The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the European Travel Commission (ETC) have co-organized a working session with European countries to discuss crisis communications in tourism. The event was held at UNWTO headquarters in Madrid. One of the goals of the meeting was to advance crisis communications coordination and preparedness for all destinations. The meeting discussed crises of different types, ranking from natural disasters to political instability and health-related pandemics.
Attended by representatives from 13 countries, the session addressed how crises have a transversal impact, and how the perception and image of destinations are affected by them. Issues of strategic crisis communications, media relations and the use of big data were in focus.

Some of the world’s most renowned wedding planners who have managed the nuptials of royal families to movie stars are confirmed to attend the Destination Wedding Planners Congress (DWP Congress 2017) between 2-4 May, 2017, at the Banyan Tree Laguna Phuket.The only event of its kind in the world, the DWP Congress brings together high-end destination wedding planners to do business with the most unique destinations, extravagant hotels, resorts, and venues along with leading wedding suppliers and creative partners; such as, couture designers, photography partners, furniture rentals, jewellery partners, cake designers and more.

After 15 consecutive years of being Thailand’s largest B2B tourism trade event, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) continues its successful tourism fair hosting to announce the 16th Thailand Travel Mart Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion (TTM+) 2017 in the northern Thai capital of Chiang Mai.
To be held on 14 – 16 June, 2017, at the Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre (CMECC), the event will bear the theme of “Discover Unique Local Experiences.” Registrations for buyers and sellers will open on 15 December, 2016, via its official website www.thailandtravelmartplus.com

The condominium site at the 27-acre Miami Worldcenter project sold for $26.28 million as construction on the project continues.The new Worldcenter in Downtown Miami should be ready in the year 2018. Many international families , specialy from Russia, Europe and South America bought her new appartment in Floridas Sunny City already.
The $1.5 billion Miami Worldcenter is slated to bring residential, retail, a hotel convention center and a large amenity deck on the north side of downtown Miami. The master developer is Miami Worldcenter Associates and it’s funded by Boca Raton-based Falcone Group and Los Angeles-based CIM Group.

While many eyes in the industry are focused on China’s outbound hotel investment, China’s cities are also attracting development from global brands. 
According to the latest reports from Lodging Econometrics, the cities with the largest pipelines are Shanghai with 109 projects and 22,071 rooms, Guangzhou with 107 projects and 20,195 rooms. Chengdu and Suzhou are tied for third place with 88 projects each, but Chengdu has 23,582 rooms in its pipeline while Suzhou has 16,959 rooms.
 

Nine months after announcing its intent to acquire Minnetonka, Minn.-based Carlson Hotels, China’s HNA Tourism Group has closed the deal, buying all of Carlson Hotels, and also acquiring Carlson’s 51.3-percent stake in Brussels-based Rezidor Hotel Group.Terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed, and HNA Tourism Group is not commenting on the deal at this time. Now that HNA Tourism Group has officially purchased Carlson and obtained a majority stake in Rezidor, it has until January 4th to decide exactly what it wants to do with Rezidor and it has two options: sell down its stake or buy the whole company out.