to support the development of promising new technologies, such as hydrogen, to help bringing these to maturity as early as possible.” Beyond carbon, easyJet is focusing on reducing plastic – more than 36 million single-use plastic items were eliminated – as well as reducing waste within its wider operations and the supply chain. The airline recently introduced new crew uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles. With 45 bottles in each uniform this has the potential to prevent 2.7 million plastic bottles from ending up in landfill or in oceans over the next five years.

IATA Announces Partnership with GL Events

he International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced a partnership with GL Events to support association's conference activities. Convening the air transport industry to share best practices and address critical issues is fundamental to IATA's mission. Prior to COVID-19, IATA hosted on average 16 executive events annually, each attended by an average 1,000 participants. As face-to-face events become possible again IATA is ramping up its conference activity. In 2021 IATA held several in-person and hybrid events, including its Annual General Meeting. IATA selected GL Events based on the company's global track record and network as well as their comprehensive events-related service offerings. This will allow IATA to host more innovative, modern and sustainable events, while creating enhanced networking opportunities for participants. GL Events will also be

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responsible for the operational management and commercialization of IATA's most significant industry events. “People want to reconnect, and if at all possible, face-to-face. This makes us confident that the events segment will rebound in 2022. With the expertise of GL Events we will be better positioned to respond to the changing needs of exhibitors and attendees. Incorporating their experience in digital technology will enable us to deliver cutting edge in-person events around the globe, while ensuring that online content can be made available when required”, said Frederic Leger, IATA's Senior Vice President for Commercial Products and Services. “GL Events is a world leader in

producing innovative trade events that help shape industries' future. We are proud to be partnering with IATA to create events that will drive innovation throughout the global aviation industry”, said Olivier Ferraton, CEO GL Events Live. IATA is planning to hold at least 16 in person or hybrid events across all continents in 2022.

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February 2022

CRUISING

Cruise Industry 2022 Outlook Report Quanties Value of Cruise Tourism, Underscores Leadership in Health & Safety, Environmental Sustainability and Destination Stewardship Latest report features new 2020 economic impact data, including critical insights concerning the industry's recovery from the pandemic, the value of cruise tourism and the leadership and advancements in the areas of responsible tourism and maritime practices.

ruise Lines International Association, the leading voice of the global cruise community released the 2022 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook report. The annual report shows how the industry has continued to resume responsibly with proven protocols that are leading the way, underscores the value of cruise tourism to local communities and national economies around the world, and charts the industry's continued progress towards achieving carbon neutrality. “The 2022 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook report provides an opportunity to reflect on how far our industry has come as CLIA oceangoing cruise lines have welcomed more than six million guests onboard since resuming operations in July 2020. While our focus on health and safety remains absolute, our industry is also leading the way in environmental sustainability and destination stewardship” said Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of CLIA. “Coastal and maritime tourism is an important economic driver, and we continue to work in partnership with cruise destinations so that

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communities thrive from responsible tourism. Our members are also investing in new technologies and new ships and pursuing the goal of net carbon neutral cruising by 2050.” Highlights from the report include: Fleet of the Future. By 2027, the CLIA ocean-going cruise line member fleet will reflect significant advancements in the cruise industry's pursuit of a cleaner, more efficient future. Ÿ 26 LNG-powered cruise ships Ÿ 81% of global capacity fitted with Advanced Wastewater Treatment Systems Ÿ 174 cruise ships with shoreside power connectivity 2020 Global Economic Impact. When compared to 2019, the 2020 economic data illustrates the pandemic's far-reaching effects on the wider cruise community and underscores the importance of cruise tourism to economies around the world. Ÿ 5.8M passenger embarkations (81%) Ÿ 576K cruise-supported jobs (-51%) Ÿ $63.4B total economic contribution (-59%) Ÿ

Resumption Progress. Industry leading protocols are facilitating the resumption of cruise tourism around the world, which is putting people back to work and reinvigorating local and national economies. Ÿ More than 75% of ocean-going member capacity has returned to service Ÿ Nearly 100% projected to be in operation by August 2022 Value of Cruise Tourists. Cruise tourists, and the money they spend, create jobs and opportunities for local communities around the world. Ÿ Every 24 cruisers creates one fulltime equivalent job Ÿ Cruisers spend an average of $750 USD per passenger in port cities over the course of a typical sevenday cruise Ÿ 6 in 10 people who have taken a cruise say that they have returned to a destination that they first visited via cruise ship Destination Stewardship. Continued collaboration with local communities in the destinations cruise ships visit remains a critical focus for the cruise industry, including in Dubrovnik, Croatia, the Greek destinations of Corfu and Heraklion, and the City of Palma in the Balearic Islands. Class of 2022. CLIA ocean-going member cruise lines are projected to debut 16 new cruise ships in 2022, including five LNG-powered vessels and nine expedition ships. The class of 2022 will be 100% equipped with Advanced Wastewater Treatment Systems.

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February 2022

HOSPITALITY

travelers found 89% wanted to add a private holiday to their business trips in the next twelve months Ÿ In this new environment, technology will be even more critical to a property's success, according to AHLA Platinum Partner Oracle Hospitality—with hotels investing in technology to meet the needs of both guests and employees today and in the future.

AHLA’s 2022 State of the Hotel Industry Report: Hotels Continue Moving Toward Recovery In 2022

he hotel industry will continue moving toward recovery in 2022, but the path will be uneven and potentially volatile, and full recovery is still several years away, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)'s 2022 State of the Hotel Industry Report. The report, which reveals shifts in consumer and business sentiment, was created in collaboration with AHLA Silver Partner Accenture and is based on data and forecasts from Oxford Economics and AHLA Platinum Partner STR. The top findings of the report include Hotel occupancy rates and room revenue are projected to approach 2019 levels in 2022. Ÿ The outlook for ancillary revenue, Ÿ

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which includes food & beverage and meeting space, is less optimistic Hotels lost a collective $111.8 billion in room revenue alone during 2020 and 2021 Leisure travelers will continue to drive recovery: in 2019, business travelers made up 52.5% of industry room revenue; in 2022, it is projected to represent just 43.6% Business travel is expected to remain down more than 20% for much of the year, while just 58% of meetings and events are expected to return; the full effects of Omicron are not yet known Changing traveler segments, including the rapid rise of bleisure travelers—those who blend business and leisure travel—are impacting how hotels operate. In fact, one study of global business

“Hotels have faced enormous challenges over the past two years, and we are still a long way from full recovery. The uncertainty about the Omicron variant suggests just how difficult it will be to predict travel readiness in 2022, adding to the challenges hotels are already facing,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. “The slow return of business travel and fewer meetings and events continue to have a significant negative impact on our industry. The growth of leisure and bleisure travel represents a shift for our industry, and hotels will continue evolving to meet the needs of these 'new' travelers.” “Travel and hospitality brands still face an uncertain marketplace, but all these changes also herald a new era of opportunity to drive long-term customer loyalty. They should flex with demand and respond to the added complexities and volatility in travel by delivering a 'travel partner' mentality to their leisure and business customers,” said Liselotte De Maar, managing director in Accenture's travel industry. “Travelers are now not only focused on price and quality of a location, but also on cleanliness and sustainability values and impact, and expect a clearer, more digital service. Companies will need to continue to digitally transform, reinvent their loyalty model, as well as rethink the employee proposition, if they wish to thrive.”

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HOSPITALITY

February 2022

ITC Gardenia, Bengaluru Accredited The Leed

Zero Carbon Certication By USGBC

TC Gardenia, Bengaluru has been accredited yet another distinction by the USGBC (United States Green Building Council), making it the third hotel in the world to achieve the LEED Zero Carbon Certification, after ITC Windsor, Bengaluru and ITC Grand Chola, Chennai. ITC Hotels’ Responsible Luxury journey started at ITC Gardenia in 2009 when it was conferred the highest rating for green buildings in the world – the LEED India Platinum Rating. This recognition made it Asia’s first platinum rated hotel and is yet another manifestation of ITC’s leadership in Sustainability Practices. LEED Zero encourages a holistic approach for buildings and places, which will contribute to a regenerative future and demonstrates a deep commitment to implementing building and design strategies that assure an enhanced quality of life. Manas V. Krishnamoorthy, General Manager, ITC Gardenia, added, “Following its philosophy of “Forward to Green. Back to Nature.”, ITC Gardenia

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exemplifies ITC’s vision and is perhaps the perfect example of finding the common rhythm between man-made and natural environment. The LEED Zero carbon certification for ITC Gardenia is a matter of huge pride for us as our journey towards Responsible Luxury started with ITC Gardenia in 2009 when it was conferred the LEED Platinum certification. Guests staying at ITC Gardenia consume lesser carbon footprints, compared to any other hotel of this size. It is our humble attempt to educate them on not only being eco-friendly but also eco-responsible.” ITC Hotels has pioneered several ground-breaking initiatives on environment, hotel ecosystem, health, and well-being. From LEED platinum ratings, to being one of the first chain to eliminate single use plastic free products, deployment of radiation harmonisers across the chain, farm to fork low carbon footprint cuisine, clean air and more. “ITC Gardenia’s LEED Zero [Energ y, Water, Waste or Carbon] certification

demonstrates a tremendous commitment to implementing building and design strategies that ultimately help improve quality of life for all” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC. “LEED Zero was created to give the green building community a new standard to strive for and recognize the leadership of projects that have aspired to net zero goals. By prioritizing net zero [energy, water, waste or carbon], ITC Gardenia is pioneering a new way forward for the industry as a whole.” For more than two decades, LEED has provided a framework for creating high performance green buildings and spaces and is an internationally recognized symbol of excellence. Building on that work, the U.S. Green Building Council has developed LEED Zero, a complement to LEED that verifies the achievement of net zero goals. LEED Zero represents a new level of achievement in green building that is not just attainable but is the goal of LEED certified projects around the world.

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TECHNOLOGY IN MICE

February 2022

CIBT Announces Investment in Leading Global Travel and Mobility Technology Platform

IBT, a global leader in mobility services has announced it has acquired the mobility software platform developed by Viselio, a dynamic technology company based in Berne, Switzerland. Viselio's software platform will accelerate CIBT's ambitious plans to further leverage data, AI, and automation to drive a superior customer experience throughout the visa and immigration process. CIBT is uniquely positioned to support companies mobilizing talent overseas on short and long-term assignment and for employees requiring business travel visas, work authorizations, and related entry

documents. "CIBT's 30-year success as the market leader can be attributed to our continuous focus on creating responsive and innovative solutions for our clients," said Eric Scheinerman, Chief Executive Officer of CIBT. "With COVID-19, the entire landscape has been drastically altered and clients need tech-enabled solutions that minimize the effort and complexity associated with international mobility ensuring accuracy, compliance, and speed. We see a significant opportunity in the market that other firms have not addressed.”

Viselio's team of developers will join CIBT's center of technology excellence, where they will innovate, develop, and design solutions that will seamlessly connect travel, mobility, HR, and corporate security to deliver a next-generation experience for international travelers and expatriates. “This transformative investment marks an important milestone for CIBT, accelerating our plans to create a truly connected ecosystem for our clients," Scheinerman added. "We couldn't be more excited for this next chapter in CIBT's growth."

Along with the software platform,

PATA and Vynn Capital Share How

Technology Can Enable Travel Recovery

he travel and tourism industry can accelerate travel recovery and become more resilient by adopting technology solutions according to a new report released by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and Vynn Capital, a Southeast Asia based venture capital firm. The report, The Hard Reboot: Technology Powers Mobility, offers insightful analysis on the effects of health crises on the travel and tourism industry, and the potential to enable and strengthen the industry with technological transformation, providing actionable information for governments and companies on how to accelerate digital information of the industry. “To expedite the recovery of the global travel and tourism industry,

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there is an urgent need to adopt new strategies and solutions to ensure the health and safety of travellers, said PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera. “At the local, regional, and global levels, travel organisations recognise the importance of integrating technology to access robust, transparent, and actionable data for better coordination. Also, as destinations reopen and international travel resumes, a host of new questions are emerging about how to build sustainability within the travel and tourism industry while minimising risks.” The crisis has crystalized the importance of digital transformation of the travel and tourism industry. Companies across all sectors, including airlines, hotels, tours and activities, and ground transportation, have

committed to the adoption of digital tools to enhance health and safety protocols and increase the sustainability of their operations. Digital adoption is no longer an additional feature but an essential component of travel. In this report, PATA and Vynn Capital explore past pandemics' impacts, examine potential losses of future pandemics due to the lack of a coordinated technological approach, and, most importantly, highlight noteworthy technology solutions for travel recovery, propose the framework of seamless travel journey enabled by technology, and provide adjusted Travel Tourism Index (TTCI) as a benchmark for the creation of competitive travel environment to enable mobility.

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GLOBAL NEWS

February 2022

Singapore Grand Prix Extension

he Singapore Grand Prix will continue to be held at the glittering Marina Bay Street Circuit for another seven years, following an extension of the race’s contract. F1 will therefore continue to visit the city of Singapore from 2022 to 2028 inclusive, after a multi-year extension was agreed between Singapore GP Pte Ltd (SGP), the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), and Formula 1. Although it’s been two years since the Singapore Grand Prix, first held in 2008, has taken place – due to the global pandemic – the event will return in 2022 as part of this 23-race season. Sustainability will feature prominently in future races, meanwhile, with the STB and SGP working together to reduce the carbon footprint of the Singapore race as part of a transition to more sustainable business models and to be in line with the sustainability goals of Formula 1 – with initiatives including increasing

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recycling efforts and using sustainable materials to reduce the carbon emissions of the event. “I am delighted that Formula 1 will continue to race in Singapore for another seven years,” said Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali. “The Marina Bay Street Circuit hosted the first night race in F1 history in 2008, and Singapore has continued to thrill fans, teams, and drivers ever since. Singapore holds a special place on the F1 calendar, and this extension is part of our long-term commitment to continue to grow the sport in Asia. “The plans that are in place to reduce the carbon footprint of the event are impressive and align with our plans to be Net Zero Carbon as a sport by 2030

and I look forward to continuing our successful relationship with Singapore GP and the Singapore Tourism Board as Formula 1 returns to this incredible city.” Singapore GP’s Chairman Mr Ong Beng Seng added: “We are very pleased that the night race will continue for seven more years. After more than a decade of celebrating this spectacular event on the racing calendar, we are looking forward to building on its success and working with Formula 1 as well as its partners to take the night race to greater heights. We are delighted that this marquee event will demonstrate how Singapore is open for business.” The 2022 Singapore Grand Prix is set to take place on October 2.

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February 2022

GLOBAL NEWS

Dallas Approves Plan For New Convention Center

allas city council has approved plans for a new 2.5-millionsquare-foot convention center located adjacent to the current Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas. The new center will feature 800,000 square feet of exhibit space and 400,000 square feet of breakout space, including a 100,000-square-foot ballroom. Construction on the $2 billion center is expected to begin in 2024 with completion in 2028. "This news is a game-changer for Dallas and will put our city on the map as the preeminent large-city convention and meeting destination in the nation," said Craig Davis, Visit Dallas President & CEO. "The center will be the anchor for a lively new Convention Center District that will excite convention goers and revitalize southern Downtown Dallas, making it a place for locals to enjoy alongside our convention attendees." The planned convention center will feature large, elevated ballrooms with outdoor event terraces boasting views of the Trinity River and Downtown Dallas. A welcoming entry and lobby will greet convention goers and create space for activities and programming. The surrounding Convention Center District will connect Downtown Dallas with neighboring entertainment districts, like Cedars and the planned Rail District, creating a walkable destination designed to attract both locals and visitors. The Convention Center District will be an authentic Dallas urban experience that will include restaurants, retail, lodging and entertainment options. "This new building and surrounding development are exactly what our customers need and have been asking for," said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas SVP and Chief Sales Officer. "Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor and an outstanding hotel product. The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas' competitive position and put us on par with other destinations that have already invested in their buildings."

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Global DMC Partners Announces Program For Connection 2022

lobal DMC Partners, the world's premier centralized resource for virtual, hybrid and in-person events, has announced program highlights for its highly anticipated eighth annual Connection, one of the MICE industry's most educational, collaborative and exclusive global conferences. Connection 2022 will take place at the newly renovated El Conquistador Resort in Puerto Rico, from April 7-10, where industry leaders and event professionals from around the world will gather to discuss the state of the rebounding meetings, events, and travel industry. After kicking off the event with an opening reception and dinner celebrating the first in-person Connection since the 2019 event, the conference will get straight to business with an educational session led by Global DMC Partners President and CEO Catherine Chaulet. Chaulet will share key insights on global economic, business and travel trends, such as staffing shortages and sustainability, while zooming in on opportunities for the global MICE industry and providing a future outlook to help meeting and event professionals be better prepared for the year ahead. “In partnership with our incredible Puerto Rican DMC partner, Dragonfly Global Destination Services, we have carefully planned to bring this signature event back to the industry in-person,” said Global DMC Partners President and CEO Catherine Chaulet. “We are truly looking forward to gathering with our partners and top client at the iconic El Conquistador Resort in Puerto Rico. There are still challenges to be dealt with as the travel industry rebuilds, and we're confident we'll be able to join together and come up with some effective solutions as we learn from one another over these few days.”

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February 2022

The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre And Institute Of Electrical And Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Collaborate To Help Develop Malaysia’s Technology Sector

he Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Malaysia Section have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sealing a four-year partnership to work closely as bidding partners to attract more regional and international IEEE meetings and conferences to Malaysia. By bringing these regional and international conferences to Kuala Lumpur, it will enable IEEE members in Malaysia, as well as in Asia Pacific region, a better opportunity to attend and participate in these knowledge exchange platforms to discuss the latest and best practices, ideas, innovations and advancements in the electrical and computer sciences, engineering, and related disciplines. These events will also provide Malaysians direct access and networking opportunities with some of the world's best engineers, scientists and allied professionals in these fields, which will contribute to the growth and development of the local electrical and electronics sector that is a key driver of the country's economy. IEEE is the world's largest technical professional organisation dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. IEEE and its members inspire a global community through its highly cited publications, conferences,

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technology standards, and professional and educational activities. According to the Centre's Deputy General Manager, John Burke, “We are very excited to be unveiling this new partnership with the IEEE Malaysia section, a longstanding recurrent client, to collaborate and assist them in attracting their regional and international events to the country. This MOU will help raise Malaysia's profile globally and showcase the country's attractive business events proposition. We also hope that this partnership will assist the IEEE Malaysia Section and its chapters in advancing technology and creating a legacy for society, the community and the world as a whole.” Speaking about the partnership, Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Pauzi Abdullah, Chair, IEEE Malaysia Section, shared, “As the world's largest technical professional organisation, we aim to foster technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity. IEEE sponsors more than 1,800 annual conferences and events

worldwide, curating cutting-edge content for all of the technical fields of interest within IEEE. We look forward to working closely with the Centre's team to bring some of these conferences and events to its worldclass venue, and in the process give more Malaysians the opportunity to participate and learn from international experts in these fields.” The MOU serves to enhance the collaboration between the Centre and IEEE Malaysia Section, and includes the hosting of IEEE Malaysia Section's AGMs, attractive meetings packages customised for IEEE and a client incentive fund and bid support to help to attract regional and international conferences. In order to enhance the bids, the Centre is also offering a Conventions Value-Add Programme worth RM100,000 for any regional and international conferences held at the Centre, as well as its Cultural Showcase, which provides a snapshot of the country's rich and diverse cultural heritage through nine unique and interactive activities.

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February 2022

Uganda Launches 'Explore Uganda, The

Pearl Of Africa' Destination Brand

he new brand— Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa, draws upon Uganda's global reputation as one of the most endowed destinations, famous for its thousands of plant and wildlife attractions, as well as vast and beautiful landscapes, temperate climate, warm people, and cultural diversity. As the world starts to recover from the effects of the pandemic and opening up borders and skies to global tourism, Uganda, has refreshed its tourism destination brand promise, with the unveiling of a new brand identity that promises both domestic, regional and global tourists, an adventure of a lifetime. The brand identity—Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa, was unveiled on 21st January 2022, by the country's president, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in Kampala, Uganda's capital city. The president was assisted by Col. Rtd Tom Butime, Hon Martin Bahinduka Mugarra and Ms. Doreen Katusiime, the Cabinet, State Minister and Permanent Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, respectively. The Brand was developed by Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Uganda's tourism marketing and regulatory agency. The Uganda Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Lilly Ajarova and her Deputy, Mr. Bradford Ochieng; and the Board Chairman, Hon. Daudi Migereko together with board members, hosted the unveiling, held at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. Explaining the new brand promise, Ajarova, said that the new brand promise seeks to re-emphasize

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Uganda's rare and precious range of tourism attractions to the world, thereby earning destination Uganda competitive market share. “Uganda is no doubt beautiful. Beautiful beyond measure. Yes, everyone knew that Uganda is and has always been the Pearl of Africa, - but there was a lack of clarity and consistency on, if Uganda is the Pearl of Africa- what pearls does it have to offer for each of the various travel segments and preferences,” she said, adding: “To win the marketplace; to achieve our Number One objective of “Sustainably Promoting Uganda as a Competitive Tourism Destination for Inclusive Development” it was therefore important that all stakeholders are aligned on what makes us the Pearl of Africa and how do we unpack that to the various travel markets/segments around the world.” “Explore, Uganda the Pearl of Africa is an invitation to our tourists- both domestic, regional and international to rediscover the magnificence of the Pearl. We are promising and inviting them to Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa, for ADVENTURE OF THEIR LIFETIME,” she said. Speaking at the

launch, President Museveni urged the world to Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa saying that, the uniqueness of her attractions guaranteed a better experience and higher return on investment. He particularly extolled Uganda's unique terrain, that made the country a “roof of Africa” where Lake Victoria sits, giving birth to the Mighty River Nile that flows through various Ugandan lakes on its way to Alexandria in Egypt. He also highlighted Uganda's abundant vegetation, temperate climate, variety of wildlife, strategic location on the Equator, cultural diversity, community tourism, peace and security, among others. REBUILDNG, RESTARTING TOURISM AND POSITIONING UGANDA AS THE MOST COMPETITIVE DESTINATION IN AFRICA The rebranding is an essential component of UTB's Strategic Plan (FY 2020/21 – 2024/25) that seeks to “Sustainably Promote Uganda as a Competitive Tourism Destination for Inclusive Development” with a strategic goal to “sustainably increase the volume and value of tourism in Uganda.” Under this plan, UTB is pursuing 5 major objectives, namely: i) To Increase Tourist Arrivals ii) To Increase Investment and Job Creation in The Tourism Sector iii) Increase The Competitiveness of the Tourism Destination iv) To Improve Collection and Access to Tourism Information v) To Improve Internal Efficiency and Effectiveness

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February 2022 spotlight on our vibrant and diverse cities. Telling the stories of our renowned heritage and iconic city attractions with a modern twist, our buzzing contemporary culture and innovative food and drink scene, we are showing that Britain is bursting full of fresh and exciting experiences to come and enjoy right now.

VisitBritain Launches Multi-million-pound Global Campaign To Drive Inbound Tourism

ational tourism agency VisitBritain has launched a new multi-million pound global campaign to drive back inbound tourism, as Britain gears up for a year of landmark events. The £10 million international GREAT Britain marketing campaign 'Welcome to Another Side of Britain' was formally launched by The Rt Hon Nadine Dorries MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) at a VisitBritain reception on 9 February in Dubai, UAE. The event, hosted by British Tourist Authority chair Dame Judith Macgregor and including top travel trade and tourism industry representatives from the GCC and India, was in support of the wider programme for UK National Day at Expo Dubai. VisitBritain's

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international campaign is putting the spotlight on Britain's cities, hit hard by the absence of international visitors, as well as on messages of welcome and reassurance. It is also capturing the major events this year, set to be global tourism draws, including HM The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and 'Unboxed,' the UK-wide celebration of creativity. VisitBritain CEO Sally Balcombe said: “We know there is pent-up demand for travel and our priority is to build back demand for Britain and visitor spending as quickly as possible, competing hard for international visitors who contribute billions to our economy. “As well as messages of welcome and reassurance, we're shining the

The paid campaign is running across the UK's major European short-haul markets including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, and the United States, its most valuable inbound visitor market. Activity is also underway across all VisitBritain's international markets using the extensive reach of its global and incountry digital channels, both business and consumer and working with the travel trade in market. To drive back spending, the campaign is targeting visitors that VisitBritain's consumer research shows have the greatest commitment and intent to travel internationally in 2022. More than half of travellers VisitBritain surveyed across 13 markets, who intended taking an international trip in the next 12 months had not yet booked or decided where to go, creating valuable opportunities to influence destination-choice and bookings. VisitBritain has estimated the loss in overseas visitor spending in the UK, in 2020 and 2021 combined, to be more than £48 billion. In addition, it calculates that the fall in bookings and cancellations due to Omicron saw an additional loss of £1.5 billion in inbound tourism spending in the UK in the first eight weeks alone. VisitBritain's 'Welcome to Another Side of Britain' campaign, running until the end of March, is part of the UK Government's refreshed GREAT campaign.

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February 2022

Congresses Return To Vienna: Austria Center Vienna Expecting Strong Summer For Events Only a few years ago, the congress industry was very much a seasonal business, with a clear focus on spring and autumn. The current trend towards staging events in the summer could be here to stay, and not just due to the pandemic. But this is just one of countless changes right now: “The industry is undergoing a fundamental shift. Topics such as hybrid offerings, options for getting to and from the venue and flexibility when it comes to the amount of time participants actually take part are becoming more important all the time.

ehind the scenes at the nation's largest vaccination and testing centre, the Austria Center Vienna is gearing up for a packed year for congresses ahead. After two years of postponements and a new focus on online formats, this year will finally see a return for numerous congresses with thousands of on-site participants. To ensure that these events play out as safely as possible, the majority of them will be held during the extended summer months. The Wiener Spielefest has also been brought forward to October. Meanwhile, the vaccination and testing facility at the venue will remain in operation until the spring at least. “We are already busy this year preparing for the phased return of large-scale congresses. Our experiences of numerous national and international restrictions last winter led us to schedule as many events as possible between April and October,” confirmed Susanne Baumann-Söllner, Managing Director of the Austria Center Vienna. In accordance with the

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new timeline, the General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) will take place at the end of May, followed by the European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) Conference and European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress in June, and the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) in July 2022. Additional highlights include the Baukongress at the end of April, the Annual Meeting of the International Continence Society (ICS) and the Society for Arthroscopy and JointSurgery (AGA) Congress in September, with the Annual Meeting of the German Society for Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO) and European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) scheduled for October. Forced to skip two years due to Covid-19, this year the Wiener Spielefest will take place from 21-23 October before returning to its regular November slot. Industry in transition: sustainable congresses are the future

Anyone who decides to travel to another country for a congress needs a compelling reason to do so. And it is our job to provide the perfect environment for knowledge transfer and networking. This now includes our leafy terraces and outdoor areas, which will experience another major growth spurt this year,” BaumannSöllner elaborated. In line with its status as the first certified green conference centre in the country, the Austria Center Vienna published its first sustainability report in late 2021 which targets several measures, including the goal of significantly increasing the number of green meetings and green events at the centre over the next few years. The congress centre has provided free consulting and certification services for many years now, an approach that helped to cut the amount of general refuse by around 125 tonnes and paper consumption by 200 tonnes at the meetings held during Austria's Presidency of the European Council in 2018 in one of many such examples.

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February 2022

Gainingedge Releases Its Fourth Annual Competitive Index Of International Convention

Destinations why, to fix the problem and to generate more business for a faster recovery. If it is above fair share, it needs to form strategies to maintain competitive advantage, because it has a down-side risk. If they lose business to other up and coming cities, then their recovery slows.”

GainingEdge Analysis & Research (GEAR) Head, Milos Milovanovic, said the main purpose of the Destination Competitive Index is to develop methodologies and quantitative tools for destination comparison and which can help users speed up their postCOVID recovery.

the meetings industry and policy makers, be they government or city authorities. If they have facts-based data, their proposals for industry support and other recovery assistance are more likely to be successful.” This year's report continues to utilise two powerful benchmarking approaches, “fair share” analysis of a destination's business levels and “ratio analysis” meant to help destinations focus in on their most important competitive issues based on the cities with which they are most frequently competing. Additionally, the report looks at the impact of COVID-19 for 2021 and the years to come.

“Our key focus this year was to provide market analysis that would help people identify strategies and activities they can use to recover faster. The Index provides quantitative indicators that can facilitate conversations between

How to speed up recovery? GainingEdge CEO, Jon Sivertson, said the Index is a powerful tool for destination promoters and developers. “If a destination is below its fair share, it has a real opportunity to figure out

lobal convention industry consulting firm, GainingEdge, has released its fourth annual Competitive Index of international convention destinations. The 2021 edition ranks the world's top cities in terms of key draw factors for meeting planners.

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Sivertson said the key for all destinations is to analyze their competitiveness, within the correct set of competing cities, in order to better understand their current challenges. Armed with that perspective, they can develop effective strategies to speed up their recovery from the pandemic. The report identifies four key areas that all destinations should focus on: Ÿ

Intellectual Engagement – Building relationships with local leaders and leveraging on their international reputation;

Flexible Approach – Providing more flexible product offerings and maintaining an agile market approach;

Technological Advancement – Embracing new technologies in meetings and events to cater for live and remote participants;

Regional Focus – Increasing short-term focus on national and regional markets which will provide more near-term yield.

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February 2022

Bordeaux And València Start The Year As 2022

European Capitals Of Smart Tourism

ordeaux (France) and València (Spain) launched their European Capital of Smart Tourism 2022 titles and respective programmes with the presence of the cities' Mayors, academia, stakeholders and representatives of the European Commission. The European Capital of Smart Tourism is an EU initiative, currently financed under the COSME Programme. It promotes smart tourism in the EU, fosters innovative, sustainable, and inclusive tourism development and the exchange of best practices. The initiative recognises outstanding achievements by European cities as tourism destinations in four categories: Accessibility, Sustainability, Digitalisation as well as Cultural heritage and creativity. During the launching events, the 2022

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Capitals received their trophies from Marie-Hélène Pradines, representative of the European Commission, and their 3-meter-high hashtag sculptures were unveiled. The sculptures, awarded to celebrate the cities' success as European Capitals of Smart Tourism, are located in the City of Arts and Sciences of València and the Exhibition Centre of Bordeaux. The sculptures are an enduring landmark to the four categories of the initiative and a visual representation of the EU's commitment to smart tourism. During the festivities, Bordeaux's Mayor Pierre Hurmic said, "I am very pleased to receive today the European Union's

European Capital of Smart Tourism Award, which rewards our commitment to the inclusion of all, to sustainable digital technology, to ecology and to the participation of residents and stakeholders." València's Mayor Joan Ribó said, "Six years ago we decided to change the city's tourism model and transform it into a sustainable, integrated, competitive model that respects its citizens and its natural and cultural heritage.” During 2022, the two European Capitals of Smart Tourism will benefit from communication and branding support. Both Bordeaux and València are planning extensive programmes to showcase their outstanding initiatives and inspire other European cities to develop tourism in a smarter and more sustainable way.

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February 2022

GLOBAL NEWS

Mastercard Launches Tourism Innovation Hub In Spain Based in Madrid with the support of the Government of Spain, Mastercard will help drive a global sustainable and inclusive recovery for tourism The Tourism Innova on Hub will carry out research, leverage data insights and co-design technology solu ons for the sector, u lizing Mastercard tools and network Being located in Spain leverages the exper se of a country intrinsically linked to tourism and the second most visited des na on in the world

astercard has announced the establishment of a new Tourism Innovation Hub in Spain, with the support of the Spanish Government. The Hub, based in Madrid and which will open in the second quarter of 2022, will develop solutions to support a sustainable and inclusive recovery for the global tourism sector through innovation, research and collaboration across the ecosystem. “There has been a multi-trillion dollar impact on the global tourism industry over the past couple of years, but Mastercard is committed to enabling innovation and ensuring that technology is harnessed for a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable recovery,” said Mark Barnett, President of Mastercard Europe. “The Tourism Innovation Hub will foster programs and build partnerships which will help the industry recover and drive more inclusive and sustainable tourism growth. Being located in Spain will allow us to leverage the expertise of a country intrinsically linked to tourism and the second most visited destination in the world." The Tourism Innovation Hub will act as a global platform for industry research, tourism strategy development and the co-creation of tailored products and solutions, through

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partnerships and initiatives such as: Thought Leadership: leveraging data insights and capturing target consumer insights to identify trends and inform policy decision-making. Ÿ Development Center: co-creating new products and services, codifying best practices and serving as a platform to bring together public and private sector partners to innovate together. Ÿ Labs As A Service: designing, developing and testing new products and platforms that deliver digital first, sustainable and inclusive solutions for the industry, which address common business and consumer priorities. Ÿ

Supporting the Global Tourism Industry Mastercard's trusted network and leading technology stands at the heart of the global tourism industry: Ÿ Facilitating payments so tourists can spend safely, securely and easily when they travel abroad Ÿ Enabling digital payments

acceptance for small businesses to allow them to benefit from the tourism economy Working with travel agents, airlines, hospitality providers and many others across the ecosystem Building loyalty through engagement programs and Priceless Experiences, giving tourists tailored access to the best and most exciting opportunities when they explore or return to preferred destinations Partnering with tourism agencies to supporting businesses in the tourism industry and encouraging inbound tourism through digital vouchers and incentive schemes Providing data insights to governments and tourism agencies to identify trends and inform strategies, including through the Mastercard Economics Institute Insights Reports, as well as executing inbound tourism campaigns.

Sustainable tourism will be a key focus, and there will be close collaboration between the Tourism Innovation Hub and Mastercard's Sustainability Innovation Lab, to help empower governments, businesses and consumers to transform how they adapt and create new sustainable tourism innovations in destination, travel, accommodation, experience, rewards and incentives and other services.

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February 2022

Adeline Vancauwelaert Joining UFI As New Chief Operating Ofcer

has been central to industry advocacy efforts, and has a vital role in keeping the industry informed and connected. I’m looking forward to serving UFI members and the wider industry.” Adeline Vancauwelaert joins UFI from Comexposium, a French-based, global exhibition organiser.

FI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has appointed Adeline Vancauwelaert as its next Chief Operating Officer. Joining on 22 February from global exhibition organiser Comexposium, where she held the role of Event Director, she will be working with the team at UFI’s Paris headquarters. Vancauwelaert’s appointment is the result of a global call for applicants, which provided several high-quality candidates from around the world.

invaluable as she takes on key responsibilities within our association, managing our Paris headquarters, and overseeing UFI’s administration. We can’t wait to start working together.”

Kai Hattendorf, UFI CEO and Managing Director says: “I’m delighted to welcome Adeline Vancauwelaert to the UFI team. She brings a wealth of experience of the events industry, which will prove

Adeline Vancauwelaert adds: “I’m thrilled to be joining UFI, and to have the chance to bring my experience and expertise to build on the important work being carried out by the UFI team. In these challenging times, UFI

As Event Director, she’s had a leading role in strategic positioning, team management, and the international development of the SIAL show. At Sopexa, her responsibilities included promoting and supporting the visibility of French brands across international markets. She’s also held several senior executive positions. Her broad experience in managing events at an international level will be a vital asset in supporting UFI’s global member community.

IFEMA MADRID, The Community Of Madrid And The City Council Launch 'madrid Turismo By IFEMA’

he Community of Madrid, the City Council and IFEMA MADRID have created a platform to promote tourism in the region internationally. This agreement gives IFEMA Madrid a highly active role in promoting Madrid as a tourist destination abroad, which will enable it to launch a new business model within its internationalisation, digitisation and innovation strategy. Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid, has described this project as "the most ambitious

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undertaking for tourism in Madrid in the last decade". 'Madrid Turismo by IFEMA' originated from the union of the three Madrid institutions, in response to constant demand from the tourism sector to promote and consolidate Madrid's position as a popular destination for international tourism, of both the leisure and business types. The commission awarded by the two institutions to IFEMA MADRID, due to its positioning both in the international sphere and in tourism,

gives it a fundamental role in the international promotion of the region, in which its expertise will be vital for the development of that ambitious project over the next three years, framed within its internationalisation, digitisation and innovation strategy. To develop it, the Community of Madrid and the City Council will invest a total of 36 million euros over 3 years, in which IFEMA MADRID will conduct tourism activities, both within the framework of its fairs and events, as well as other undertakings in the context of this agreement.

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February 2022

“Most Beautiful Building On Earth”: Museum

Of The Future Opens In Dubai

ubai opened its Museum of the Future on 22nd February 2022. It was officially opened by Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, whose vision of the future has been credited as the driving force behind the museum. Roadside signboards described the museum as the “most beautiful building on Earth” ahead of its gala opening. The Museum of the Future is an exhibition space for innovative and futuristic ideologies, services, and products. Located in the Financial District of Dubai, UAE, the Museum of the Future has three main elements:

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green hill, building, and void. The goal of this museum is to promote technological development and innovation, especially in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).

shell sits on top of the building and comprises 1,024 fire-retardant composite panels clad in stainless steel, and each of which has a unique 3D shape to create the Arabic script.

One of the world’s most complex structures, the Museum of the Future was designed by Killa Design architecture studio and engineered by Buro Happold. The building aims for a LEED Platinum rating in terms of its green rating.

The museum has seven floors dedicated to different exhibitions. Three floors focus on outer space resource development, ecosystems and bioengineering, and health and wellbeing. The other floors showcase near-future technologies that address challenges in areas including health, water, food, transportation, and energy, while the last floor is dedicated to children.

The exterior façade of the building comprises windows that form an Arabic poem by Dubai’s ruler about the emirate’s future. This torus-shaped

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February 2022

“Most Marina Beautiful Bay Sands Building Unveils On Earth”: US$1 Billion Museum Reinvestment To Transform Luxury And Of The Future Opens InTravel Dubai Hospitality Experience

arina Bay Sands has embarked on a major reinvestment programme for its existing property, spanning hotel rooms and suites, new food and beverage (F&B) offerings and other enhancements that will position the Integrated Resort (IR) for strong growth as the recovery of global tourism continues. The US$1 billion reinvestment is the biggest since the IR’s opening in 2010, demonstrating parent company Las Vegas Sands’ confidence in Singapore and ongoing commitment to the country’s tourism industry. The reinvestment is in addition to the multi-billion-dollar expansion announced in April 2019, which will include the development of a state-ofthe-art entertainment arena, an ultraluxury hotel tower and additional MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions & exhibitions) space, ubai Museum adjacent to theopened currentitsIR. The of the Future on 22nd February reinvestment encompasses extensive 2022. It was officially opened upgrading of all rooms and suites in by Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed Towers 1 and 2 of the Hotel. bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, vision Renovation works will be whose completed in of the future has been credited as the phases over 2022 and 2023, driving force behind the museum. transforming the design and Roadside signboards the significantly elevatingdescribed the hospitality museum as in thethe “most beautiful experience luxury travel building on Earth” ahead of to itslead galathe segment, which is predicted opening. tourism recovery.

The of IR theintroducing Future is an It will Museum also see the exhibition space for innovative signature experiences across theand 55th futuristic services, floor of allideologies, three hotel towers and – products. Located in the Financial including a revamped Executive Club District of Dubai, fine UAE, the Museum Lounge, premium dining, and of the and Future has three main –elements: health wellness offerings to offer

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new luxury lifestyle amenities for high-value travellers. More details will be announced at a later date. “We are firmly of the view that Asia will continue to lead as a primary driver of growth in travel, and Singapore will remain a top destination of choice. Our reinvestment as well as our planned multi-billion-dollar expansion that we announced in 2019 represent a further demonstration of our long-term support for Singapore. It reaffirms our confidence in the future and our commitment to offering industryleading luxury products and green hill, building, andtovoid. goal hospitality experiences our The guests,” of this museum is to promote said Robert G. Goldstein, Las Vegas technological development Sands’ Chairman and CEO. and innovation, especially in the fields of The US$1 billion reinvestment for(AI). robotics and artificial intelligence Marina Bay Sands is part of Las Vegas One of ongoing the world’s most complex Sands’ programme to elevate structures, the Museum the Future design and customerofexperience was designed by KillainDesign across its properties Singapore and architecture studiothis andincludes engineered by Macao. In Macao, Buro Happold. The building for a investment of approximatelyaims US$2.2 LEED Platinum rating in terms of its billion in The Londoner Macao, Grand green rating. Suites at Four Seasons Macao and The Londoner Court. Paul Town, Marina The exterior façade of the building Bay Sands’ Chief Operating Officer, comprises windows that form an said: “Marina Bay Sands’ new room Arabic poem by Dubai’s ruler about and suite offerings will bring luxury the emirate’s future. This torus-shaped lifestyle experiences not seen in the

market before, as we reimagine the future of luxury hospitality and travel. We are excited to unveil them to guests from around the world in the months ahead as international travel returns following the easing of border restrictions. Singapore has been a leader in working towards the safe return of global travel through its Vaccinated Travel Lanes, and we are grateful to the Government for its calibrated approach and unwavering support for the industry.” Delivering a well-rounded experience for visitors, Marina Bay Sands also continues to introduce new dining and retail concepts, exciting entertainment programmes as well as cutting-edge exhibitions. Adding to its spectacular lineup of celebrity chef and signature restaurants, Wakuda, created by legendary Chef Tetsuya Wakuda and restaurateur John Kunkel of the 50 Eggs Hospitality Group, will be shell sits soon. on topThe of the building and unveiled Shoppes at Marina comprises fire-retardant Bay Sands 1,024 also continues to develop composite in stainless steel, and presentpanels fresh clad and unique shopping and each of which has a unique 3D experiences by bringing in new-toshape to create the Arabic script. Singapore concepts. The reinvestment museum has seven floors The announcement dedicated to different exhibitions. comes as the IR enters its second Three floors focus on following outer space decade of operations its 10th resource development, ecosystems anniversary in 2020. Since openingand in bioengineering, and health 2010 at a development cost and of US$5.6 wellbeing. The Bay otherSands floorshas showcase billion, Marina provided near-future technologies that address significant benefits to Singapore’s challenges in areas tourism sector, withincluding over 380 health, million water, food, transportation, energy, visitors to the property and and helping to while the last floor is dedicated to attract more than 1,000 all-new MICE children. events to the country.

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February 2022

Aleph Hospitality Partners With Medallia To Power The Guest Experience Across The Company’s Growing Hotel Portfolio

the right time to move to a group-wide partnership to support the rapid growth of our hotel portfolio in the Middle East and Africa.”

ubai-based leading independent hotel management company, Aleph Hospitality, has announced that it has signed a company-wide agreement with Medallia to further enhance the customer journey and elevate the guest experience across all of the group’s hotels in the Middle East and Africa. As pioneer and market leader in Experience Management, Medallia is trusted by the world’s best hotel companies. Its bespoke feedback analysis platform for hotels provides AI-powered text analytics and data on the customer journey that enables hotel teams to focus on the critical customer touchpoints and use these

insights to further elevate the guest experience. Commenting on the partnership Bani Haddad, Founder & Managing Director of Aleph Hospitality, said: “Whilst Medallia is not new to Aleph as the platform has been in place in several of our hotels, we believe now is

“Through the extensive functionality and reporting available in Medallia Go, we will be able to further advance our understanding of the group’s performance with the ability to continually refine the hotel guest journey and further strengthen the service delivery and quality for our owners.” Aleph Hospitality currently operates 10 hotels and has earmarked a pipeline of 50 hotels in the Middle East and Africa by 2025.

Australia To Reopen Its Borders To International Tourists On February 21. Conditions Apply

ustralia Prime Minister Scott Morrison on 21 Feb announced that the country will throw its borders open to fully vaccinated tourists from February 21. The reopening of Australian borders for international tourists will end after a hiatus of almost two years due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, one of the world’s longestrunning pandemic travel restrictions. “It’s almost two years since we took the decision to close the borders to Australia,” Morrison told reporters. “Australia will reopen our borders to all remaining visa holders on the 21st of February of this year.”

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“The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia. That’s the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it,” he added. The states, however, will continue to be able to set their own quarantine rules. Australia will be looking to boost its tourism industry with end of border restrictions for fully vaccinated foreign tourists. The hospitality sector Down Under has been hard-hit due to Covidinduced border restrictions and lockdowns, which was extended

repeatedly in view of the emergence of new variants of concern. As hospitalizations and intensive care admissions continue to decline in most parts of the country, the authorities are gradually easing the restrictions.

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February 2022

To Build Customer Condence Thomas Cook India And SOTC Launch An innovative brand campaign that addresses the uncertainties related to planning a holiday in the Covid-era

o build customer confidence while travelling in the Covidera, Thomas Cook (India) Limited - India’s leading omnichannel travel services company and its Group Company, SOTC Travel, have launched an innovative ‘Risk-free Holidays’ campaign. The brand campaign addresses the concerns of travellers and clarifies their doubts/ uncertainties associated with travelling again. Travelling in the Covid-era can be challenging, more so keeping in mind the flux in travel and health guidelines. With vaccine acceptance and easing of restrictions, there is a strong pent-up desire, with travellers longing to re-start their international holidays. To make it simple and worryfree for customers, the Companies have launched a brand campaign that addresses all apprehensions, thereby streamlining their travel decisionmaking process. Currently customer concerns could arise due to multiple reasons - from personal challenges to travel-health protocols, fear of contracting an infection on holiday, possibility of an unexpected issue/help needed while on tour, travelling with vaccinated passengers/staff or not, etc. This unique Risk-free Holidays campaign aims to reassure customers that Thomas Cook & SOTC will take care of the minutest concerns - whether physical, financial or mental safety, and thus ensure a smooth holiday. Additionally, to instil confidence, the Companies, are offering complete flexibility of a risk-free holiday with limited period complimentary rescheduling and zero cancellation

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charges. More importantly, Thomas Cook and SOTC’s “Assured” Safe Travel Program - developed in association with Apollo Clinics, ensures best in class travel safety protocols covering every distribution, delivery and partner touch point in the travel ecosystem. “TravShield” an upgraded safety commitment of only vaccinated staff and co-passengers among many other precautions, ensure traveller safety in the pandemic era. The film is being promoted across several channels, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and leading OTT channels. Click here to view the brand film: Thomas Cook SOTC Mr. Abraham Alapatt - President & Group Head, Marketing, Service Quality, Value Added Services & Innovation said, “We have observed strong pent-up travel desire amongst Indians. To support our customers plan a smooth risk-free holiday, our

three-pronged brand campaign is aimed at physical, financial and mental safety. Through this film we aim to make the holiday planning process worry-free with the flexibility of a limited period offer of free rescheduling, zero cancellation charges and safety protocols in association with Apollo Clinics. We are proud to share that over 4 lakh happy customers have travelled with us during the Covid-era and we are the only travel partner with dedicated onground experts to assist in case of uncertainties/emergencies.”

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GLOBAL NEWS

February 2022

UFI’s World Map Of Exhibition Venues Provides Detailed Region And Country Proles For 21 Markets Ÿ

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– 1,351 exhibition venues, with a total of 40.5 million sqm, serve the industry worldwide – China leads the way in terms of available venue space, with the USA and Germany making up the top three – The report provides a global overview, and 21 market profiles, covering all markets with more than 300,000 sqm of total available venue space

vailable exhibition space is a key driver in the development of the exhibition industry globally. To provide the industry with up-to-date figures on space capacities, UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, today publishes its full report on the World Map of Exhibition Venues. The report lists the largest venues for all 21 markets whose total capacity exceeds 300,000 sqm of gross indoor exhibition space. Kai Hattendorf, UFI CEO and Managing Director, says: “This updated World Map displays the space available around the world for organising exhibitions and other face-to-face events. It represents the industry’s most holistic and complete quantitative dataset. It is remarkable to see that global investments into upgrades and expansions have continued throughout the pandemic,

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and as we enter a more optimistic phase, it is important to highlight the scale of this capacity, which can benefit both the industries served by exhibitions, and the destinations in which they take place.” This global census covers all exhibition venues with a minimum of 5,000 sqm of gross indoor exhibition space. Regionally, Europe is home to 39% of the world’s total venue capacity, followed by the Asia-Pacific region (32%) and North America (20%). In terms of size, the number of “mega venues” – those with more than 100,000 sqm of space – continues to grow. This edition of the World Map now counts 73 such venues around the world, accounting for 5% of the total market. More than one-third (35%) of all venues belong to the medium-size segment, offering between 20,000 and 100,000 sqm. While 60% of venues globally have an indoor capacity of between 5,000 and 20,000 sqm.

Europe and the Asia-Pacific present the largest number of venues with more than 100,000 sqm of space – 39 and 23 venues respectively. The average size of venues in the Asia-Pacific region exceeds that of any other region, a result of the many infrastructure projects in the region, especially in China. China is now home to 25.2% of the world’s venue capacity. The USA currently holds 17.1% of global venue space capacity, while third-placed Germany is home to 7.9%. Along with Italy and France, these five markets account for more than 60% of the total world indoor exhibition space. The 2022 UFI World Map of Exhibition Venues covers the following markets: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom and the USA.

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