Meeting Spotlight chatted with Alejandro Verzoub, president of AV Business & Communication, to discuss what business has been like during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and how it will change going forward. AV Business & Communications is touted as the first full-service incentive and marketing company from Argentina.

How has your segment (meetings and/or incentives) of the industry changed since March?  

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has launched “Ready. Safe. Travel.,” a campaign to grow public awareness around the economic necessity of a thriving business travel industry and to push for a safe return to business travel.

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.

Seabourn, the ultra-luxury cruise line, is making it easier for prospective charter, incentive, meeting and group travel clients to learn more about the why a Seabourn ship may be a good choice for their next gathering. The brand recently added a substantial amount of information to its website dedicated to this niche segment of the travel industry.

ABC Global Services has announced that it is acquiring the assets of CCRA (The Travel Commerce Network) in an integration of the two largest providers of hotel content and travel agency services. Combined, the two organizations will prove mutually beneficial to their travel management company (TMC) and agency clients by providing travel and hospitality products and personalized service administered by the industry’s best account management team.

As the U.S. Congress negotiates a new coronavirus relief package for individuals and businesses, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has called on Congressional leadership to enact measures to renew business travelers’ confidence and to curb the devastating effect of the pandemic on this sector of the global economy.

More and more in-person and virtual events are coming together in the form of seminars, incentives, product launches, congresses and other gatherings. In addition, an increasing awareness in terms of health and safety goes hand-in-hand with a growing demand for events that are more sustainable. To meet this demand and to remain a pioneer in B2B services, Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Group has set up a hybrid events think-tank.

Amtrak Guest Rewards (AGR) is launching its first-ever "Reward Travel Sale," offering a 25 percent savings on point redemptions. Members can redeem their points between July 14 and 16 to take advantage of the sale and enjoy summer travel for fewer points.

Amtrak Guest Rewards members can also purchase additional points if they don't have enough points for a trip. Sample trips include:

The Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, has announced that the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) is among the first organizations to achieve GBAC STAR facility accreditation. The GBAC STAR program helps commercial and public facilities of all sizes establish and carry out a systematic approach to cleaning, disinfection and infection prevention.

American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has appointed Julie Avenel as vice president, global business consulting. In her new role, Avenel will lead GBT’s global consultancy division and report to chief commercial officer, Drew Crawley.