As authorities around the world are increasingly clearing business events to run again, organisers of conventions and exhibitions, as well as venue and center operators need to put respective measures in place that create safe environments for participants.
A new global Guide on the matter identifies and promotes globally emerging standards, protocols, and good practices. The “Good Practice Guide: Addressing COVID-19 Requirements for Re-Opening Business Events” is jointly produced by AIPC, the International Association of Convention Centres, ICCA, the global community and knowledge hub for the international association meetings industry, and UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.
“International meetings and events are organised gatherings of professionals with specific, known and controlled attendee participation and need to be considered this way by global authorities, as opposed to other mass gatherings such as festivals and sporting events. It is our challenge to convince local governments, associations and event attendees that our venues can be highly-controlled and safe environments. By sharing information and best practices between our global industry association-partners, we hope we will be contributing to a more integrated approach, so that the international meetings industry can play its crucial role in economic and social recovery sooner rather than later.”, said ICCA President James Rees.
“Based on the ‘UFI Global Framework for reopening exhibitions and B2B trade events’, this joint Guide shows how our industry will move forward”, said UFI President Mary Larkin. “Sharing information and best practices on how to reopen the doors to events, from venues to organizers, is key in ensuring the strong future of the industry. Pre-competitive collaboration is the only way we, as an industry, can host events that are safe for our customers, vendors and employees, and deliver the top marketing tool that will be critical in the post-pandemic economic recovery.“