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
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.    Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.    Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.   The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.    MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.     MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.