CIM NEWS MAGAZINE Issue 6 2017 | Page 6

INDUSTRY NEWS INTERNATIONAL NEWS More flights announced for Auckland Singapore route Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines will jointly launch a third daily flight between Auckland and Singapore from October 28, 2018, boosting capacity on the route by up to 40 percent and adding more than 165,000 seats annually between the two cities. Prague delivers for 56 th ICCA Congress Prague welcomed a record number of meeting industry experts at the 56 th Congress of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). Kaohsiung in Chinese Taipei, on the island of Taiwan, was named as the destination for the 2020 Congress. Reed Exhibitions targets LGBTQ+ travel market Reed Exhibitions has chosen London to host their inaugural ‘Proud Experiences LGBTQ+ Travel Expo’, the world’s first dedicated LGBTQ+ travel show to support the estimated US$202 billion market. The three-day international B2B event will be staged at the Saatchi Gallery in London from June 6-8, 2018. Deborah Sexton steps down from PCMA Deborah Sexton has announced she will step down as president of the PCMA after the Convening Leaders 2018 meeting being held in Nashville in January. She has led the PCMA board for more than 12 years. Malaysia scores medical conference first Malaysia will host the World Congress for Endoscopic Surgery of the Skull Base and Brain in 2020, marking the first time the world congress will be held outside of US and Europe. Over 900 delegates from around the world and locally are scheduled to attend the four-day congress held at Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur. Brisbane launches Signature Experiences The Brisbane Convention Bureau has launched a new Brisbane Signature Experiences itinerary, which includes 14 unique experiences over four days. Unveiled at Dreamtime 2017, the new Brisbane Signature Experiences itinerary was designed to give incentive groups an immersive and authentic Australian experience in Brisbane. “Whether they are touring the internationally acclaimed Gallery of Modern Art, experiencing an exhilarating helicopter flight over the spectacular Moreton Bay region, or indulging in bespoke laneway dining, this itinerary treats guests to a truly Australian experience that only Brisbane can offer,” said Brisbane Convention Bureau acting general manager Juliet Alabaster. “We want the world to know about Brisbane’s remarkable incentive products and experiences and I think the buyers and media attending Dreamtime 2017 will be pleasantly surprised and inspired by what the city and surrounding regions have to offer.” EEAA Awards pay tribute to long time champions At its special 25 th anniversary gala event, held at Melbourne Museum, the Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) paid tribute to two long-time industry champions. International Convention Centre Sydney’s (ICC Sydney) Malu Barrios was named the inaugural winner of the Unsung Hero of the Industry for her contribution over many years and Info Salon Group’s Jo-Anne Kelleway was recognised for her decades of service to the Association becoming the 2017 recipient of the Trevor Riddell President’s Award. 6   Convention & Incentive Marketing, Issue 6, 2017    www.cimmagazine.com