Tag: covid19

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Vienna – New venue openings and funding packages to encourage organisers to return

Vienna is ready and waiting to welcome conference, meeting and events visitors again.  There’s lots going on in the city with new hotels and venues opening during this year and beyond.

Austria has recently introduced a €300 million protective shield, which means that the Austrian government will cover financial damage resulting from events being cancelled or restricted due to Covid-19.  An event is considered restricted if more than 30% of the participants cannot take part in the event due to COVID-19.  Applications can be made for events until December 2021.  The scheme applies to event organisers from outside Austria as long as the event is held in Austria.

In addition, Vienna also has a fund of €4m for domestic and international organisers who are planning meetings to be held in Vienna between 1 May 2021 and 31 December 2023.  Its aim is to encourage organisers to host congresses and corporate events in Vienna in the current circumstances.  Funding is provided for costs incurred when organizing meetings and is not intended as compensation for any financial losses.

This is particularly aimed at association congresses and meetings, as well as corporate events and meetings.  The event must be attended by at least 50 on-site participants and it lasts a minimum of four hours.  There is also funding for overnight stays and hybrid meetings.

Centrally located in Europe, Vienna is under 2 hours by plan from most other European capital cities.  It has a quick rail link from the airport to the city centre, which is compact, green and regarded as a safe city.

New Hotels

  • Almanac – opening in the summer of 2021, with 111 bedrooms and 11 meeting rooms
  • Hotel Motto – has 91 bedrooms and two meeting rooms is due to open in September 2021
  • Radisson Red Vienna – with 179 bedrooms and 480m² of meeting space will open during 2021
  • Hampton by Hilton – just opened in February 2021 and located next to the Messe.  This hotel has 192 bedrooms and one meeting room
  • Moons – a contemporary property with 170 bedrooms will open this summer.
  • Jaz in the city – opening in August will have 163 bedrooms and 150m² of meeting space
  • Zoku – 131 loft spaces with the option of a balcony, these are combined living and working space and there’s communal workspace and private meeting rooms.
  • Superbude – a combined hostel and hotel will open in June and has 75m² of meeting space

New Venues

  • Palais Wertheim – a contemporary venue which opened in 2019.  There are three meeting spaces and the largest has capacity for 300 in theatre style.
  • MQ Libelle – a rooftop venue with indoor and outdoor space.  The multi-functional room has capacity for 160 in theatre style.
  • Ariana – opening in 2021 with capacity for up to 500 people in theatre style and five meeting rooms in total
  • Austria Center Vienna ‘Danube Sail’ – has been refurbished, extended and is due to open in 2022.

Opening in 2022

At the luxury end of the market, The Rosewood is due to open in 2022.  It is located in the old town and will have 99 bedrooms, a rooftop bar, spa and meeting space.  This is Rosewood’s 5th property in Europe.

Opening in 2023

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel is being built in Vienna’s old law court building.  There will be 151 bedrooms and the amount of meeting space will be confirmed nearer to completion of the build.

Vienna has three conference centres and is a well-established conference destination, particularly popular with associations as there are numerous international organisations located in the city.  There is a city-wide Coronavirus policy, called Stay Safe, which has set safety and hygiene standards for hotels, including testing for guests.

If you’re interesting in holding your event in Vienna, search for your venue on www.edgevenues.com or call us on 01780 484051 for more information.

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Travelling around the world – who’s holding events?

Globe with flight paths

Last week we looked at how our European neighbours are managing Covid-19, what restrictions there are on travellers and whether they can hold conferences, meetings and events. This week we’re looking at some popular destinations which require long-haul flights from the UK.

Travel corridors were suspended 4am this morning, 18 January 2021. This means that if you arrive in England from anywhere outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, you will need to self-isolate for 10 days.

Travellers must have proof of a negative coronavirus test to travel to England.

Mexico and Canada have closed their land borders with the United States until 21st February. Japan has brought in a state of emergency in Tokyo since Covid-19 cases have risen to record levels. But what’s happening elsewhere?

Australia

The regulations vary state by state and there are restrictions on moving between states. Before travelling to Australia, you need to have a negative Covid-19 test. On arrival all international travellers are escorted to a designated facility (hotel) and must quarantine for 14 days. State and Territory governments. The traveller must pay a fee to cover the cost ($3,000 for an adult in New South Wales).

However, once in Australia the rules have been relaxed with Melbourne allowing meetings for 150 people indoors and 300 outdoors, in New South Wales the limit is 20 people and 50 in Queensland.

Canada

From 7th January, all international arrivals to Canada must have received a negative Covid-19 test result before boarding the plane. Then there is a mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

The regulations do vary from state to state, but gatherings are banned where social distancing is not possible. There is a curfew or closure of bars and restaurants in some places. The limit on the amount of people allowed to meet inside and out varies according to tiers.

China

All direct flights between the UK and China have been suspended. There are restrictions on movement around the country and there are quarantine requirements for internal travellers. The rules vary depending on the risk level in that region.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong and Singapore have delayed a planned air-travel bubble for the time being. This would have allowed travellers between the cities to avoid a quarantine by presenting a negative Covid-19 prior to their journeys. Flights from the UK were suspended on 23 December.

Gatherings are limited to two people, who aren’t from the same household.

Japan

Tokyo currently has its highest level of Covid-19 since the pandemic started. It has declared a state of emergency and the measures will be in place until 7th February. Residents are advised to leave their homes only for essential reasons and must avoid gatherings. Restaurants have been ordered to close by 8 p.m.

Mexico

The US land border will be closed until 21st February. Some hotels and restaurants are open, depending on the area and quarantine is not required on arrival in the country.

New Zealand

New Zealand’s border has almost been completely closed to international travellers and as a result the country has light restrictions. The meeting regulations are governed by tiers. In Level 3 the rules are a maximum of 10 people, Level 2 a maximum of 100 people. In Level 1 there are few restrictions on businesses.

Singapore

Visitors to Singapore who have been in the UK for 14 days prior to travel are not permitted to enter or transit Singapore.

The country has a plan called Connect@Singapore which will allow a few business travellers at the end of January. They will need to apply in advance and take multiple Covid-19 tests prior to and during their visit.

Currently, business events of up to 250 people are allowed, with permission from the Singapore Tourism Board. Attendees must be distanced between five zones of 50 people.

South Korea

All direct flights between the UK and North Korea have been suspended. The current rules on gatherings are a maximum of 50 people indoors and 100 people outside.

United Arab Emirates

Each Emirates has different regulations and airlines are still flying between Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the UK. A negative Covid test is required prior to travelling. Quarantine for 14 days is required on arrival but can be carried out at a hotel or private residence.

Hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions are open. Conferences and meetings are permitted in Dubai.

This information is subject to change and we advise you to check the regulations before booking, check your insurance cover before booking.

18 January 2021

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Are the airlines prepared for a surge in bookings in 2021?

We’re expecting the events industry to bounce back once the vaccine has been distributed.  Q3 of 2021 is looking good for a return to face-to-face meetings, with an expectation that meetings, conferences and exhibitions will eventually return to pre-Coronavirus levels.

Airlines are expecting an increase in leisure travel from July 2021 and business travel to start again from September, but will permanent changes in behaviour create cost and capacity issues for people flying to events?  It’s thought that around 20% of airline business in the USA is generated from event attendees.  The remainder is company meetings, training, sales and client visits and this segment could decline by up to 36% because these trips may be replaced by online meetings.

The scheduled airlines will be more affected than budget carriers, as they target the business travellers.  The frequency of flights, prices and type of aircraft is dependent on them.  Some airlines will switch to smaller planes, change the timetable and make rate changes to make routes more profitable.  The financial collapse of an airline will drive passengers to other carriers and probably increase ticket charges on popular routes.

The only requirement from an airline is that a passenger wears a mask.  The test and quarantine requirement are required by the destination country, so when planning it’s worthwhile checking the travel corridors.

What are the airlines doing?

  • Air Canada

Air Canada was first airline in North America to introduce temperature checks in May 2020. From 15th December passengers will have to present a negative Covid-19 test at check-in and it must have been taken within 72 hours before departure. A second test is needed for the return flight if the departure time is 72 hours from the first test.

  • American Airlines

From 9th December, American Airlines will sell home coronavirus testing kits to passengers travelling U.S. locations with restrictions.  Test results should be available within 48 hours of receipt at the laboratory.

  • Delta Air Lines

From 15th December, Delta is launching covid-tested flights from Atlanta to Amsterdam.  Passengers must take a PCR test five days before travel, followed by a rapid antigen test before boarding. Both tests must be negative, then a second PCR test will be taken upon arrival at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. If the final test is negative, passengers will not need to quarantine.   This system will then be used for flights to Rome from Atlanta, JFK New York and Newark Liberty New Jersey.

  • Emirates Airlines

Emirates was the first airline to offer free Covid-19 insurance. This includes coverage for medical treatment and health expenses and quarantine costs. The offer is valid for all travel until 31st December, at no charge to customers.

Anecdotally, we’ve heard that it’s business as usual in Dubai.  There’s 22% occupancy at the beachfront hotels and 17% occupancy in town, so there are some competitive rates available.

In Australia, the boss of Qantas, the country’s largest airline, said that once a virus vaccine becomes widely available, his carrier will likely require passengers use it before they can travel abroad or land in Australia.

  • Qantas, Korean Air and Air New Zealand

These airlines are considering changing their Terms and Conditions for international travellers to make it a requirement to have a vaccination before boarding a flight.  They would like a system to electronically verify that people have had a vaccine for their intended destination

However, this would be a governmental decision, depending how safe they feel it is to open their borders again.