Monday Insights – January 24th

This Monday’s Insights feature brings you the industry headlines you may have missed, including more great news for the events industry.

Headlines

U.K. crowned Europe’s busiest hotel market, according to TOP HOTEL NEWS. Its data show that with over 300,000 hotel rooms due to open in Europe, the U.K. is in the lead with ‘428 projects and 62,852 keys in the pipeline’. And all this ‘despite the challenges arising from Brexit’.

With London and Dublin also leading the city-by-city race across the contintent, the increasing choice and capacity is fantastic news for the U.K. events industry.

Meetings and Conventions Asia has reported that a significant redevelopment project in the heart of Bangkok is turning the city centre’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) into ‘a destination for a new generation of visitors’. In a bid to modernise the venue for the MICE and leisure markets, it has new spaces for retail and leisure activities. The aim is to reach beyond its traditional role as host for trade shows, professional meetings and consumer events. 

Mr. Sakchai Pattarapreechakul, President of N.C.C. Management & Development Co., Ltd., said: “The new QSNCC started taking bookings in August 2021 and has received positive responses from former and new clients.

“The new QSNCC offers extended services to its customers with topnotch capabilities and resources to drive live, hybrid and virtual events. We have sealed the deals with a number of organizers who have shown their confidence in QSNCC’s experience in hosting famous leading events with its fully equipped and high-standard event venue.”

The government announced that England can fully return to Plan A from Thursday 27 January. The news – a boost for hospitality and events industries – means from Thursday 27 January:

• venues and events no longer required by law to use the NHS COVID Pass. The NHS COVID Pass can still be used on a voluntary basis as was previously the case in Plan A
• face coverings are no longer required by law in any setting. Public health guidance will remain in place, suggesting individuals should continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces, where you may come into contact with people you do not normally meet
• the Department for Education will remove national guidance on the use of face coverings in communal areas, with local directors of public health able to recommend the use of face coverings in education settings across their area only where the department and public health experts judge the measure to be proportionate due to specific health concerns. This is a temporary measure and directors of public health continue to advise individual settings experiencing outbreaks
• any local introduction of face coverings must be subject to routine review and removed at the earliest opportunity

Double take

Las Vegas is tipped to lead 2022’s MICE resurgence, according to The Meeting Professional. The entertainment location welcomed back several of its annual trade shows in the second half of 2021, including the event industry’s MPI, and IMEX America.

Fletch Brunelle, vice president of marketing at the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority (LVCVA), told The Meeting Professional: “Business recovery has gone better than we initially thought it might, and we’ve received incredible feedback from clients that moved forward with their meetings, conventions and trade shows this year.

“The planners, exhibitors and attendees coming to Las Vegas are ecstatic to be meeting in person again, and our show floors have been incredibly busy with connections made and deals done. We know full recovery will take some time, but it has been extremely fulfilling to see our convention centers and meeting venues buzzing with people and excitement once again.”