Conference & Meetings World Issue 111 | Page 6

News

GLOBAL SNAPSHOT

WORLD
IATA app to use Covid passports
The International Air Transport Association is expecting to release an app in March that verifies whether a passenger has had Covid-19 tests or vaccines required to enter a country .
IATA said the main priority is to get people travelling again safely and believes its Travel Pass could be a global standardised solution .
“ To reopen borders without quarantines means governments need accurate information on passengers ’ Covid-19 health status ,” IATA said . “ The key issue is one of confidence . Passengers need to be confident that the testing they ’ ve taken is accurate .”
ASIA
‘ Bubble ’ meetings in Singapore
Temasek Holdings , owner of Singapore EXPO , has announced the launch of the first phase of Connect @ Changi , a pilot short-stay facility designed to support safe meetings between international business travellers and Singapore residents .
The new international venue is located at the Singapore EXPO grounds . The ‘ bubble ’ facility allows clients to attend meetings with local contacts in rooms separated by airtight glass . Documents can be sanitised and passed through special windows .
WORLD
EMEC goes online
International industry association Meeting Professionals International ( MPI ) has announced that its 2021 European Meetings & Events Conference ( EMEC ) will be a virtual event that will immediately precede its main World Education Congress ( WEC ), a hybrid event that will take place 15-17 June at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas .
“ Like most conferences during this pandemic , we ’ ve needed to stay nimble enough to adjust our plans to the circumstances ,” said Annette Gregg , senior vice-president , experience for MPI .
AUSTRALASIA
Testing the water in Adelaide
The Destination South Australia live event , 12-13 February , was Australia ’ s first 2021 face-to-face business exchange event .
Much-needed business was transacted again at an event that was , just as importantly , an exercise in reassurance and confidence for those keen and willing to get on a plane and meet with their business event peers interstate .
Key organiser , Adelaide Convention Bureau ’ s chief executive Damien Kitto , said : “ What we witnessed in Adelaide was both inspiring and rewarding .”
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