October 2020

M&TatW e-Magazine MICE & TOURISM around the World the global monthly online magazine since 1997 vol. 23, issue 10, October 2020

Mrs. Liliana Orbegozo-Convers

UNITED KINGDOM’s most beautiful university Micro-Tourism, can it save JAPAN’s travel industry School of ATHENS by Raphael Green, mysterious, enjoyable city Vilnius Lithuania No events, No exhibitions in the UNITED KINGDOM for 6 months!

An Interview with…Mrs. Liliana Orbegozo Convers Bogotá, Colombia

MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine Volume 23, Issue 10, October 2020 edition – Online since 1997

Contents 7-11 UNITED KINGDOM’s most beautiful university 13 Billions lost from global tourism 14 Micro-Tourism, can it save JAPAN’s travel industry?

15 DUBAI Tourism forms business events stakeholders committee and hosts 1st meeting 16 GUATEMALA reopens borders

17 CHILE is first in Latin America for sustainable development 18 ROMANIAN village sees mass tourism due to royal residence 19-22 School of ATHENS by Raphael

Plaza de la Constitución,, Guatemala City, Guatemala

25 EU air travel sustainability questioned 26 AIRBUS heading for collapse 27 CHINESE aviation recovering with cheap seats 28 BRITISH AIRWAYS to fly Boeing 787 with flat-bed business class to ATHENS 30-37 Green, mysterious, enjoyable city Vilnius Lithuania 40 ATHENS DEMOCRACY FORUM 2020 41 WTM LONDON goes virtual 43 No events, No exhibitions in the UNITED KINGDOM for 6 months!

44 ETIHAD AIRWAYS signs partnership with MCI 45 INDIA’s New Tourism Professional Association – IATTE 47-52 An Interview with…Mrs. Liliana Orbegozo Convers Bogotá y Cundinamarca Convention Bureau, Colombia

Sponsored by

BML International-UK

www.bmlinternational.co.uk

Message from

Caroline-Artemis October is here already and just as we hoped events would be up and running again here in the UK, the continuing health crisis has put that on hold for the foreseeable future.

While our ‘normal’ lives seem to still be on hold, we are spending even more time in front of a laptop/PC screen.

Sitting and watching a screen is not as stimulating as being in the buzz of a live event or even just being in the office – when will those days return!

Therefore we have to make the best of today’s digitalised society and ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’.

Here are our top tips for successful online event attendance: 1. Be sure you know how to use the online platform beforehand.

2. Block off your calendar so you focus on that one event.

3. Take notes on good old fashioned paper.

4. Limit all distractions (family and pets!)

5. Have a glass of water with you.

6. Keep to your online calendar of B2B meetings.

7. Take advantage of the online education sessions.

8. Allow time for follow up and watching pre-recorded sessions.

9. Try to attend a virtual event with colleagues – even when they are not sitting next to you!

10. Think positive and ENJOY!

Enjoy reading the October issue of MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine

Happy Autumn!

Caroline-Artemis Laspas co-founder & editor Sponsored by

BML International-UK www.bmlinternational.co.uk

UNITED KINGDOM’s MOST BEAUTIFUL UNIVERSITY

by Caroline-Artemis Laspas

When you think about iconic education establishments in England the first places you think of are Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Indeed these are beautiful towns with their colleges and neatly flowering courtyards, but‌.

On the outskirts of west London, in Egham, Surrey, sits the iconic Grade 1 listed historic Founder’s Building which is Royal Holloway University.

As you drive through the double fronted gate, you literally gasp at the stunning Victorian architecture that lies before you as you see the detailed chimneys and windows set with engraving and stone statues amongst towers and turrets. Its design is based on a French chateau.

Founded by entrepreneur Thomas Holloway and opened in 1886, it is home to the famous Picture Gallery and a beautiful chapel.

It was originally founded to give women access to higher education and that aim they definitely achieved.

It is not surprising it is has been awarded the UK’s most beautiful University.

The university now offers an impressive mix of historic and modern buildings.

Once two colleges, Bedford College, in London, which opened in 1849 and Royal Holloway College.

Queen Victoria opened the Founders’ Building in 1886, giving the use of the title ‘Royal’ in the name and ever since there has been a strong royal connection.

In 1904 Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII became the first Royal Patron of Bedford College, which was awarded Royal Assent in 1909.

In 1986 HM Queen Elizabeth II visited the University to open the new Earth Sciences building (Queen’s Building), marking Royal Holloway’s centenary.

More recently in 2017, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal officially opened the latest addition to the campus, the Emily Wilding Davison Building in 2017.

The College’s art collection includes world-class paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and watercolours.

The Thomas Holloway collection of Victorian paintings are housed in the stunning Grade 1 listed Picture Gallery.

The extensive library has more than 450,000 books and 36,000 journals in both print and digital format. In addition to this main collection there are a number of rare and valuable items, archival works, internal publications, and major databases.

As well a seat for young learners, Royal Holloway has a range of modern, versatile spaces, to suit many conferences and events. With state-of-the-art audio visual facilities and free Wifi each event space is close to the dining facilities and accommodation.

The Windsor Building was a finalist in the ‘Best Auditorium’ category in the 2019 CHS Awards, and is the largest conference space. It comprises a 400 capacity auditorium with a spacious and light two storey foyer and 8 flexible breakout/seminar rooms. The rooms are suitable for a variety of events including large scale conferences, exhibitions and filming.

The Moore Building offers a wide range of meeting room options as well as a spacious and airy foyer and refreshment space.

Facilities include an auditorium, with capacity for up to 120 delegates and 9 flexible seminar rooms, with a tiered executive seminar room for up to 68 delegates in the neighbouring annex building.

Opened in October 2018, the Shilling Building is home to Royal Holloway’s newest conference and meeting spaces. The facilities comprise a large 250 seat auditorium, an 80 seat lecture theatre and a flexible seminar/break out room for 40 delegates.

The large foyer provides an ideal exhibition and refreshment space.

Royal Holloway’s conference and events facilities have been awarded the new COVID-19 industry standard accreditation “We’re good to go”.

If the Founders Building is not enough of a wow factor, then take a look at the chapel.

This beautiful gilded chapel includes basreliefs by Ceccardo Fucigna and a fine 3manual organ. It is multi faith place of worship and is also used for graduations.

Royal Holloway maintains a tradition of daily sung morning services. And it is thought they are the only university in the UK that does so.

The Founder’s dining hall is also a spectacular place and has been serving student meals since 1886 and still does so today in Victorian grandeur!

BML International-UK www.bmlinternational.co.uk

There is also a hidden 3.5-acre garden which was planted by the old Botanical Supply Unit in the early 1950s and has been maintained and added to as the years have passed. The well-established trees and plants come from all four corners of the world and are home to deer and foxes and many birds.

Royal Holloway University is a leading UK educational establishment and one that has been a ground-breaking place for female education over the years. Today this is still true, while it also has become a well-known inspiration and backdrop to many historical, architectural and cinematic projects.

Tourism News Europe, Americas, Asia & Africa

Venice, Italy

BILLIONS LOST FROM GLOBAL TOURISM The latest figures from the WTO show that with a reduction of international tourists by 65%, due to the covid-19 virus and subsequent restrictions imposed by countries, has resulted in the tourism sector losing UK£357 billion in the first half of 2020.

This is the equivalent to losses five times more compared to those recorded during the global financial crisis of 2009.

It is estimated that the reduction in demand will approach 70% for the whole year, given that some parts of the world, such as Europe, are again experiencing an increase in Covid cases and new restrictions on travellers are likely. To return to pre-2019 levels will take until approximately 2022-2024 at the earliest.

US CRUISE LINES MEET IN MIAMI FOR IMMEDIATE RETURN TO SERVICE United States Cruise line CEOs have called for a smart return to service at a meeting of the Miami-Dade County Tourism and the Ports Committee. There is real urgency for the industry to get back and have the opportunity to operate.

Carnival Corporation has been working non-stop with governments, health authorities, medical and scientific experts and stakeholders across the globe to develop science-based COVID-19 protocols. Costa Cruises, the company’s Italian brand, has returned to service recently in Italy.

MSC Cruises USA confirmed that its protocols put in place in Europe had been successful aboard the Grandiosa now on its 4th cruise tour.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said it is safe to cruise in America. We as an industry, we as a society, have learned a lot on how to live alongside COVID. Caribbean International said the Caribbean was also being highly impacted, with over 40 countries highly dependent on cruise calls for economic impact, originating on ships leaving from Miami.

NO MORE VAT-FREE SHOPPING WILL DAMAGE UK TOURISM & RETAIL The UK plans to end VAT-free shopping for international visitors (outside the EU) at the end of 2020. About UK£3.5 billion in tax-free sales are made to non-EU tourists each year.

At present the scheme allows international visitors in the UK to reclaim the VAT they pay on goods purchased but not consumed in the UK. The government says it’s open to fraud and costly to run.

However, retailers believe it will hit them hard as will tourism and many tourists come to the UK to buy branded products which they reclaim the VAT on, making them great value for money.

Such places likely to feel the change most are in tourism hotspots like London and Edinburgh, as well as the Bicester Shopping Village in Oxfordshire, which attracts huge numbers of international visitors wanting, branded goods.

If the plan goes ahead, the UK will be the only European country not offering a VAT-free shopping option for international visitors.

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

This would be devastating to industries like tourism, retail and leisure, who are already struggling with the impact of Covid-19. Other European cities will become far more attractive than the UK to overseas visitors Figures from Visit Britain highlight that international tourists spent UK£6 billion on shopping in the UK in 2018. Of those transactions, UK£3.5 billion were registered as tax free sales, although VAT was only reclaimed on UK£2.5 billion.

MICRO-TOURISM – CAN IT SAVE JAPAN'S TRAVEL INDUSTRY? Like all nations at present tourism is limited and mainly relying on the domestic sector.

Ishigaki island, Japan

In Japan, Silver Week is dedicated week where mature travellers go away to destinations approximately 30mins to an hour’s drive from their home. This is ‘micro-tourism’. This concept is not new to Japan.

It was popular in the 1970’s for people with limited time and budget for a vacation. This would often involve a swim in a public lake or other community activities.

The same concept has been reinvented by Yoshiharu Hoshino, CEO of Hoshino Resort Co who believes that now it will come into itself as the new form of tourism and help keep the tourism sector going in this strange new world we find ourselves in.

In Japan, as in many countries, domestic travel has huge potential. In 2019 it earned sales worth UK£162.06 billion. Inbound tourism generated sales worth just UK£35.34 billion in 2019. Now more than ever domestic tourism is the focus for saving the tourism industry of Japan but many other nations too.

The secret is to spread domestic tourism across the whole year and not have seasons of huge demand and high prices and places packed with tourists. No one wants a holiday like that.

The key to success for micro-tourism is to keep it simple. Limit the number of people you travel with, don’t stay too long in one place and don’t travel too far.

TOURISM RESUMES IN CUBA Cuba has received the first flight of tourists from Canada, after several months of absence. The return of tourism is vital and a positive step for those tourism based employees, small businesses and residents that rely on tourism to the island Air Canada is confident it will fly to Cuba every fortnight from October. Canadian tourists are the main source of tourism to Cuba, accounting for 1.1 million travellers of the 4.2 million visitors who visited in 2019.

La Havana, Cuba

SINGAPORE’S TOURISM RECOVERY COULD TAKE 3-5 YEARS The tourism industry is going to take a long time to fully recover, with international tourism expected to take between 3-5 years to reach pre-Covid levels. International tourism contributes to about 90% of hotel revenue in Singapore.

The Singapore Tourism Board says that businesses cannot go into hibernation mode if Singapore is to come roaring back as a top destination for high-value tourists when the situation begins to normalise. Domestic tourism is what will keep the sector going for the time being.

Businesses need to be creative in coming up with new revenue streams in the interim, and some may have to reposition their business to survive.

The Association of Singapore Attractions (ASA) urged operators that are barely hanging on to cut their losses, recovery is going to take a long time.

During a 2hr virtual gathering industry leaders across sectors such as hotels, retail and attractions spoke about the challenges they face amid the tourist drought and safe distancing restrictions, as well as the need to collaborate and to improve service levels.

Better service in stores is needed if retailers are to give shoppers an incentive to visit in person, said Singapore Retailers Association, otherwise they will just buy online.

There is a strong need to all pull together to make sure that businesses survive, even as we retool and as we rethink how we do our business.

COLOMBIAN TRAVEL AGENCIES TO BOOST DOMESTIC SECTOR Colombian travel agents are to focus on the promotion of domestic tourism to help recover the sector. Destinations like Putumayo, Guaviare, Montería, Valledupar, Sincelejo, Amazonas are some of the places to be promoted, as well as municipalities of the Tourist Network of Heritage Villages.

There will also be a focus on eco-tourism, ethno-tourism, adventure tourism, religious, well-being and community.

Bolivar Square, Bogota, Colombia

New products and destinations with high potential in the country will now be included in the tourist offer of Travel Agencies. The construction of these tourist packages has been carried out over the last few months and was consolidated within the framework of the recent ANATO Virtual Business Round for Tourist Chaining.

ST

DUBAI TOURISM FORMS BUSINESS EVENTS STAKEHOLDERS COMMITTEE AND HOSTS 1

MEETING

As the city gathers momentum with the resumption of conferences, meetings and exhibitions, Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) has formed a new Business Events Stakeholders Committee, reinforcing its commitment to engaging with the industry and re-establishing its place at the heart of Dubai’s economic growth and development as a knowledge hub.

Comprising key industry stakeholders, the committee, which will meet regularly throughout the year, provides a platform for twoway dialogue around the continuous strategic and operational development of Dubai’s competitive position as a host city for international business events.

Among the participants in the inaugural session were senior officials from airlines, venues, hotels, destination management companies (DMCs) and professional congress organisers (PCOs).

Organisations represented included Emirates, Dubai World Trade Centre, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, Alpha Destination Management, MCI Middle East and Expo 2020 Dubai.

Enabled by clear guidelines from Dubai Tourism and an aligned approach taken by stakeholders across the public and private sectors, the industry is looking to rapidly and safely rescale, with local business events resuming on 15 September and international business events set to return from 1 October.

Upcoming events in the city include The Airport Show (26-28 October), Annual Radiology Meeting (1-3 November) and Cityscape’s 2020 Real Estate Summit (16-17 November).

Underpinning the resumption of business events are guidelines for organisers and venues that prioritise the health and safety of all parties involved, while at the same time facilitating the meetings, conversations, networking and learning opportunities that attendees seek. These complement the measures already in place across other touchpoints across the city, including airports, hotels, attractions and dining establishments that have already paved the way for the resumption of tourism since 7 July.

GUATEMALA REOPENS BORDERS

Antigua, Guatemala

After being closed for 6 months, the borders of Guatemala are open again to commercial flights. The first flights were from the USA. Operations at the La Aurora International Airport and Mundo Maya, can commence under the sanitary protocols endorsed by the health authorities and recommendations of International Civil Aviation.

In order for a Guatemalan or foreigner to be allowed into the country, authorities will only require a negative PCR test for covid19 taken no more than 72 hours beforehand.

The maritime borders have also reopened and for the entry of visitors '24 hours prior to arrival, the ship's authorities will send a preliminary declaration of maritime health and the record of the temperature of the passengers and crew of the last 24 hours and a declaration of that they have no suspects for Covid-19 on board.'

Between January and June this year just 343,000 visitors arrived in the country, 61% less than for the same period of 2019, all due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

THE PARIS TOURISM COMMITMENT CHARTER AND ITS ‘CARING ATTITUDE’ The Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau have launched ‘Caring Attitude’, for Parisian tourism industry professionals. Its objective is to sign up to a series of commitments to welcome visitors around a common set of values and in accordance with the health measures in force.

The Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau have worked closely with Paris tourism stakeholders and Paris City Hall to prepare for the recovery of tourism activity in the French capital.

7 pledges for experiencing Paris carefree: • Tourism stakeholders ensure that the health measures recommended by the National Public Health Agency are implemented and complied with.

• A contact person for health protocol is appointed as a guarantor of good practice within establishments welcoming the public.

• Training in these new health measures is provided for the staff of these signatory establishments.

• Services are adapted to limit physical interaction (contactless payment, elimination of documentation, management of incoming and outgoing flows of people, etc.).

• Favouring of ‘Caring attitude’ partners to ensure the quality of the entire customer path.

• Favouring of flexible booking and cancellation conditions.

• Attachment to the values of welcome and benevolence of the City of Paris.

A new customer path for visiting Paris At each stage of your trip, from your journey, to your first steps in Paris, the way you get around the city as well as your sightseeing and leisure activities are the object of all the attention of tourism sector professionals, who attach great importance to your well-being. This is the assurance of a supervised and quality customer path.

Paris is once again a welcoming city full of life, and wishes to share with you a more sustainable; more united Paris, a Paris that has many hidden facets that Parisians will be eager to reveal to you.

GREEK TOURISM REVENUE DROPS 86% In the first 7 months of 2020, Greece saw a drop in inbound tourism receipts of 86.3%. This is attributed to the Covid-19 virus pandemic. Non-resident arrivals fell 80.1% year-on-year, while transportation revenues (mainly ocean freight) dropped 12.2%.

CHILE IS FIRST IN LATIN AMERICA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Chile has ranked 1st in Latin America in the 2020 Sustainable Development ranking. The assessment analyses the progress of countries with respect to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) within the 2030 Agenda established by the UN. Valle de la Luna, Chile

Chile achieved a total score of 77.4, surpassing the regional average. In Latin America, after Chile, were Costa Rica (75.1 points), Uruguay (74.3 points) and Ecuador (74.3 points).

VOUCHER SCHEME IN DRAFT TOURISM PLAN In a bid to keep tourism afloat in Northern Ireland a draft tourism action plan is being discussed which would introduce a voucher scheme to give households UK£50 to spend at local businesses. The idea came from several industry bodies as part of a tourism working group.

Bushmills, North Ireland, UK

Northern Ireland's tourism was looking forward to a record breaking year, with its tourism industry worth UK£1bn. The coronavirus pandemic, global lockdowns and current travel restrictions have damaged the international market.

The voucher scheme would be one a several attempts to support the tourism sector and would run in partnership with major Northern Ireland media outlets. It would allocate a set number of UK£50 vouchers to readers to redeem at participating businesses and be available to all households in Northern Ireland.

ROMANIAN VILLAGE SEES MASS TOURISM DUE TO ROYAL RESIDENCE The beautiful small village of Viscri in Central Romania has a tiny population of just 450 people and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Since 2006 it has had HRH Prince Charles as the owner of a traditional farmhouse in the village. HRH purchased the farmhouse in support of preserving the village architecture and the local way of life, which is unchanged for hundreds of years. In 2015, the Prince of Wales Foundation Romania was launched in order to preserve heritage architecture, supporting smallholder farmers and helping to develop sustainable businesses.

Following a recent visit by the Prince, the village has been overwhelmed by Romanian tourists turning up to the village in their thousands and in their cars.

Tourists are keen to take photos of the Prince’s blue Saxon farmhouse, which dates back to the 18th century.

In 2019, 45,000 tourists visited Viscri's 12th century fortified Lutheran Church. In 2015 that figure were just 15,000.

With Covid-19 restrictions, like many countries, domestic tourism has boomed and hence the increase in Romania tourism to the village.

The situation is bitter-sweet as tourism helps support local businesses in the area, but it has also increased house prices beyond the reach of locals.

CHINA TOURISM The number of tourists at the A-level tourist attractions across China increased by 158.7% in Q2 2020, while revenue grew 131.7%. In July and August, all tourist resorts in China reopened, and the number of tourists recovered to about 90% of last year's level.

JAPAN OPENING BORDERS FOR ALL NON-TOURIST NEW VISA APPLICANTS From this month, Japan will relax its border restrictions aimed at controlling the spread of Covid-19 and allow entry for new visa applicants other than tourists from all regions.

Under the existing travel controls, travellers from 159 countries and regions have been denied entry.

Exceptions had been made for foreign nationals with valid residence statuses, some newcomers in urgent situations as well as certain visa applicants whose families live in Japan or whose presence is necessary for their employer to continue business operations.

Nagano, Japan

The relaxed border control measures, will apply to new residents with permission to stay more than 3 months, regardless of where they come from.

SCHOOL OF ATHENS

BY RAPHAEL Dimitri Laspas

This is without doubt one of the most spectacular paintings I have ever seen. It truly takes your breath away, not only for its size (5m × 7.7m), but the colours and for the room in which it sits, in the labyrinth of rooms within the Vatican in Rome, Italy.

I wish I had stood for a lot longer absorbing this masterpiece; to really see all the messages and stories it was telling. But visiting Rome in summer 2019 was not for the faint-hearted and so unfortunately one gets swept along in the mass of visitors flowing through the Vatican.

Having said that, it was one of the best holidays I have had and every corner astonished me with Roman beauty. I would not hesitate to go back and see it all over again.

So, the ‘School of Athens’ is a fictional fresco created in 1509-1511 by Raphael. It is on display in the Stanza della Segnatura (Room of the Signature), Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican. Here the Church leaders would sign and seal the most significant documents at the time.

The room was also used as the Pope’s library. Commission to decorate the room, Raphael painted individual frescos of the 4 principal subjects found in the library: law, religion, literature, and philosophy. It is a stunning room!

Stanze di Raffaello (Raphael)

The ‘School of Athens’ brings together almost all the most influential thinkers across a millennium, from the greatest mathematicians, philosophers and scientists gathered together sharing their ideas and learning from each other. These figures all lived at different times, but here they are seen together under one roof.

The Vatican

Central to the painting is the founding fathers of western philosophy, Aristotle and Plato - Aristotle (on the right) and Plato (on the left, pointing up). The head of Plato is close to the self portrait of Leonardo da Vinci.

However looking carefully, it is clear to work out many of the others. Raphael never left notes of who was who, so since its creation, debate on the message and its secrets have been debated.

Plato

Within the painting we can easily identify Pythagoras writing in a large book and with a tablet at his feet, on which a harmonic scale is drawn.

Aristotle

Epicurus

Epicurus was the founder of Epicureanism, a highly influential school of philosophy. He is seen with a green leaf wreath on his head on the left hand side of the fresco.

Left of Plato, Socrates is represented with a brown tunic and in conversation with a young man with a headdress; Alexander the Great.

Hypatia

Just below this group is clearly the only female image in the painting, depicted in an angelic form; this was the only way Raphael could include Hypatia of Alexandria. She was a professor of philosophy, mathematics and astronomy at the University of Alexandria, one of the most famous students of the school.

She was, for her time, the only woman for whom such claim can be made. Raphael was questioned over the inclusion of her by the Bishop as he believed that ‘knowledge of her runs counter to the belief of the faithful!’ and therefore she had to be taken out of the painting. Raphael was determined to keep her in the painting and so, to get around the issue, he turned her into a more angelic form, dressed in white and she is looking directly at us.

Ptolemy (with his back to us on the lower right), holds a sphere of the earth, and next to him is Zaroaster holding a celestial sphere. Also included in this group is Raphael himself as a self-portrait; he stands next to Ptolemy and looks right out at us.

We can also identify Euclid, the Greek mathematician, considered the ‘father of geometry’. He is bending down with a compass in his hand on the bottom right of the painting.

The central old gentleman sitting on the steps in the middle is Diogenes, the founder of the Cynic philosophy.

Alexander The Great

Seated in the first row with his head resting on his hand is the philosopher Heraclitus, Greek philosopher remembered for his cosmology, in which fire forms the basic material principle of an orderly universe.

Diogenes

Out of interest, the two large statues that sit in niches at the back of the school are Apollo, God of light, archery and music, and Athena, goddess of wisdom in the Roman form of Minerva.

It is clear that the overall message Raphael wanted us to take from this magnificent fresco is that everyone has their moment, everyone has something to say, to teach, to learn, from antiquity to today, if we all come together we can achieve great things.

Airline & Aviation News

EU AIR TRAVEL SUSTAINABILITY QUESTIONED Questions are being raised as to the clarity of the European Commission’s proposals regarding the sustainability of future air travel.

Is the objective to make it much more expensive for passengers to fly, so they fly less? That is not sustainability; it just aims to influence consumer behaviour. Are more taxes meant to encourage companies to speed up their sustainability programmes?

The European Commission recently announced its plan to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared with 1990 levels. It has discussed measures such as taxes on aviation fuel as helping the region to meet that target.

Instead of taxation, the development of biofuels and new generation aircraft should be the way forward. While many EU nations have had to bailout their airlines due to Covid-19, the imposing of taxes is just the same money going round and around.

On a positive note, the European Commission plan sets to improve European airspace, which would reduce emissions by around 10%.

In addition the Single European Sky programme aims to digitalise and decarbonise the sector, which is the quickest, best and cheapest possible way to reduce CO2 emissions.

ISRAIR OPERATES BAHRAIN FLIGHT AFTER ISRAELI PACT WITH KINGDOM After the signing of a diplomatic agreement between Israel and Bahrain, Israeli leisure carrier ‘Israir’ has flown a service to Bahrain from Tel Aviv. This follows another historic deal between Israel and the UAE.

OVER 4,000 JOBS CUT AT SINGAPORE AIRLINES Singapore Airlines Group, is to cut approx 4,300 jobs across its airlines to help deal with ongoing uncertainty due to the pandemic.

It means that it will need to lay off 2,400 employees at Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and Scoot airlines in Singapore and abroad.

The company said that "Singapore Airlines is in an even more vulnerable position, since it does not have an internal market that will be the first to see a recovery. To remain viable in this uncertain landscape, the group's airlines will operate a smaller fleet for a reduced network compared to their pre-Covid operations in the coming years.”

For 2020-2021 it expects to operate at less than 50% of capacity, and does not expect to return to pre-Covid levels until 2024, as it relies on international demand.

AEGEAN WATERWAYS NETWORK The creation of a seaplane network, connecting 20 islands of the South Aegean is taking shape and soon will gain their licence to fly.

Syros Island, Greece

Technical studies have already been carried out to assess the environmental impact, noise levels, landing sites, etc. The Greek islands that will benefit from these routes are: Rhodes, Halki, Symi, Tilos, Karpathos, Kastelorizo, Agathonisi, Nisyros, Astypalea, Kasso, Kea, Mykonos, Santorini, Kythnos, Kos, Andros, Sikino, Serifos, Donousa as well as Anafi.

AIRBUS HEADING FOR COLLAPSE Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury has said that Airbus is at risk of collapse due to the ongoing health crisis. In order to survive, the company would need to get rid of 15,000 jobs and may have to put in place compulsory redundancies despite saying that 13,000 of its workforce were undergoing voluntary redundancy.

Airbus has seen a huge decline in aircraft deliveries and a 65% drop in revenue.

HOW TO BUY GET A CHEAP FLIGHT Getting from A to B can be the most expensive bit of a holiday, and we are all wanting to find the cheapest price possible. There are a number of tips for achieving the best possible ticket outcome.

Compare prices before buying: Use both a flight ticket search engine and the airlines own website.

Parthenon, Athens, Greece

Keep your dates of travel flexible: This can make a big difference to the price.

Prices are always more on weekends, and on the eve of national holidays, etc. By just moving your date by one day you can save more.

Put your browser mode in private mode: Make sure to take advantage of your internet browser's incognito mode feature while searching for flight tickets. This means there will be no flight ticket searches in the browser history, so you will not meet increasingly different price options depending on your search.

Clear cookies in your browser: Clearing the history and cookies in your search engine ensures that the plane ticket you searched for before is forgotten in your browser.

Therefore an airline will think you are a new customer and offer a good price.

Delete cookies and all searches relating to your travel from your internet history!

Check the season of your travel route: For example, flights to the Mediterranean from the northern hemisphere will be very expensive from May-August. If you can travel outside of the school holidays you will still get great weather, but less people and cheaper flight prices.

Buy quickly: The price of tickets changes rapidly, from hour to hour, so when you find the perfect flight at the best price, book it!

Get mobile apps: Be sure not to miss out on last minute deals with instant notifications.

Sign up for mail newsletters: Keep updated on all your travel needs. Keep ahead of any changes or new things to do at your destination.

Shirahige Shrine, Lake Biwa, Japan

Search for mile programmes: Utilise one of the many accumulating miles programmes; so you earn miles while doing your day-to-day shopping so that they can then use the miles later on or give you discounts, upgrades and better hotel prices.

Buy a one-way ticket: Search for your tickets one way, so you can choose the flights from different airlines. This can often be cheaper than a return option on the same airline.

Choose a connecting flight: Instead of travelling direct, opt for a connecting flight. Just be careful that you allow enough time to make the connection, especially if the connecting flight is in a different terminal. If the connection is in several hours, take advantage of seeing the stop-over city as part of your trip!

Use a VPN: Airline ticket prices may vary by country, by using a VPN application, you can purchase air tickets at local prices as the VPN application makes you look like you are in a different country. This is ideal for searching international flight.

www.bmlinternational.co.uk

CHINESE AVIATION RECOVERING WITH CHEAP SEATS Global airlines should look to China’s airlines as a potential solution to staying in the air post-Covid. Chinese airlines are attracting passengers with bargain flights as its more cost effective to offer cheap flights than to have aircraft grounded, despite them still making a loss.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China says Chinese daily flights have recovered to 90% of the prepandemic levels with a full recovery by the end of the year. Incredibly, China Southern Airlines saw passenger capacity grow year on year in August.

FASTER REFUNDS FROM NORWEGIAN Automatic reimbursement will shorten the time it takes to get money back from Norwegian.

SAS continues with manual refunds. Automatic refunds Have been closed since March, meaning customers have had to wait a long time for their money back.

Norwegian aims to have cleared all refunds by the end of October.

FINNAIR RESUMES ITS FLIGHT TO NANJING, CHINA Finnair has begun operating one weekly flight between Helsinki and Nanjing.

Operated with an Airbus A350 until 18 October combining cargo and passenger demand.

Finnair currently offers connections to 30 destinations in Europe and Finland from its Helsinki hub and serves some 40 destinations in Asia, operating in total 80-90 flights per day.

MC-21 DELIVERIES TO START ‘BY THE END’ OF 2021 Russia’s Irkut MC-21, a medium-haul passenger aircraft will begin deliveries at the end of 2021.

It’s first priority will be to Russian airlines and will then accept foreign orders.

www.miceandtourismaroundtheworld.com

VIETNAM AIRLINES RESUMES INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS WITH

SEOUL-HANOI

Vietnam Airlines has just begun to reopen its Seoul-Hanoi route. It’s the 1st official since the Covid-19 situation destabilised in Vietnam. The Airbus A350 offered through its offices and official agents in South Korea and Vietnam.

scheduled international commercial flight over 300 seats, with tickets being sold

Passengers are subject to various requirements, including a valid Covid-19 result taken within 3 days before departure; confirming their quarantine details in Vietnam; installing a tracking app on their mobile phone; and completing medical reports.

Upon returning to Vietnam, crew members will be given health checks and quarantined as per regulations. The whole aircraft will be disinfected including the passenger compartment and cockpit in accordance with international standards.

After suspending international flights since 23 March, Vietnam has resumed commercial passenger operations on 6 international routes to Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; Guangzhou, China; Vientian, Laos; Taipei, Taiwan; and Phnom Penh, Cambodia. There will be no more than 2 flights per week for each destination. China Southern Airlines will operate Guangzhou-Ho Chi Minh City once a week.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways will alternately operate one weekly flight from Tokyo to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.

INCREASED FLIGHTS BETWEEN USA AND COSTA RICA Until 18 October increased flights between the US and Costa Rican airports will take place. This comes after 5 months of flight suspension due to the health crisis.

United Airlines will fly daily from Houston, Texas, to the Juan Santamaría International Airport 3 times a week; to the Daniel Oduber Quirós air terminal, in Liberia with the alternative of increasing frequencies in October.

The Costa Rican Institute of Tourism, said that United Airlines announced a resumption of scheduled flights from Newark, New Jersey, 4 times a week from October and once a week to Liberia. United also confirmed that they will fly from Colorado from the end of October.

BRITISH AIRWAYS TO FLY BOEING 787 WITH FLAT-BED BUSINESS CLASS TO ATHENS British Airways is to fly 4 Boeing 787’s between London and Athens in October.

The flights are scheduled due to increased cargo demand on the route for selected dates.

Typically European business class is just a comfy seat with no one seated next to you. This new option will see a significant upgrade to the normal business class offer.

CARIBBEAN AIRLINE ‘AIR CARAÏBES’ NEW INTER REGIONAL FLIGHTS Air Caraïbes will resume flights to Punta Cana from 17 October and Haiti from 26 October, in a bid to offer value connections and to help boost tourism in the Dominican Republic.

Air Caraïbes will be the only company to serve Port-au-Prince directly from Paris-Orly.

QANTAS CHANGES IN ITS MANAGEMENT Qantas Airways has announced that Tino La Spina, International Division Head has been replaced by former Chief Financial Officer Andrew David.

With the airline’s international flights grounded until at least mid-2021, the airline decided to consolidate the domestic and international business units under a single divisional CEO.

Green, mysterious,

enjoyable city Vilnius Lithuania

by Orinta Labutyte writer & photographer

I write this sitting on the highest place of the city, the Hill of Three Crosses. The air is filled with the smell of pines, bird songs and the curious play of squirrels. In front of my eyes - a sea of red roofs, the castle hill, towers of churches, palaces - the UNESCO-inscribed old town panorama of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.

The Hill of Three Crosses, Vilnius, Lithuania

Since 1323, the first time Grand Duke Gediminas mentioned Vilnius in letters to the Roman Pope and Western Europe countries, the city developed as a multi-cultural, multi-religious city and it is now ready to meet You.

Situated among naturally formed hills and two rivers, Vilnius - the greenest capital in Europe with high-quality groundwater is often said to be “a city in a forest”. In the morning and in the evening you can enjoy a flight with a hot air balloon, or discover the city by kayaking, riding a bike or walking.

Down the hill, on the shore of the river Vilnele, 15th century Bernardine monks turned a swampy and springy place into a garden.

Today Bernardines’ park is one of the most popular places to relax and get in touch with nature.

Just beyond the park, crossing the bridge and climbing up the stairs to the Jonas Mekas pathway, lies the Bohemian Republic of Uzupis - one of the most interesting and colorful Vilnius neighbourhoods. It is often called the “Lithuanian Montmartre” or “Freetown Christiania of Vilnius”. The Uzupis Angel overlooks some shabby looking, cosy pubs, cafes, restaurants, pottery workshops and, most important, the constitution wall with 41 equally brilliant articles, like “Everyone has the right to understand nothing”, “A dog has the right to be a dog”.

Follow the river to one of the most beautiful gothic church ensembles: St. Anne’s and St Bernardine’s, popular among couples for getting married there. Legend has it that the fragile-looking St Anne’s church made such an impression on Napoleon Bonaparte, that he wanted to take it home “in the palm of his hand”.

A couple of minutes walking through imperfectly cobbled streets and you will find yourself in an amber gallery - museum. In its 15th-century street level premises, you may get acquainted with an outstanding collection of Baltic amber, with items that are 55-50 million years old.

Pilies street - the main artery of Vilnius old town, the road to the castle. A lively street with many inviting local souvenir shops, linen, ceramic and hand-crafted high-quality products created by local artists are hidden in sheltered courtyards. Be curious and discover what surprises lie beyond the many arches.

It is a pure pleasure to enjoy the atmosphere of old elegant Vilnius with a tasty bite of hot apple pie with vanilla ice-cream while sitting in the famous creperie-bakery Pilies Kepyklele (Castle Bakery).

Want something more exciting? Indulge yourself in a sweet sin experience at the corner of Pilies and Bernardinu street, enjoy the pleasurable, hot, spicy, gentle taste of chocolate made by AJ Sokoladine experts.

Vilnius’ Cathedral

European cultural traditions, history, and science. Vilnius University, one of the oldest in Europe, was established in 1579.

It’s buildings encompass 13 different connected courtyards.

Do not miss St John’s church bell tower with Foucault's pendulum demonstrating the effect of the rotation of the Earth, with an observation deck offering a 360° view of the old town panorama.

In a proverb as well as in reality - it’s only one step from a student to a president. The presidential palace is just in front of Vilnius University. In the summertime, the inner garden is open for weekend visitors. The same garden that Napoleon Bonaparte walked in while staying in the palace for 19 days in 1812.

Just a few minutes walk up Universiteto Dominikonu streets allows you to discover the Church of the Divine Mercy Sanctuary.

Every day, 24/7, this place attracts more and more religious and curious people from all over the world. Here is the original of the now-famous image of the Merciful Jesus.

Enjoy a coffee break in the historical surrounding of the Jewish quarter, at Poniu Laime (The Ladies' Delight) in front of the first 5* hotel in Lithuania. Sip your cup of coffee with absolute enjoyment and get pleasure from luxury cakes in this dessertparadise. The best Vilnius restaurants, situated in Old town, offer to discover historical, national and modern cuisine.

Vilnius’ University

The city has always been open to foreigners. Famous cultural activists from all over Europe were living here and developed Vilnius as a cultural center.

Since that time the cultural life of Vilnius has increased and it is full of fun and events all year round.

Baroque makes Vilnius an extraordinary city among many European capitals.

Churches and palaces remind of the glory of the city centuries ago, hence Vilnius’ title of “Northern baroque pearl”. St Casimir’s and St Teresa churches are among the first baroque masterpieces in Vilnius, but the most outstanding is the church of St Peter and St Paul’. Here you can marvel at the over 2000 beautifully created stucco figurines that adorn the entire interior of the church.

Stikliu Street

www.bmlinternational.co.uk

While wandering Vilnius’ Old Town, don’t forget to enjoy the Lithuanian legendary hard cheese at Dziugas house. In this splendid cafe, I love to enjoy handmade chocolate sweets with different cheese filling, it’s definitely a gourmet place.

Vilnius is a city of secrets and miracles. A couple of minutes uphill and you’re in front of the Gates of Dawn with a childless Madonna’s icon, famous for its miracles. It attracts masses of visitors and pilgrims.

Silver and golden votive offerings stuck to the walls, as a sign of gratitude and faith, in the testimony of the favors received from the Mother of Mercy. With a silent prayer, people find spiritual help and consolation here.

As some people go to church on Sunday mornings, others go to the market.

Hales Turgus is the oldest market place in Vilnius and one of the most modern markets in Europe.

Old city, Vilnius

Authentic architectural constructions make it a unique building throughout all Lithuania. Here you can discover traditional dairy products like white cottage cheese with caraway seeds, cold or hot smoking ham, fats, forest mushrooms, berries, honey, mead, dark rye bread, vegetables, and fruits. Take your time to taste Lithuanian dishes, meet with friends and enjoy a concert on Friday night. I call it a “silent” market, where no one shouts “come to me my friend”, “special price for you” or grabs your hand.

If Vilnius could talk, probably it would tell you thousands of different stories. So it’s time for unforgettable meeting with a quirky, lovely city Vilnius. You can experience it too!

Halė Market, Vilnius

If Vilnius could talk, probably it would tell you thousands of different stories. So it’s time for unforgettable meeting with a quirky, lovely city Vilnius. You can experience it too!

Enjoy Vilnius cultural l Visit the life; newest museums: - the “Samuel Bak Museum”- the first museum in the world devoted solely to the art of this famous painter.

- the MO Modern Art Museum - dedicated to the exploration of works created from 1960 to present by Lithuanian artists.

Discover the Halė Market and Lithuanian culinary heritage. You can experience it too!

The Castle, Vilnius

M.I.C.E & Events News Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions & Venues

ATHENS DEMOCRACY FORUM 2020 The 2020 Athens Democracy Forum will be held virtually this year with a small gathering in Athens. Even before the current crisis, democracy was threatened: from hijacked elections to the spread of extreme ideologies to the increasingly sophisticated tactics of strongmen. The effects have become alarmingly apparent: migration shifts, climate change, economic uncertainty and general global unrest. With Covid-19 still among us, democratic values have been even further stretched and calls to reinvent democracy are more urgent than ever.

Themed ‘The New Abnormal: Reimagining Democracy’, the Athens Democracy Forum will convene leaders from government, business, civic society and the non-profit sector to explore real solutions to the most pressing issues facing democracy.

www.athensdemocracyforum.com VICE-CHAIRMAN AND SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE GLOBAL TOURISM ECONOMY FORUM, PANSY HO GIVES VIRTUAL KEYNOTE SPEECH AT THE WORLD CONFERENCE ON TOURISM COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT Vice-Chairman and Secretary-General of the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF), Pansy Ho gave a keynote speech at the World Conference on Tourism Cooperation and Development recently. Hosted by the World Tourism Cities Federation, the Conference is held under the framework of the 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). The Conference is held in collaboration with the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and co-organised with over 10 leading international tourism and trade entities The hybrid onsite and online format, was broadcast to 150 WTCF member cities and other 200 WTCF member organisations in 75 countries and regions.

-Solidarity and Cooperation Brings Recovery to the Global Tourism Economy The Conference theme was ‘Rebuilding World Tourism for Prosperity’ in efforts to provide recovery recommendations to those impacted by the pandemic. Pansy Ho expressed, “Around the world, we see green shoots of recovery with the easing of travel restrictions and an increase in domestic travel.

Only through solidarity and cooperation can the global tourism economy recover and harness its powerful multiplier effect.”

She also referenced the profound vision for collaboration stated by President Xi Jinping during his speech at the Virtual Opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly, ‘Mankind is a community with a shared future; solidarity and cooperation is our most powerful weapon for defeating the virus.’ It is in this spirit of a shared future that the international community can find the inspiration to come together and make tourism central to the restart of the global economy to promote prosperity, generate employment and foster new growth drivers.”

Furthermore, she expressed, “During the pandemic, closed borders, lockdowns, and a decline in consumer confidence have so far resulted in a global decline of 300 million tourists and UK£248 billion lost in international tourism receipts. This impact is already more than three times the loss suffered during the Global Economic Crisis of 2009. But there are opportunities in all crises and today is an opportunity to rethink the future of tourism and to reinvest in its potential.”

Advances in Technology Redefines Travel Continuing, she said that technology and innovation will help the tourism sector overcome its current challenges. “Tools such as facial recognition, digital wallets, biometric surveillance have made travel more of a seamless experience, particularly in transportation and accommodation. At the same time, robotic technology has advanced touchless systems and led to improved hygiene, ensuring safety and boosting traveller confidence. Technology has also helped art, culture, and creativity to continue to thrive. Cultural sites and museums have opened their virtual doors, connecting audiences via livestream to the Palace of Versailles in France, the Palace Museum in Beijing, and the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang City, among many others. Virtual technology has allowed us to continue life’s adventures from our homes as we look forward to traveling again.”

Macao Shows Resilience through the Adoption of Innovative Solutions and Cooperative Efforts Pansy Ho highlights Macao’s success at measures adopted in combating the virus and its implications. Several initiatives to support residents, welcome back visitors, and recreate prosperity stand out. She stated, “As a City of Gastronomy and part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, Macao has provided support to creative industries and launched financial aid measures to support professionals. This includes free online learning videos to enhance human capital in the gastronomic sector, a ‘Welfare to Work’ programme to create favourable working conditions for artists, and an ‘online handicraft teaching’ with videos to promote Mac ao’s handicrafts and products. Lastly, to further support SMEs, the government designed ‘Macao Ready Go!’ an e-platform to gather special offers on retail, leisure, and entertainment.” www.gte-forum.com

WTM LONDON, GOES VIRTUAL After 40 years of you coming to us, WTM London 2020 is coming to you! We are facilitating a completely virtual event which is taking place on 911 November. The main aim is to help recover and rebuild and shape the travel industry at a time when it needs it the most. The virtual event will focus on restoring and developing business connections, growing your network, your brand and learning how to make your comeback.

Taking place across 3 days, from 7am-10pm, to allow access from the different zones across the globe, the live conference sessions and forums will be tackling some of the issues the industry is facing today, as well as speed networking sessions, one -to-one meetings, and virtual networking opportunities. The aim is to keep the global travel conversation alive and help deliver new connections as well as offering a wide range of online business opportunities.

Addressing the impact the global health pandemic has had on the travel and tourism industry and discussing a road map to recovery, identifying the trends and innovations shaping the future of the industry will help us all take the right path ahead.

WORLD EXPO DUBAI-UAE: NEW DATES 1 OCTOBER 2021 - 31 MARCH 2022 The World Expo 2020 will now run one year later than expected, from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. The organisers are now making strong progress to prepare for a new Expo that will reunite the world in 2021, with far-reaching precautionary measures allowing us to keep all event preparations on track while ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone working throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

Now, more than ever, we stand as one. At Expo 2020, we look forward to harnessing that power of collaboration and innovation, helping us emerge from this crisis stronger than ever.

EMITT ISTANBUL 2022 In order for all our stakeholders, especially our exhibitors and visitors, to have a more efficient exhibition experience, our exhibition, which was planned to be held from 10 – 13 February 2021, has been postponed to 2022.

The new date will be shared with you when it is finalised.

We are excited to actualise our business partnerships more comprehensively than ever and welcome you at 25th EMITT East Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Exhibition, which we are planning on holding at TUYAP Fair and Congress Center in 2022.

AIME WELCOMES NEW EVENT DIRECTOR TO LEAD 2021 HYBRID EVENT Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME), the leading meetings and conventions event in the Asia Pacific region, has appointed its new Event Director, Silke Calder, to lead its first hybrid event taking place from 15 March 2021.

With over 20 years of experience across creative agencies, international trade conventions and venues, Silke joins the team at Talk2 Media & Events to spearhead the new model and showcase an event format of the future, which will be both uniquely digital and physical.

Endorsing Silke’s capabilities in leading world-class trade shows, Talk2 Media & Events CEO Matt Pearce said, “We are so excited to welcome Silke to our driven and determined team, and even more excited to showcas e to the business events sector how committed we are in helping our industry accelerate growth into next year.

“AIME’s DNA of connecting quality buyers and exhibitors to create meaningful connections has not changed, but rather adapted, and I am honoured to be able to deliver what I know is sure to be a stellar event for those attending,” says Silke Calder, Event Director, Talk2 Media & Events.

AIME will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 15–17 March February 2021 and be available online 15–26 March.

POSIDONIA WEB FORUMS WEEK ANNOUNCED 26-30 October 2020 Following the cancellation of the Posidonia Exhibition this October, the organisers are bringing together leading maritime media and organisations during what would have been Posidonia exhibition week for a series of web conferences and forums under the banner "It’s time to talk". At this critical time, it is an initiative that creates an opportunity for the maritime community to debate the crucial issues and the many challenges it is facing.

The global disruption of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the shipping industry, compounded by the cancellation of conferences and events that would normally be offering a platform for meetings and debate. Now, more than ever, is the time for the shipping industry to talk again and reopen the channels for exchanging ideas and exploring solutions.

“We are delighted that Posidonia Web Forums Week will be taking place in October with a programme of exciting web events hosted by our partner organisations TradeWinds, Lloyd’s List, Seatrade Maritime, YES Forum and MariMatch” says Theodore Vokos, Managing Director, Posidonia Exhibitions S.A. “Once again, Posidonia is bringing the maritime communities together. That’s what Posidonia is all about”.

Further web events will be announced. Audience participants will see and hear top shipowners and operators debate key topics including the post-pandemic business environment for shipping. The events listing will be posted on:

www.posidonia-events.com NO EVENTS NO EXHIBITIONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR 6 MONTHS! Following a spike in the covid virus cases, it has been decided that no events will take place in the UK for Also no spectators can attend sporting events. If all goes well, the rules may be relaxed prior to Spring 2021.

The British Prime Minister said: “We have to acknowledge that the spread of the virus is now affecting business conferences, exhibitions and large sporting events, so we will not be able to do this and continued to say “For the time being, this virus is a fact of our lives.

BOGOTA JOINED THE SOUTH AMERICAN M.I.C.E ALLIANCE The Greater Bogota Convention Bureau announces the launch of a regional alliance aimed at the reactivation of the events industry and to finding more business opportunities for the city.

In an unprecedented event, the Convention Bureaux of Bogota, Buenos Aires, Lima, São Paulo and Quito Tourism, officially presented the creation of the South American M.I.C.E Alliance, an inter-institutional cooperation aimed to the development, promotion and positioning of these capital cities as M.I.C.E destinations, as well as increasing opportunities for hosting events.

The tourism industry is experiencing a historic moment with an impact never seen before, which has contributed to its transformation and redesigning, in a strategic and timely manner. This year, the forecast for the events’ growth in Latin America was at 2.6%, a figure that could have positioned the continent with the highest growth worldwide. Today, this alliance seeks to pursue the same objective, promoting the 5 cities together and joining forces to promote a responsible recovery, through what has been called: South American M.I.C.E Alliance.

The cooperation agreement is based on three strategic lines, whose actions are established and prioritized in the short, medium and long term: -Strategic line 1: Exchange of best practices regarding Bureaux operations and biosafety protocols for the reopening and reactivation of the events industry.

-Strategic point 2: Joint promotional campaign and positioning of the alliance´s brand.

-Strategic point 3: Exchange of key information and leads of previous events successfully held in each destination, that could benefit all the 5 members.

6 months. our ability to reopen from October 1st

“The South American M.I.C.E Alliance is a clear reflection of our growth as a region, and we are convinced that, by working together, with empathy and solidarity, we will multiply the positive impact for our destinations. Through this inter -institutional cooperation action plan, aimed to the development, promotion and positioning of M.I.C.E destinations, we are committed to increase the number of event opportunities, thus generating more foreign investment and a recovery for the entire value chain of the s ector”, affirmed Liliana Orbegozo, Executive Director of the Greater Bogota Convention Bureau.

This alliance was presented during a special webinar organised by both institutions, where the main topic of discussion was t he potential of the destinations for the meetings, conventions, and events sector. The webinar highlight ed that in 2019 Quito hosted 42 international events, with more than 12,000 participants and revenue close to UK£5.7 million. The capital city of Ecuador was host to 65% of the events held in Ecuador. On the other hand, Bogotá is the main economic, financi al, and corporate centre of Colombia with close to 290,000 companies, including 250,000 in Bogotá and 40,000 in Cundinamarca. In addition, 52% of tourists enterin g the country have Bogotá as their final destination.

For Liliana Orbegozo Convers, Executive Director of the Greater Bogota Convention Bureau, “Bogotá is a MICE destination because of its competitive prices, air connectivity and high-quality services. We want event planners to discover the wonderful potential we have.

Events not only generate economic development, they also generate social and environmental development, and bring innovation.”

The leader stated that Quito and Bogotá are sister cities, so this is an opportunity to get even closer. “As we strengthen these regional ties, Latin America will be more competitive for the event planners,” she emphasised.

It is expected that other Latin American cities will join this initiative to consolidate a regional alliance to promote the MICE industry in Latin America.

IBTM WORLD GOES VIRTUAL IBTM Events has announced that IBTM World will be virtual this year and take place from 8 – 10 December 2020. The online event will incorporate 3 full days of one-to-one business meetings, a comprehensive programme of content and many of the key features of the live event, tailored to take place online. As with all IBTM’s events, exhibitors and Hosted Buyers will benefit from IBTM’s bespoke appointment system, matching buyer’s business needs with supplier’s services to ensure they meet with people with whom there is a strong chance of doing business.

Trade visitors will be able to register for the online event and, as well as accessing education sessions and event features, they will be able to request ‘walk-up’ meetings with exhibitors via a chat function, with the option to convert directly into a video call if required.

A selection of gated and live content will be available on all three days of the event. The third and final day of the event will include a full schedule of live and pre-recorded education sessions taking place on ‘IBTM TV’, available to all registered attendees.

ETIHAD AIRWAYS SIGNS PARTNERSHIP WITH MCI TO OFFER SPECIAL RATE MICE PACKAGES Etihad Destination & Leisure Management and MCI Middle East, have agreed to offer special rate MICE packages for programmes serviced by MCI in Abu Dhabi throughout 2021 and 2022.

Through the partnership, Etihad Airways becomes the official airline for all MICE groups coming into Abu Dhabi or events taking place internationally where Etihad can support through their connectivity.

Etihad will offer speaker and travel management services for all conferences serviced by MCI in Abu Dhabi. This new agreement enables MCI to now offer its clients additional connectivity into destinations covered by Etihad as well as enable exhibitors, speakers and visitors to purchase Etihad’s full conference package at a special rate, which includes event entrance, flights, hotel accommodation and ground transportation.

KILIFAIR PRESENTS THE FIRST ‘KILIMANJARO TOURISM SUMMIT 2020’ 4-5 DECEMBER 2020 The “Kilimanjaro Tourism Summit” is going to be an annual tourism event to connect Tanzania Tourism Stakeholders and Tourism Government Authorities, in a professional casual business surrounding. The Kilimanjaro region is home of Mountain climbing and Safari excursions, both important pillars of the Tanzania Tourism income.

KIA (Kilimanjaro International Airport) handles 80% of fly-in tourism to the country and is located just 45km away from Moshi making it the new networking-event at the right place - at the right time.

COVID-19 has turned the world on its feet and tourists are yet to come back. The ‘Kilimanjaro Tourism Summit 2020’ is the perfect event to connect with other Key-Players of the most effected travel industry. Let’s meet, network, exchange and rebuild tourism together. Both domestic and international!

INDIA’S NEW TOURISM PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION – IATTE The Indian Association of Travel and Tourism Experts (IATTE), a new one-of-itskind innovative online platform for travel trade partners was formed recently.

Aiming to grow as India’s largest forum for travel professionals, IATTE is bringing the various verticals of the tourism and hospitality industry under one roof in an online environment.

Since its inauguration, within 100 days the association has seen a strong growth with membership reaching over 1,000 members. The associations Managing Committee consist of 20 professionals of the industry with plans to expand it further to 40 members by the end of this year. Industry veteran, Mr. Subhash Verma has been appointed as the National Advisor of the IATTE. Ms. Veena Robinson has been appointed as the General Secretary while Mr. Gaurav Khandelwal and Mr. Jatin G. Mehta have taken up the role of Joint Secretaries. The key members of the Managing Committee also include Aanal Dhabi as Treasurer and Nischay Manchanda as Head-Youth Wing. Mr. Naveen Manchanda, President of IATTE. IATTE membership is complimentary for the financial year 2020-2021.

The association was formed to address the challenges being faced by the tourism sector presently. Mr Naveen Manchanda, Founder and CEO of Tour Passion is creator and President of IATTE says, “Suppliers across the spectrum of travel trade can be a part of IATTE. We want to create an ecosystem where our members can network and get advantage of negotiated rates. We are already imparting knowledge to our members that can help them to grow in the post pandemic world through various webinars.”

Mr. Naveen Manchanda

Recently, the IATTE President met with India’s Tourism Minister, Prahlad Singh Patel in Jaipur. Mr. Manchanda apprised the minister about the various challenges being faced by the industry in the wake of the health pandemic. The meeting took place soon after the formation of the IATTE reflecting the proactive approach of IATTE and its vision to engage with the power corridors to highlight the aspirations and challenges of the industry in both organised and unorganised markets.

IATTE through its virtual meets has already provided insight to its members on how to balance strategy and operational excellence post-Covid-19 pandemic. Other topics that the forum has focused on included how businesses can heal at present scenario and focus on efficiency, collaborations and creativity.

“This unique forum will provide Indian and global perspectives on how organisations are reacting to current unforeseen circumstances and overcoming challenges by converting them into opportunities. Members will have a comprehensive understanding to take back and implement in their operations, processes and businesses as a whole which should stand them in a better place than before,” added Manchanda.

The combined Indian tourism industry calls for united effort. With a new lockdown imminently expected, the Indian tourism industry has begun preparing to bring positivity and trust within the sector while reiterating that with precautions, India is safe to travel.

Indian Association of Travel and Tourism Experts (IATTE) recently organised an online meeting to promote unity and positivity within the tourism industry. “All the stakeholders of tourism in India, be it an association, a travel agent or hotels, we are all connected to each other. We are launching #TourismPositive and as many are leaving, I urge you all to stay put in the industry. Tourism will definitely bounce back. I would also request the government of India, to take care of the tourism industry which is a very big and important industry.” Said Mr. Naveen Manchanda, President of IATTE. IATTE through its virtual meets has already provided insight to its members on how to balance strategy and operational excellence post-COVID-19 pandemic. Other topics of focus have included how businesses can heal at present scenario and focus on efficiency, collaborations, and creativity.

Naveen Manchanda concludes with passion and determination, ‘I will ensure that we rise up to meet the challenges’.

JOIN IN THE 5-DAY WEEK-LONG BUSINESS-DRIVEN FESTIVAL This year’s event is being hosted online. It offers the usual great mix of business meetings and regional news and presentati ons.

IT&CM Asia 2020 VIRTUAL is not to be missed! https://www.itcma.com/ 24/7 Virtual Exhibition with Interactive Booths Discover MICE and Corporate suppliers from across the Asia-Pacific and the world anytime during the event week with 24/7 round the clock access.

Up to 24 Scheduled Meets (SM) on Mutual Request Each exhibitor or buyer receives up to 24 x 20min schedulable meeting slots over 4 days. Mutual request for meetings can be done from 9 November, right up to the 5 actual event days, inclusive.

Brand Showcase Presentations Tune in first-hand to the latest highlights and developments by participating destination and corporate brands, during 30-min presentations.

Mini Destination / Brand Roadshows NEW! An exclusive mini event dedicated to immersing with the destination or brand host. Programme highlights can include an openin g overview presentation, followed by Exhibitor Familiarisation sessions with individual co-exhibitors, concluding with an interactive social soiree of entertainment, fun & games, and giveaways.

Daily Themed Knowledge Sessions Daily opportunities to engage in the year’s hot topics with our prolific panel of industry thought leaders and experts.

Flexible Meetings-Your-Way 2 ways to optimise your one-on-one business meeting potential: (1) mutual request Scheduled Meet (SM) slots (2) anytime Walk -in Meets (WM), for maximum lead generation throughout the event.

Daily Full Business Day Walk-In Meets (WM) In addition to scheduled meets, anytime WMs can take place throughout the 5 event days from 9am to 6pm (GMT+8), subject to th e Exhibitors’ preferred booth opening hours and Buyers’ online availability. Buyer / Exhibitor can directly request for a WM meet anytime without a prior appointment.

Exhibitors and Buyers also have the added convenience of pre-arranging a meet based on mutual availability anytime during the event, including times outside the business day of 9am to 6pm (GMT+8).

Buyer Procurement Showcase NEW! A new event segment featuring MICE, Association and Corporate buyers as they share their procurement requirements with relevant and interested destination and supplier leads. Each showcase is 30-min in duration.

Daily Themed Networking Sessions Stretch your social muscles even further over virtual conversations, ice-breakers and interactive games.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PHYSICAL EVENT: 28-30 SEPTEMBER 2021 – BANGKOK, THAILAND

An Interview with…

Mrs. Liliana Orbegozo Convers Executive director of

Bogotá y Cundinamarca Convention Bureau Bogotá, Columbia In an interview with Mrs. Liliana Orbegozo Convers, Executive director of Bogotá y Cundinamarca Convention Bureau (BCCB) with Dimitri Laspas - founder of MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine , Mrs. Orbegozo Convers reflects on the recent days and experiences during the pandemic crisis and the progress through it in positioning Bogota, in the region and on international MICE map.

Bogotá, capital of Colombia, is located at high altitude but welcomes each visitor with genuine hospitality. It is a city with a rich history and plenty places to discover and admire.

Bogotá boasts many magical natural resources, beautiful monuments and historical places. It is concentrating efforts on becoming even more environmentally aware by building the Monserrate cableway and creating extensive greenery around the city, by developing its infrastructure for the future. Bogotá is a stunning Latin American destination waiting to be discovered.

In your opinion what is the conference infrastructure like in Colombia?

In Colombia the MICE industry has gained major importance. The conference infrastructure and the MICE industry vocation is represented by the 11 Convention Bureaux that exist in the different regions in the country. Regarding the infrastructure, in Bogotá we have the largest Convention Center in Colombia, called Ágora, which is part of the Fair District that includes Corferias, and the Hilton Bogotá Corferias Hotel, inaugurated in 2019. We have 944 lodging spaces, more than 29.000 rooms available, and more than 45.000 beds available in Bogotá.

We are very proud to have hosted large events in our city, and ever since it has become known, with successful stories that have happened in Bogotá. Our city has become one of the most important capitals in Latin America to host worldwide events. Between 2016 and 2019, the Greater Bogotá Convention Bureau has confirmed 123 events for Bogotá, 32 of them with a worldwide rotation, representing in total more than US$65 million and an average of 52,000 attendees. To mention some examples and interesting figures to highlight: ANNUAL MEETING OF LATIN AMERICAN DERMATOLOGISTS (RADLA) 2017 The biggest meeting of dermatology in the region.

Almost 3,100 participants, 71% of them came from abroad.

4.000 overnight stays in the weekend.

88 expositors, 20% more than expected.

More than 260 speakers.

It was an event aimed at strengthening dermatology in the region through innovation and high technology.

ONE YOUNG WORLD 2017 The biggest and most important global summit of young leaders.

1.550 participants from 196 countries.

Trending topic every day, during all the days that the event lasted Around US$18,000,000 in free press.

Almost US$1,500,000 invested in Bogotá by One Young World.

Remarkable personalities involved: Kofi Annan (Ex General Secretary of UN), Bruce Dickinson (lead voice of Iron Maiden), Muhammad Yunus (Peace Nobel Prize), Cher (singer), Paul Polman (CEO if Unilever), among others.

Where the young minds shine brighter to build a better future.

WORLD SUMMIT OF NOBEL PEACE LAUREATES 2017 A space of dialogue focused on the construction, consolidation, encouragement, and support of peace.

27 Peace Nobel Prize Laurates including Rigoberta Menchú (1992), David Trimble (1998), and organisations like International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (1985), International Committee of the Red Cross (1917, 1944, 1963), among others.

15,000 assistants from around the world.

Bogotá was declared as the "City of Peace".

2,700 news in national and international networks with a value of US$33.800.000.

Around 40,000 people from 47 countries connected via streaming.

The summit with a peace legacy that will transcend every frontier and every conflict.

How would you rate the level of services offered by hotels and other venues in Bogotá?

I would rate Bogotá as a 5* city! I will tell you why. Bogotá is the only Latin American city in the BestCities Global Alliance and a member of the South American MICE Alliance. As part of this alliances, we must ensure that all the services provided have high-quality standards for our clients. We have a wide offer for all type of events and requirements, while also having a network of companies that accomplish those standards. It is the Bureau´s work to act as a facilitator for our international clients to find the best hotel and venue that suit their needs, and Bogotá has them!

Can you provide us with an overview of Bogotá's tourism sector and its development in the MICE sector?

Bogotá is the capital and Colombia´s economic, cultural and administrative centre. It is a place that offers lots of different activities and experiences that makes the city a unique touristic destination. Located in the centre of the Americas, has an excellent air connectivity. The El Dorado International st rd Airport is the 1 one in cargo and the 3 in passengers in Latin America, and has been awarded, for 3 years in a row, as the "Best Airport in South America", and in 2020 was rated with 4 Skytrax stars. Additionally, Bogotá has a favourable climate for business, receiving over US$14 billion of foreign investment in the last 10 years and more than 1,600 multinational companies have found in Bogotá an ideal place for business. All of these make this vibrant city an exceptional MICE destination in Latin America, as world class events have chosen Bogotá to be their venue. Remarkable personalities have also come to the city, from big music superstars, up to Nobel Prize winners, and renowned businessmen. In terms of events, One Young World Summit (2017), World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates (2017), Global TCI Network (2017), World Congress on Neurosurgery (2021) among others already chose Bogotá as their host destination. As a growing international meetings destination, Bogotá is currently ranked 50th in the world among more than 900 destinations classified

by ICCA. Also, the city was the winner of the ICCA Best PR Award in 2015 and was one of the four finalists for the ICCA Best Marketing Award 2016.

What have you found to be the hardest aspect of this global 'health' crisis and what impact do you expect this situation to have on Bogotá and indeed the rest of the country's tourism/M.I.C.E market?

We are the industry that brings people together, and by doing that, we promote both knowledge and business opportunities for the city. Because of the current health crisis, the traveling industry stopped, and we haven't been able to receive international events since March.

Nevertheless, in spite of the difficulties, Bogotá has not stopped, and we are working towards the reactivation in a responsible way. We really hope to reach the point where we can all meet in Bogotá in person.

What do you think the future holds for conference tourism in Colombia and why should one choose Bogotá for a conference, event or meeting?

It is important to highlight that Bogotá moved up one spot in the ICCA rankings, placing in the top 5 of cities in Latin America that held the most events and meetings in 2019, and Colombia remains in 29th place worldwide, being the only country in Latin America with 3 cities in the top 10. The Greater Bogotá Convention Bureau as part of this Association, develops city marketing strategies, that allow Bogotá to maintain an important position in this ranking, thereby consolidating the city as a premier international destination for meetings and events. As for the negative impacts of the pandemic on the MICE Industry, we are currently working on a campaign named #ChangeTheDateNotTheDestination that aims at the rescheduling of events for 2021, without changing Bogotá as the host city. The purpose of the campaign is to retain these events in Bogotá, highlighting their importance in the city´s reactivation, and its economic and social development, while also enforcing Bogotá and Colombia as a sustainable, trustworthy and high quality destination.

www.bmlinternational.co.uk

From where do the majority of M.I.C.E. business come from both within the region and globally?

According to a study made by ProColombia (Colombia´s Promotion Agency) in 2018, the main clients for the MICE industry in the country come from Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Panama, Mexico and the United States. Additionally, the Bureau has prioritised the following markets: United States, Mexico, some of the countries in the Caribbean, and Brazil. And we are always looking for new markets around the world that can be interested in the magical and vibrant city that Bogotá is for hosting events!

What strategies have you adopted to place Bogotá on the international and regional MICE map, especially with growing neighbouring competition?

We know that each city is completely different from one another. Aside from the state of the art infrastructure and from the services that we know we have to host international events, we also want to stand out from our competition with one of the main sellin g points: our initiative called Synergies for Change. We created the Synergies for Change initiative with the purpose of promoting that each event hosted in Bogotá contributes to achieve the sustainable development goals and objectives. How do we do this? We invited a group of social enterprises that are aiming to provide innovative solutions to social issues, and to leave a positive impact in the community to join this initiative. These kind of enterprises, in regards with the MICE industry, bring a different approach to the event, its clients and participants. We emphasise in the responsibility that we have, regarding that all events arriving to Bogotá contribute, in a significant way, to the economic development, but most of all to the empowerment and strengthening o f vulnerable people and communities, and to prevent climate change. Our point is to show a city that is member of a Global Alliance with o ther top international destinations, and our Alliance with other cities within the Region.

Are there plans for BCCB to create an international MICE exhibition?

We created and have been doing an international MICE event called ´Zona MICE´ since 2012, which unfortunately will not go as planned for this year, given that there is still no government authorisation for this kind of events. As soon as we have the ´green light´, we will surely work towards it’s planning, specially knowing the effect that it will have on the MICE industry reactivation process. This event has an academic agenda and a business roundtable for our ass ociates and other events industry entrepreneurs to connect and network with international buyers. We have had interesting results in 2019, such as: 1 ,358 business appointments and more than US$2.000.000 business expectations. So we are looking forward to doing this event again to contribute with the MICE industry reactivation.

You recently joined the newly created South American M.I.C.E Alliance, can you please outline the aim and goals of the Alliance and how it will be beneficial for Bogotá and how will other members cooperate without competing each other.

This inter-institutional cooperation between the Convention Bureaux of Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Lima, Quito and Buenos Aires is aimed to the development, promotion and positioning of these capital cities as M.I.C.E destinations, as well as increasing opportunities for hosting events. This alliance seeks to pursue the same objective, promoting the 5 cities together and joining forces to promote a responsible recovery. The cooperation agreement is based on 3 strategic lines, whose actions are established and prioritized in the short, medium and long term. These 3 lines are: the exchange of best practices regarding Bureaux operations and biosafety protocols for the reopening and reactivation of the events ind ustry, a joint promotional campaign and positioning of the alliance´s brand, and the exchange of key information and leads of previous events successfully held in each destination, that could benefit all the 5 members. We are convinced that, by working together, with empathy and solidarity, we will multiply the positive impact for our destinations.

www.bogotacb.com

What new post-Covid initiatives do you plan to put in place to attract more business tourism from Europe?

The Colombian government launched, endorsed by the World Tourism Organization, the COVID-19 Biosafety Check-In Certification Seal, with the purpose of building confidence among international visitors and clients, while also preventing the spread of C OVID-19 and promoting tourism in Colombia. Even though business events are not yet authorised by the government and their biosafety protocols are pending approval, I firmly believe that all the safety measures that are being taken, in Colombia and worldwide , will ensure that these kind of events could be hosted with large crowds in a controlled way, but mostly in a way that implies that health, safety and the prevention of Covid-19 is always the main purpose.

On another note, Colombia reopened its borders and resumed international flights on 21 September, re-establishing connectivity with strategic countries in the region, as a step forward in the reactivation of the tourism industry.

The El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá has been implementing and testing its biosafety protocols since April, with the operation of humanitarian and cargo flights, and with the purpose of delivering the highest quality standards to all travellers in which technology plays a key role.

Additionally, the Greater Bogotá Convention Bureau has not stopped, not even in these challenging times. This is why we have implemented a communications campaign oriented to show all the work we have been doing promoting Bogotá as one of the leading cities in Latin America for hosting meetings, conventions, congresses and exhibitions, to our clients, strategic allies and affiliates.

Last but not least, why do you believe Colombia, in particular Bogotá is an attractive destination and what is your message to the tourism industry and MICE organisers?

On this note, it is important to highlight that the World Travel Awards, in its 27th edition, included Bogotá as a nominee in several categories in South America, such as: Leading Airport, Leading Business Travel Destination, Leading City Destination, Leading Festival & Event Destination, and Leading Meetings & Conference Destination, among others. These nominations are a confirmation of Bogotá´s leadership in the region as a MICE destination, its high-quality standards, and state of the art infrastructure.

Additional from the above, Bogotá has also been working towards reinforcing the importance of positioning itself as a sustainable and reliable destination, that is adapting to change, innovating on these challenging times, with the priority placed on travellers safety and their well-being. Also, these strategies have led to the fact that, so far in 2020, the Bureau has confirmed 12 international events for Bogotá, 22 city applications are being worked on, and 83 clients have been impacted, mostly from prioritised markets such as Brazil, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the United States. Thanks to the Greater Bogotá Convention Bureau´s work, from 2021 to 2025, 12 international events will be held in the Colombian capital, which will bring more than 22,000 participants and represent an economic benefit for Bogotá of approximately 81 billion pesos. Among them are Devcon and the World Congress of Neurosurgery in 2021.

The GBCB team has participated in different virtual scenarios in order to position Bogotá internationally and to retain international clients, as well as to sensitise new corporate clients about Bogotá as a MICE destination and its current status regarding the situation of Covid-19, which include destination presentations and mailing with news of the current state of the city regarding the reopening of the destination, good practices, and positive news. And last but not least, we would like to remind you that Bogotá is getting ready, and the MICE industry sectors have been preparing themselves, to welcoming again its international visitors, with all kind of biosafety measures and, most of all, with all its magnificent an d vibrant experiences, that will make your trip an unforgettable one. We will #SeeYouInBogota