Industry Associations Release Health and Safety Playbooks for Reopening B2B Events

June 10, 2020

With major cities starting to reopen and some face-to-face events preparing to get back to business, we’re all seeking guidance on how to slowly and safely resume business as usual. Three leading event industry organizations have released complementary health and safety guidelines to assist show organizers, general service contractors and venue operators in safely planning and producing exhibitions during and following a global health crisis. Take note of these resources:

IAEE

On June 5, IAEE released “Essential Considerations for Safely Reopening Exhibitions and Events, Version One.” 

“Although we are eager to get back to our usual face-to-face business environment, safety must be the top priority, and we must look to the science and medical communities for the best ways to go about producing our shows,” said David DuBois, IAEE president and CEO. 

The association’s Health and Safety Task Force teamed up with the Global Biorisk Advisory Council to ensure the document conveys the most accurate information available as the current pandemic progresses. 

This new publication covers:

  • General principles for health and safety operations
  • Communication, education and awareness
  • Exhibition and event operations
  • Convention center/venue cleaning prevention measures
  • Legal considerations

The document will be updated as experts learn more about COVID-19, according to IAEE officials.

ESCA

Also on June 5, ESCA released “Health & Safety Guidance for the Exhibitions Industry,” a whitepaper created by the association’s health and safety committee for service contractors and partners who install and dismantle events.   

“ESCA’s Health and Safety Guidance for the Exhibitions Industry embodies our strong support for unity among all segments and is ever mindful of the potential health hazards that we encounter in our industry,” said Larry Arnaudet, ESCA executive director.

It covers safety around the following:

  • Overall guidelines for health and safety physical distancing
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Health monitoring and hygiene
  • Trade show layout
  • Cleaning and disinfecting warehousing/marshaling/freight handling
  • Floor coverings
  • Staff and labor
  • Equipment
  • Exhibitor move-in/move-out
  • Exhibitor order processing
  • Communication and education

According to Neil McMullin, president of ESCA, a key priority of the whitepaper is to create meaningful and consistent guidelines that can be used uniformly across the industry. 

“We are well prepared to produce and host events where the safety and health of all involved is our top priority, [and] we have taken into account each action and phase of the event production process,” McMullin said. “Our health and safety committee, representing a wide range of our membership, has embraced the kind of collaboration and cooperation needed right now to show real leadership as we move toward recovery.”

UFI, IACC and ICCA

On May 26, UFI, the International Association of Convention Centres and the International Congress and Convention Association released “Good Practice Guide: Addressing COVID-19 Requirements for Re-Opening Business Events” to help global trade show industry professionals create conditions and safeguards to enable the safe re-opening of their events.

A collaborative effort between the three “G3” associations, this third in a series of COVID-19-related guides details globally emerging standards, protocols and good practices while observing relevant government and health authority expectations. The two previous Good Practices Guides: “Convention and Exhibition Centre Health & Safety: Managing COVID-19 Challenges” and “Convention and Exhibition Centres as Temporary Emergency Facilities” were released in March and April, respectively.

“It is our challenge to convince local governments, associations and event attendees that our venues can be highly-controlled and safe environments,” said James Rees, president of ICCA. “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.” 

With global exhibitions facing different health circumstances throughout the world, the guide also provides a framework and resources to help venues create their own guidelines.

“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,” said Mary Larkin, president of UFI. “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.“

 

Don’t miss any event-related news: Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter HERE and engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram!

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Here at Mandalay Bay, venues are inviting and innovative. As one of the most iconic names on the Las Vegas Strip, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center has recently undergone an exciting upgrade. This renowned venue now offers everything your business needs, with a refreshed convention space designed to inspire productivity and creativity, as well as an impressive selection of world-class restaurants and amenities. If you're searching for a venue that is both inviting and innovative, Mandalay Bay is the place to be. Mandalay Bay is committed to investing in a new wave of enhancements, not only in the convention space but also throughout the entire resort. With new restaurant openings and remodels, spectacular entertainment, and updated rooms, Mandalay Bay promises to deliver new and exciting experiences to its guests until 2024. To create a truly effective conference venue, Mandalay Bay has carefully considered what businesses require. The right technology, capacity, and inspiration are essential to take ideas to the next level. The refreshed Mandalay Bay Convention Center has been designed with your business in mind. Every room is equipped with newly-upgraded technology, enhancing our ability to support bandwidth demand and overall data capabilities. Additionally, the addition of 10 new digital walls provides bigger and more dynamic ways to display customized content messages. Mandalay Bay offers world-class conference space and service. The venue options range from ballrooms to ample pre-function spaces, catering to teams of any size while accommodating multiple large groups simultaneously. Our certified planners work collaboratively with you to understand your specific event requirements, anticipating your business needs and offering the best-fit solutions. In addition to providing exceptional conference facilities, Mandalay Bay is also dedicated to sustainability. We strive to give our guests an unforgettable experience while minimizing our impact on the environment. As part of our sustainable energy efforts, you'll find refillable water stations throughout the property, eliminating the need for single-use plastic bottles and reducing unnecessary plastic usage. Mandalay Bay is proud to offer an upgraded and enhanced experience for businesses seeking a venue that combines innovation, convenience, and sustainability. Whether you're hosting a conference, meeting, or other business event, Mandalay Bay's refreshed convention space, world-class service, and commitment to sustainability make it the ideal choice. Come and discover the new wave of experiences awaiting you at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip. Wherever your organization is going, getting there starts with being here.