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After the 10-3 ruling of a federal appeals court that Trump Travel Ban II probably violates the Constitution and “drips with religious intolerance, animus and discrimination”, the Justice Department has asked the US Supreme Court – the nation’s highest legal authority – immediately to reinstate it. The Trump administration says the US will be safer under Executive Order 13780. From Meetings & Conventions…
After a rollercoaster ride, Visit Florida and the saga of its budget allocation may in the final reel be getting a fairytale ending. Governor Rick Scott and Florida legislators have hammered out an agreement to continue with the current funding of $76m. If there are any further shocks before the credits roll we’ll let you know. Photo: Dancorona21. From Meetings & Conventions…
To audible sighs of relief from much of the international meetings industry, the US Department of Homeland Security has announced that America will not extend to flights from Europe its ban on carrying large electronic devices in passenger cabins. A bar is currently in force on flights from ten Middle East and North African airports. From Travel Weekly…
Brand USA – the organisation promoting the US as a welcome destination for visitors – is to lose its federal funding under a proposed new budget from President Trump. The move has been attacked by US Travel association President Roger Dow as throwing away an $8.9 billion contribution to the economy and 28-to-1 return on investment. From Meetings & Conventions…
As previewed by The Iceberg back in January, BestCities Global Alliance – an Iceberg partner – has now officially added Madrid to its roster of eleven other cities. The Madrid Convention Bureau is the first destination to go through BestCities’ revised quality management system. Events recently hosted by the Spanish capital include the World Petroleum Congress. From Meetings & Conventions…
On the eve of IMEX’s opening in Frankfurt, The Iceberg watched live US TV coverage of further hearings into Executive Order 13780, aka Trump Travel Ban II. Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall, representing the ban, was quizzed over whether it discriminates against Muslims in the wake of campaign statements made by the president. From Meetings & Conventions…
The International Congress and Convention Association – a partner of The Iceberg – has published its 2016 country and city rankings. Paris – last leading in 2014 – has reclaimed the top city spot. The USA is the country holding the most meetings. International association meetings continue to double every ten years. Fuller data will be released in June. From ICCA…
The fortunes of Visit Florida have reversed again and the agency looks like it will after all lose 67% of its funding. In a last ditch attempt to change the Legislature’s course – its Speaker sees Visit Florida as extravagant and wasteful – Governor Rick Scott is on tour to persuade Floridians to invest in destination marketing. From Orlando Rising…
In the wake of recent terror attacks, the US State Department has issued an alert for US citizens travelling to Europe between May and September. The post warns that tourist locations, transport hubs, markets, malls and restaurants are all potential targets. It advises travelers to stay vigilant and to check US embassy websites. Photo: Sean Hobson. From Meetings & Conventions…
The most senior lawyers of sixteen US states – and of the District of Columbia – have said President Trump’s revised travel ban would damage both academic and medical institutions… and have a “chilling effect” on tourism. They have filed a brief to uphold the ruling that blocks Executive Order 13780 from coming into force. From Meetings & Conventions…
Emirates is to fly less often to the United States because tougher US security measures and President Trump’s travel bans are together lowering demand. The airline’s Dubai hub is both a casualty of the US ban on larger electronic devices in passenger cabins and also a transit stop for many passengers affected by Executive Orders 13769 & 13780. From Meetings & Conventions…
Visit Florida’s fortunes could be on rise. After its very future was left in doubt, then a House of Representatives bill passed to cut its budget by two thirds to $25m, then Governor Rick Scott called for $76m… now he has proposed raising funding to $100m. Visit Florida CEO Ken Lawson calls the possibility a “game changer”. From Meetings & Conventions…
Australia has announced that two new temporary visas will make it harder to enter the country’s labour market. The current four-year 457 visa is being scrapped. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said jobs and Australians had to come first, amid concerns that key workers from abroad are crucial to the hospitality sector and wider tourism industry. From CIM News Magazine…
As 13 US states line up to back President Trump’s Travel Ban II – calling for the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the second suspension of it granted to Maryland – the federal judge who first blocked it in Hawaii has extended his order. Once again the ban’s damage to tourism and academic research is cited. From Meetings & Conventions…
With the ban on bringing larger electronic devices into passenger cabins coming into force on flights to the US from ten airports – the UK has similar restrictions on routes inbound from six countries – how have Middle East carriers mitigated the inconvenience to their customers? Details on the Emirates, Etihad and Turkish Airlines approaches. From Meetings & Conventions…
Shortly after the Florida House of Representatives passed a bill cutting Visit Florida’s budget by two thirds to $25m – also capping salaries and increasingly accountability – now a Senate subcommittee has proposed backing Governor Rick Scott’s request for a $76m budget. Visit Florida says the state attracted 112.8m visitors in 2016, after just 87.3m in 2011. From Meetings & Conventions…
London’s mayor Sadiq Khan has reassured visitors to the city after the major terror attack right at its democratic heart. Four victims have been killed, with 40 more injured – seven of them critically – after a man drove into pedestrians along the pavement of Westminster Bridge. He then stabbed an unarmed police officer before being shot dead. From Meetings & Conventions…
The US is banning large electronics from passenger cabins on flights from ten specified Middle East and North African airports. After “evaluated intelligence” on terrorist threats, devices bigger than a mobile phone have will to be checked into hold luggage on services from these destinations. Around 50 flights a day into the US will be affected. From Meetings & Conventions…
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