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NORTH AMERICA
Hard Rock Hotel collapse
Two construction workers have died and up to 30
other people injured when an under construction
Hard Rock Hotel collapsed in New Orleans, USA, on
12 October.
Authorities say 18 people were taken to hospital
for treatment. All are considered stable.
It was not immediately clear what caused the
incident.
“After search and rescue, there will be a shift into
a full-investigative mode and we will be relentless in
those efforts moving forward,” City Mayor LaToya
Cantrell said.
EUROPE
Gothia adds a fourth tower
The Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre (Svenska
Massan), has unveiled the design for its fourth tower.
The venue is an integrated hotel and exhibition/
conference venue, and hosted an architectural
competition to design its new extension. The hotel
portion of the venue is known as Gothia Towers.
The new tower, named +One, has been designed
by Tham & Videgård Arkitekter. It aims to create an
open environment where food, culture and events
share space with congresses and exhibitions.
EUROPE MIDDLE EAST
Florence recognises MICE
ambassadors Passport-free flying in Dubai
The fourth edition of the Florence Ambassador GITEX 2019 that will allow customers to fly with no
Awards, held 15 October in the Salone dei passport, no boarding pass, and no fingerprints.
Emirates airline demonstrated new technology at
Cinquecento in Palazzo Vecchio, has recognised
The technology uses facial recognition to screen
some of the people in the academic and professional customers, and will be coming to Dubai Airport in
world who have worked to win major conferences 2020.
and events for the city.
GITEX 2019 is a tech exhibition which took place
The awards are promoted by the city’s tourism,
in the Dubai World Trade Centre from 6-10 October.
fairs and congresses department, in collaboration The show featured many conference speakers on
with the Florence Convention Bureau and Firenze topics such as ‘The 5G Countdown’, ‘Smart Citi Zens’
Fiera Congress and Exhibition Centre. and ‘The Future of Being’.
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CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD
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ISSUE 103