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. 

As part of Puerto Rico's four-phased reopening plan, the island announced it will formally reopen for inbound tourism on July 15. It was the first U.S. entity to implement strict measures such as a curfew; currently, thorough cleanliness measures are in place Island-wide and enhanced policies are being implemented that follow the U.S. Travel Association health and safety guideline, along with locally enforced measures.

Here's what's new in the MICE sector:

Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) and Conventions & Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) have announced a joint agreement that will see both organizations collaborate on issues that mutually affect their markets.