1. Vivid Sydney from 24 May to 15 Jun has released its 2019 program featuring over 50 works across Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbour, Chatswood, Barangaroo and Luna Park. In a partnership first, Pixar Animatoin Studios will illuminate with characters of Pixar films.

2. Thailand has shifted it’s policy on providing supported site inspections for Australian meeting and incentive organisers. Buyers for events with over 80 guests are now eligible to apply for financial support.

3. Following a competitive search, Perth has been announced as the destination for the 2019 Australian Event Awards and Symposium, set to take place between September 16 and 18

4. Club Med has launched its new corporate product called Worktainment which allows corporate clients to rent entire resorts for events.

5. The third annual Get Global trade show, set to take place this July at the ICC Sydney, has announced two of its headline speakers: trainer and author Michelle Bridges and co-founder of Four Pillars Gin Matt Jones. The speakers will both provide a fresh perspective to meeting and event professionals, with Michelle’s talk focusing on finding a work-life balance while maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and Matt’s on growing a business and developing a successful brand.

6. Four Points by Sheraton, Sydney, Central Park, located within a retail, dining and residential precinct on the site of a former brewery site, has opened recently.

7. The second Australian hotel under IHG’s upscale voco brand has officially opened its doors: voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley. The 70-room property is set on 70 acres of rolling countryside, and embodies the voco brand’s bold characteristics, with bright yellow accents and onsite beehives smattered throughout the building.

8. The Sydney Opera House has opened its doors to its redesigned function and events centre – the Yallamundi Rooms.

9. United Airlines has launched its new United Meetings product, available on the airlines business portal, United Jetstream.

10. Now in its 53rd year, the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is ready to unveil its stylish refurbishments with a major technology overhaul to rival some of Sydney’s newest hotels.