The U.S Department of State has warned that U.S. citizens traveling abroad—particularly those traveling to China between now and the end of the year—should be prepared for screening and quarantine procedures that may be put in place at some foreign airports as a way to reduce the spread of the H1N1 flu. We’ve got the links you need to travel insurance companies and country-specific travel pages. (And watch out if you start sneezing on your flight back to the U.S.)

For the fifth year, J.D. Power and Associates has released its European Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study. Repeating at the top spot in the “upper upscale” segment is Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts. See who else made the grade and how J.D. Power does the judging.

Having welcomed nearly 1,000 attendees—a record-breaking number—to its annual conference in Florence, Italy, last week, the International Congress and Convention Association released results of a survey that showed most international associations had steady or rising attendance at their events in 2009. Despite the 38 percent whose 2009 attendance numbers declined, most respondents were optimistic about the year ahead.

International meeting planners: MeetingsNet is offering two webinars today about taking your meetings outside the country. Choose one or both of our free, one-hour webinars: The first one, on launching an international association meeting, starts at 12 p.m. EST, and the second, on 20 cost-saving strategies for international programs, follows at 1:15 p.m.

Join four meeting industry pros with dozens of years of international experience between them for a lively two hours: Karen J. Malone, vice president, meeting services, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society; Peter Turner, business development director—U.S. Association Market, MCI Institution Division; Agnès Canonica, CMP, CMM, director–international services, Meetings & Incentives; and Idoia Rodés, CMM, managing director, MCI Brussels and Amsterdam.
Learn more and register.

Exclusively for association executives, IMEX Association Day has been planned for May 24, 2010, at Messe Frankfurt, Germany, the day before the start of IMEX, the worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings, and events. Find out who’s on the agenda and how to register.