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Puerto Rico: Powerless After the Storm

With its Convention Bureau struggling to cope after Hurricane Maria, the reality of the storm’s impact on Puerto Rico is grim. After the strongest hurricane in more than eighty years, the US territory is without power and may be so for many months. Photo: Sergeant José Diaz-Ramos, Puerto Rico National Guard. From Meetings and Conventions…

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US Supreme Court Partially Reinstates Trump Travel Ban II

The US Supreme Court has let President Trump’s restrictions on refugees entering the country stand, overruling a lower court. But grandparents and cousins of those already in the US can’t now be excluded. In October SCOTUS will examine the ban on entrants from six mainly Muslim countries, which expires in September. From Meetings and Conventions…

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Hurricane Irma Hits Caribbean and Florida

Key resorts and other infrastructure in Orlando have reopened relatively unscathed after Hurricane Irma’s pass. But other areas of Florida and the Caribbean have been more seriously affected with flooding and power outages. These destinations face much longer term issues repairing damaged properties. Luckily September is typically low season for the region. From Meetings and Conventions…

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Events Postponed as Hurricane Irma Nears

With cities across the path of Hurricane Irma braced for impact, major events were postponed as the storm neared. With a state of emergency declared in Florida, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, Iceberg partner Northstar put back Destination Southeast in Miami Beach to December. Meanwhile, the Caribbean is reeling from Irma’s pass. From Meetpie.com…

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Joint Tourism and Business Events Brand for Singapore

Singapore has just announced a unified brand – “Passion Made Possible” – to market itself both for tourism and business events under one umbrella. Singapore’s Tourism and Economic Development Boards are jointly behind the move. The idea is to capture the spirit of the nation and communicate its value proposition both for both travellers and companies. From Boardroom…

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European Society of Cardiology Issues Barcelona Statement

After the Barcelona terror attack, messages of international support for the city included one from the European Society of Cardiology, whose congress is bringing in 32,000 to the Catalonian capital. “Our sympathy is with the victims and their families.” its statement read. “Our solidarity is with all the people of Spain.”. Photo: Tiputini. From Association Meetings International…

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Beyond Tourism and Beyond Sydney in New South Wales

While the meetings industry usually clusters around big cities, the New South Wales Government in Australia has just announced a new conferencing strategy to drive more business events to rural and regional destinations. The AU$6 million plan was launched in Tamworth, one of the smaller cities to benefit from the shift in thinking. From Association Meetings International…

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Visit Tampa’s Ties to Visit Florida “on Hold”

After the recent fight over Visit Florida’s annual $76 million budget, a number of local destination marketing organisations in the state are rethinking ties with the state’s tourism promotion board. The new settlement imposes restrictions on contracts, staff salaries and travel and entertainment for Visit Florida, as well as for boards working with it. From Meetings & Conventions…

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Safety Questions on the Rise After Terror Attacks

With passengers at some European airports facing lengthy security queues, a new study reveals that while enquiries about safety are rising, over a quarter of corporate travel managers do not have emergency planning in place. But the research also shows that the concerns have not yet led to changes in corporate travel policies. From Meetpie.com…

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A New Hall and Roads to Attract Events to Tanzania

Opening the new Lake Nyasa exhibition hall, the tourism minister of Tanzania, Jumanne Abdallah Maghembe, has challenged the Arusha International Conference Centre to fully exploit the potential of conferences which he said generated $670m for the country last year. Tanzania has also announced a $156m World Bank financing plan to boost tourism by upgrading roads. From the Event…

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US Lifts Large Electronics Ban on Final Airport

The four month US ban on carrying larger electronic devices in aircraft passenger cabins – a restriction placed on all flights from ten proscribed airports in the Middle East and North Africa – is now completely lifted. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, became the last airport to implement new US security measures. From the Event…

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US Meetings Industry Campaigns on Visas

Twenty US travel and meetings industry organisations have signed a letter asking the White House to reconsider a recent Executive Order amendment. In it a target of interviewing 80 percent of temporary visa applicants within three weeks has been abandoned. The signatories – including several Iceberg partners – say the move will have negative economic impact. From Meetings & Conventions…

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Hawaii Further Challenges Trump Travel Ban II

A federal judge in Hawaii has expanded the list of family relationships with US citizens that permit successful visa applications from countries proscribed in President Trump’s Travel Ban II. US District Judge Derrick Watson ordered the administration not to bar citizens’ grandparents, grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. From Meetings & Conventions…

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US Large Electronics Ban Lifted with Enhanced Security

The US Department of Homeland Security is lifting the ban on large electronic devices in passenger cabins on flights from ten proscribed Middle East and North African airports. Enhanced security protocols and passenger screening – both technological and canine – on all inbounds flights to the US will be introduced in its place. From Meetings & Conventions…

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Trump Travel Ban II Upheld (Partially)

The US Supreme Court has allowed a limited reinstatement of President Trump’s Travel Ban II. Pending a hearing in October, judges have upheld the ban on visitors from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen where there is no “credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the US”. From Meetings & Conventions…

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Korea Tops Global Congress Rankings

Korea lead the world in global congresses through 2016, according to the new International Meetings Statistics Report released by the Union of International Associations. The country’s meetings in 2016 rose by 11.89% thanks to expanding infrastructure. Projects include a second terminal at Incheon International Airport, new regional convention bureaus and new services from the Korea MICE Bureau. From Boardroom…

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US Homeland Security Clarifies Flight Electronics Ban

As European Union officials meet to discuss the threat of the US expanding its ban on large electronic devices in certain flight cabins, and as the travel industry says the ban has seen Middle East business drop by 2.8% and cost the sector $198 million, the US Homeland Security chief has clarified US policy on any potential widening. From Meetings & Conventions…  

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Visit Florida Funding Fully Restored

After more twists and turns in the saga than on any of its legendary theme park rides, Florida’s legislature has in the end voted to restore Visit Florida’s current annual budget of $76 million. This leaves the agency and state once again able to continue breaking visitation records. We can all now retire to Miami! From Meetings & Conventions…

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