Global DMC Pacific World, part of the TUI Group, has announced that it will cease operations in the meetings and events industry after 40 years of trading due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company, which had previously announced that its Hong Kong operation would cease on 14 September, said in a statement: “The coronavirus is continuing to cause unprecedented disruptions in the travel and tourism industry. As a result, TUI Destination Experiences, parent division of Pacific World is moving to a digitalisation strategy and decided to stop participating in the Meetings & Events market.”

Pacific World was founded in 1980 in Hong Kong by Jacques Arnoux and Bob Guy, who sold the business to First Choice in 2006 (later part of TUI Travel plc).

It is one of three brands in the TUI Group’s Destination Experiences division, along with Intercruises, which handles shore excursions and other elements of the cruise business, and Musement, an online provider for tours and activities. TUI Destination Experiences will stop operating the meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) business under the Pacific World brand in November 2020

“The Pacific World brand has continued to innovate and has been recognised globally as one of the leading Destination and Event Management companies with strong family values at its core. Trust, passion, and excellence are at the heart of the culture that has brought the brand to great heights over the years,” the statement said.

“Pacific World has been dedicated to delivering over 40,000 exceptional event experiences in the past 10 years in over 100 destinations around the world. What made Pacific World great was its people. The creativity, professionalism and inclusive culture of our team brought the customer experience to the next level. These talented teams are not only savvy event strategists; their skills make them incredible business entrepreneurs. We believe the industry will recover in the future, and our passion and legacy of innovation will create future solutions for our customers.”