Quick takes

Tarsus’ Doug Emslie looks to the future

“It’s not about virtual shows… It will be about how we service a community based on what our customer wants.” Good, sensible views from the Tarsus CEO, but let’s hope the term “omnichannel” does not stick.

Reading Festival expected to use vaccine passports

There is considerable resistance to this sort of initiative in some corners, but it seems highly likely that vaccine passports are going to be used in some places at some events – like it or not.

Singapore minister predicts progressive opening

Singapore’s Minister for Trade & Industry, Chan Chun Sing, stated he expects “progressively opening up with countries that are able to keep the pandemic under control and progressive across travel types – business travel, niche travel and mass travel… We are not safe until everyone is safe.” If we are waiting for everyone to be safe, it is going to be a long wait.

How desperate are Hong Kongers to travel again?

“When it comes to post-pandemic priorities, 77% of Hong Kong travellers admitted they would rather go on vacation in 2021 than find true love, while 68% would pick travelling over success at work.” As many of us have discovered in 2020 and 2021, Hong Kong is a pretty small place to wait out a pandemic.