The Show is Going On … Safely

Would you believe that you are more likely to catch COVID-19 at your local supermarket than at a 500-person event?

We’ve been working with customers to produce amazing events over the last few months in a very changed environment, and I can say first-hand that there are still a lot of questions about how to do it right. But there is some good news on the horizon.

According to new research released by Epistemix, attending large in-person business events are safer than many daily activities and hosting the events does not increase local COVID-19 case rates.  That’s because at any size event, more than 80 percent of the attendees will be fully vaccinated. And cleaning protocols at events, hotels and airports tend to be more stringent than at home, school or your average restaurant.

Vaccination not only slows the spread of the disease, but it also reduces the severity of breakthrough infections when they happen. Hospital beds are filling again, with the vast majority being unvaccinated. If we maintain the same safety protocols we had before – masking indoors, maintaining six feet of space between participants, conducting temperature tests, and implementing good hygiene, we can convene safely.

But if we don’t talk about this, then fear will win out and our industry will continue to suffer.

Prior to the pandemic, Britain’s events industry was estimated to be worth £70 billion in direct spend, accounting for over 50% of the UK visitor economy. Over £31 billion of this total was comprised of business events, principally meetings, conferences, and exhibitions. Our industry has been devastated by the pandemic. If we want to recover, then we need to take control of the conversation and help our key event stakeholders and attendees understand that it is safe to meet in person with the right protocols.