Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA has successfully completed the Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s 20 GBAC STAR program elements, each with its own specific performance and guidance criteria, which has earned it GBAC STAR accreditation. This is an important milestone in the city’s tourism industry’s process of rebuilding the business in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meeting planners, take note: Arena Del Rio is a new entertainment complex poised to be the most innovative and creative venue of its kind in the Latin America region. 
 

The meeting industry makes up a substantial amount of Salt Lake City’s visitor economy and has been one of the hardest-hit sectors by COVID-19; however, through the state's “Meet In Utah” program—which offered financial incentives to meetings that contracted events by December 30, 2020, to be held in 2021—

For the first time, the meeting and congress destination Tirol, Austria is participating in a benchmarking process, according to the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index. With this, the Convention Bureau Tirol (CBT) and its partners want to launch an initiative for even more sustainability and make this commitment measurable and comparable.

Virginia Beach offers numerous meeting opportunities important to meeting planners when considering booking a safe and memorable destination, especially post-COVID-19, according to the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (VBCVB).

Lima, the capital of Peru, has announced the development of a long-term strategy that will revitalize its tourism and business sector. In partnership with the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement), Lima will co-create a sustainable and regenerative strategy to guide and enable Peru toward a new future, where the well-being and quality of life of residents and visitors are in balance and economically inclusive. 

Marriott International has announced an agreement with Vietnam-based real estate firm Masterise Homes to develop a dual-branded residential and officetel project in Ho Chi Minh City. According to the Savills International Development Consultancy, the agreement marks the largest hotel-branded residential project announced to date worldwide, with close to 4,200 residential and officetel units.

Following an announcement by the Abu Dhabi Emergency Crisis and Disasters Committee, effective December 24, 2020, entry restrictions into Abu Dhabi will be relaxed. International tourists, residents and travelers from selected destinations, flying with Etihad Airways, will be allowed to enter the emirate without the need to self-isolate for 14 days. 

Montgomery, Alabama—known as the birthplace of the civil rights movement—has announced its new developments for 2021, including the destination’s first luxury hotel, an Autograph Collection property, as well a diversity, equity and inclusion training experience for groups.

The Fort Worth Convention Center (FWCC) and the Will Rogers Memorial Center (WRMC) have received the STAR Facility accreditation status from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), an outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation for facilities.