The Republican National Convention’s Charlotte host committee is giving $3.2 million in cash and supplies to a dozen nonprofits and other organizations in the region. It is also providing another $500,000 in grants that will go to small businesses in the hospitality industry that would have benefited from the influx of convention-goers. More.

According to STR, hotels improved their performance in July compared to the previous month in three key metrics: Occupancy went from 42 percent to 47 percent; average daily rate climbed from $92.15 to $101.76; and revenue per available room went from $38.80 to $47.84. While the news is trending in the right direction, all three metrics are still at historic lows compared to previous years. More.

With few documented cases of in-flight coronavirus transmission, scientists say that the risk of catching COVID-19 on an airplane is lower than previously believed. Explanations include modern air replacement and filtering methods, mask mandates, temperature screenings, restricted movement within the cabin, spacing between passengers, and heightened cabin cleanings. More.

If working from home gives you more time to daydream, that could be a good thing. New research suggests that when a daydreamer cares about and identifies with the work they do, daydreaming can increase innovation and creative problem solving. At a time where innovation is the key to developing new meeting strategies, go ahead and let your mind roam. More.

GES surveyed 1,330 attendees in June and July about their willingness to attend in-person events and their concerns surrounding the risk of the virus spreading at such events. Overall, 88 percent of respondents were open to attending in-person meetings: 65 percent of those would require some form of mitigation to do so, while 23 percent would not. More.

On travel-search results pages, Google plans to add the percentage of open hotels with availability, as well as the percentage of flights operating. Searchers will also be able click on links to see advisories and the prevalence of coronavirus in a particular area. More.

The eye contact possible during virtual conferences can affect viewers’ attention, emotion, and assessment of the speaker’s intelligence or trustworthiness, according to Professor Jari Hietanen from Tampere University in Finland. One example is the effective unbroken eye contact President Barack Obama displayed during his video speech at the recent Democratic National Convention. More.

According to a Travel Weekly thought piece, the pandemic presents a unique opportunity for the travel industry to rebound stronger than before, with a shift towards social responsibility and sustainability. For planners, sweeping change the industry creates an opportunity to implement new ideas, seek out new destinations, and ditch the business-as-usual mentality. More.