The Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, has awarded GBAC STAR accreditation to 57 new facilities this week.

Due to the advocacy of the Washington Meeting and Convention Coalition (WMCC), Washington governor Jay Inslee has modified the state’s Phase 2 and Phase 3 restrictions around business meetings, professional development training and testing, and similar activities, effective from September 21. According to the new guidance, the governor’s "Safe Start" reopening plan will permit meetings and business events to be held at an indoor capacity of 30 percent or 200 guests, whichever is less (excluding venue staff)

Abu Dhabi is celebrating two new significant business events-related achievements, after the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (ADCEB) unveiled news that the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) capital has climbed business destination rankings compiled by two prestigious organizations.

Both the Union of International Associations (UIA) and International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) have reported that Abu Dhabi has improved its position on their respective rankings.

On September 10, the #PowerOfLiveEvents initiative left the virtual space and converted into an all-day live conference with support from the newly formed Budapest Convention Bureau and the Budapest Festival and Tourism Centre and with the cooperation of the industry associations.

The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), owned by the City of Los Angeles and managed by ASM Global, has announced that the facility has been awarded LEED certification at the Gold level for existing buildings operations and maintenance for the third time. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence.

Quintana Roo’s tourism ministry announced last week the MICE segment (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing and Exhibitions) will have more capacity to operate: Open spaces will be allowed to operate at up to 50 percent capacity, while indoor venues will be allowed to operate at 30 percent, according to the maximum capacity of each venue.

More than 350 exhibitors, 500 decision makers and 1,850 participants attended the MICE event by Heavent Meetings in the Palais des Festivals Cannes in the beginning of September. (A)LIVE, the outdoor conference, which involved speakers from the event industry and the mayor of Cannes, marked the first tradeshow taking place in France since March.

IFEMA (Fair Institution of Madrid) has announced details on FITUR 2021 (International Tourism Trade Fair), an annual event that brings together professionals from the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) tourism industry. The event will celebrate its 41^st edition from January 20 to 24, 2021, at Feria de Madrid, and offers among its varied content a strategic area that is a meeting point for the specialized offer and demand in this segment, which is key to boosting the tourism industry worldwide.

The eighth edition of the World Meetings Forum (WMF) was held from August 31 to September 2, at Paradisus Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, gathering 227 professionals who included meeting planners, events industry suppliers, speakers and special guests. Also, 4,617 one-on-one meetings took place, aimed at reactivating the industry; the inclusion of persons with disabilities was possible through the WMF Foundation. 

As Dubai gathers momentum with the resumption of conferences, meetings and exhibitions, its Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) has formed a new "Business Events Stakeholders Committee," reinforcing its commitment to engaging with the industry and re-establishing its place at the heart of Dubai’s economic growth and development as a knowledge hub.