Daily News & Opinion

This year’s Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, scheduled to take place in September, has been cancelled due to nationwide Covid-19 restrictions. In a statement released last Friday (12 June), event promoter Singapore GP (SGP) and Formula 1 said the decision to cancel the event was made due to ongoing restrictions on construction and business activities in the Lion City. Such measures have inhibited construction of the street circuit, which usually begin in May.

In Friday’s coronavirus press conference prime minister Scott Morrison announced that the 100-person cap on all indoor gatherings has been scrapped. In its place is a four sqm per person rule for indoor venues, which is expected to commence from July. Crowds of up to 10,000 people will be allowed at stadiums with allocated seating, and any outdoor event must be seated and ticketed in line with social distancing requirements.

To better collaborate on issues mutually affecting their markets, Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) and the Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) have announced a joint agreement. BECA chair, Dr Vanessa Findlay, said a collaboration between CINZ and BECA will facilitate maximum benefit for both countries. “Business events are such significant economic drivers and a fast way of encouraging trade and investment. International events will give an important boost to business recovery on both sides of the Tasman,” she said.

The first Inspire Speakers Showcase was a lot of fun, so when AV1 and Inspire Speakers announced that there’s going to be another, we could barely contain our excitement. Instalment number two will take place on July 16, and again be livestreamed from AV1’s ControlRoom. The star-studded speaker line-up includes popular emcee Andrew Klein; founder of The Corcoran Group Barbara Corcoran; best-selling author Brett King; and award-winning comedian Urzila Carlson.

The Sunshine Coast is urging the Queensland premier to allocate $1 million in funding so Visit Sunshine Coast can urgently initiate an intensive marketing campaign to attract Queensland visitors over the winter period. The call comes after the Palaszczuk government provided $2.4 million each to the Gold Coast and Tropical North Queensland Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) – a move which places those markets at a distinct advantage when marketing to Queensland tourists.  

Chief executive of Navarra Venues, Sal Navarra, has had enough. Mr Navarra vowed on Instagram this week he was “taking a stance” and would allow weddings of any number following mass marches in Australian cities over the weekend. As reported by the ABC, Nine News and other media outlets, Mr Navarra said in an online video post: “We don’t want to deal with upset brides anymore, upset clients anymore because it’s not fair on them… we are reopening to any numbers.”

One of the most pressing questions to arise from the widespread switch to online conferencing is whether delegates should continue to dress up as normal, or grace screens decked out in their Peter Alexander. According to managing director EVT Incentive Marketing Mercedes Ibbett, the latter is perfectly acceptable. “Why not?” she says. “Perfect opportunity to have a fun themed party. Who’s ready for an at-home PJ karaoke contest, or best dressed PJs fashion show?”  

This year’s TED conference, which was scheduled to take place in Vancouver next month, has been pushed back to July due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The decision was made after organisers reached out to attendees in an email asking whether they’d prefer to postpone or hold a virtual conference online. The majority chose to postpone the conference, believing that TED should be an in-person event. Vancouver has played host to the TED conference since 2014, hosting around 2000 guests each year.