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…
After Hawaii’s successful legal stay on Executive Order 13780 – which President Trump attacked as “unprecedented judicial overreach” – Maryland was next in line to question the constitutionality of Travel Ban II. One plaintiff – the Middle East Studies Association – claimed the order would make it difficult for members to attend academic conferences in the US. From Meetings & Conventions…
Following last month’s Global Business Travel Association figure of $185 million of business travel bookings lost in the week after Trump’s first travel ban was announced, a new report reveals further data on the slowdown. Industry analysts ForwardKeys is claiming international travel dipped by 6.5 percent in the eight days after the first executive order. From Meetings & Conventions…
Another travel ban, another legal challenge. Hawaii is amending its lawsuit against President Trump’s first ban to encompass the revised version. The state is seeking a hearing on March 15. Hawaiian Muslims have joined the action as plaintiffs. From Meetings & Conventions (and since publication Hawaii has indeed filed suit, together with the States of Washington and New York)…
There are now six mainly Muslim countries instead of seven. There is also a week and a half of notice and greater clarity on exemptions for legal residents, citizens of dual nationality and holders of existing visas. Refugees of religious minorities in the six countries no longer have preferential status. Executive Order 13780 lands on March 16. From PCMA…
So where to next for President Donald Trump’s infamous Executive Order 13769, which bans refugees and citizens of seven mainly Muslim countries from entering the US? Some thoughts on how the White House will next week be attempting to circumvent the travel ban’s current legal limbo. From ASAE (American Society of Association Executives)…
Following on from the earlier news of Visit Florida’s battle for survival, the Florida House Speaker has now suggested making the organisation part of the state’s Department of Economic Opportunity. Richard Corcoran also wants its budget slashed by just over two thirds. Visit Florida CEO Ken Lawson has called the proposal “misinformed”. From Meetings & Conventions…
Visit Florida is in a fight for its survival as the state introduces legislation calling for its abolition. New CEO Ken Lawson has been championing the role the DMO plays in generating employment and tax revenue. But an ill-fated marketing deal with rapper Pitbull has already damaged the DMO’s standing among politicians. From Meetings & Conventions…
Even as three federal appeals court judges refuse to reinstate Executive Order 13769 – and the matter surely heads towards the US Supreme Court – here is an association community perspective on how President Trump’s travel ban could affect the business of meetings. Includes reaction from some of The Iceberg‘s partners. From ASAE (American Society of Association Executives)…
Boston has throughout its history been a main gateway for foreign migration into the USA. Now as the treatment of outsiders moves right to the heart of US politics, the President of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce James E Rooney reaffirms the city’s reliance on the innovation that comes with immigration. From Intellectual Capitals…
How is the global meetings industry reacting to President Donald Trump’s executive order suspending for 90 days entry to the US of foreign nationals from seven mainly Muslim countries and halting for 120 days the entire US refugee programme? Including comment from Meetings Professional International (MPI) / Meetings Mean Business, Destination DC, Kenes Group, EventMobi.com and ICCA. From Association Meetings International…
Mountain Travel Symposium is the single largest and longest-running annual gathering of mountain travel professionals in the world and has been called the SXSW of ski. Representatives from over 35 countries establish relationships, build their business, and create a stronger mountain business community.
As the Australian economy shifts from mining to services, it is becoming important to invest in other industries. Business Events Sydney Chief Executive, Lyn Lewis-Smith says Australia needs to increase investment so we can remain competitive and attract more global business events. If Australia means business when it comes to boosting the economy, connecting industry…
Data from after the recent US election – the first monthly Travel Trends Index to be published since – has shown unexpected growth in the country’s travel sector. Could a ‘Trump Bump’ be responsible? Previously weak domestic business travel in particular is seeing an upturn. Mexico and Russia aren’t specifically mentioned. From Meetings & Conventions…
From the Mojave Desert, some numbers on the meetings year the City of Lights has just enjoyed. From Meetpie.com… Las Vegas Celebrates Record Delegate Numbers in 2016 Remember President Barack Obama’s comments about Las Veagas at the start of his administration? From Association Meetings International… Obama Administration Relaxes Guidelines on Conference Going And some nice footage from…
Summer School is an unmissable learning opportunity for all professionals working in Convention Bureaux, Tourist Offices, Congress Centres, Airlines, Hotels, DMCs, PCOs & Meeting Planners! The aim is to equip professionals with the latest marketing tools and to help them to develop the knowledge and skills required for a successful career in conference, meetings and event…
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