Month: July 2021

Finally, the most awaited multi-sport event in the world is happening in a couple of days. The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be held in Tokyo, Japan from 23 Jul 2021 to 8 Aug 2021. More than 11,000+ athletes from 200 nations will compete during 17 days in Tokyo and the surrounding areas.

All eyes are on this complex event not just because it is the most anticipated sporting event but also for all the controversy over holding the event when Japan has declared a state of emergency. Let’s remember that the Summer Olympics 2020 were postponed for the first time ever due to the global pandemic.

Despite the extreme logistical challenges for the organizer and the mass movement of people around the country, the Organizing Committee announced that there will not be spectators at the arenas. 

Appears that this massive event will be the most expensive in history. Beside all the years of preparation and effort, the operational cost stretched for over a year. Venues cannot be used and it is essential to keep a high level of service and maintenance.  Additionally, the implementation for the health and safety protocols not just for the athletes but also the residents, volunteers, press, etc., as safety is top priority.

Certainly, event planners and stakeholders will learn a lot from every aspect of this mass event (accessibility, transportation, accommodation, safety and security, crisis communication plan, emergency response, implement effective crowd control, risk management, technology, etc.). 

It’s ironic that last weekend we watched the Copa América 2021 Final at the Maracana Stadium in Brazil with 7,800 fans in the stadium. The UFC 264 fight Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, United States where 20,000 fans were allowed and the European Championship Final England vs. Italy where 67,000+ fans were allowed to be present at the Wembley Stadium in England and this last one we did not appreciate social distance and not face masks during the match. Just food for thought!

The Olympics require a team effort from all the parties involved and we cannot wait to see the outcome.

Let us know what you think!

#Olympics2021 #Massevents #Eventorganizer #Eventplanner #venues #arenas #sportingevents #events #Meetsafe #MICEandSpecialEvents

The Meetings and Events Support Association (MESA) is the new association launched last 1st July to support innovation in the meetings and events industry.

The organisation’s principle aims to create “A community network of companies and a ‘people-first’ ethos, collaborating and working together with fresh new ideas.”

The association is created by industry professionals who have a great background in the industry. MESA will provide to the community support to collaborate and work together with fresh new ideas. Furthermore, education for leaders and teams is core, MESA will share industry knowledge and trends through forums, surveys, educational campfires at tradeshows, panels, etc. Finally, MESA will give the opportunity to connect and network with stakeholders, create new business opportunities and relationships within the community.

#MESA #Meetingsandevents #Associations #Eventprofessionals #MICEProfessionals #MICEProfessionalsPH #MICEandSpecialEvents

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) together with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) have shared a joint report on the current situation with the COVID-19 and Tourism.

As we all know the Tourism sector has been affected hardly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The report estimates a loss over $4 trillion to the global GDP for the years 2020 and 2021 caused by the pandemic and predicts that the international tourism will recover by 2023. The loss is worse than previously predicted last year.

Here some crucial points:

• International tourism and closed sectors suffered an estimated loss of $2.4 trillion in 2020.
• International travel was suspended in April and May of 2020 due to travel restrictions, travel bans, quarantines, lockdowns, etc. Inbound tourist arrivals declined 74% between January and December 2020, about 1 billion trips. According to UNWTO this massive drop returned the number of travelers back to levels of 30 years ago.
• The reduction in tourism arrivals for the Philippines dropped by 84% in 2020.
• The tourism sector is expected to recover faster in countries with high vaccination rates, meaning that the recovery will vary by region and country. For those developing countries with low vaccination rates are expected to have an unfavorable impact on international travel.
• Domestic travel has increased, but still this does not make a big impact for those destinations or developing countries that depend on international travel.
• The return to 2019 levels of the international travel arrivals are expected until 2023 or later. Also, it will depend on the travel restrictions, slow containment of the virus, low traveler confidence and a poor economic environment of each country.
• The report assesses the economic effects of three alternative scenarios, one optimistic, one pessimistic and one where the asymmetric speed of vaccinations is considered, which all current scenarios indicate reductions in international arrivals.
• Up to $1.8 trillion loss expected in 2021 in the tourism sector.
• 5% rise in unemployment.
• South-East Asia is one of the most affected regions.
• Vaccination and COVID-19 certificates are key to restart global tourism and restore confidence in international tourism.

This article is summarized by latest data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and you can find it on their official page.

#Internationaltravel #UNWTO #Travelsafe #2021report #TravelLocal #restarttourism #MICEandSpecialEvents