Hospitality - Bulwark Herö

Safe In-Person Meetings

September 24, 2021 by BH Editor

Meeting Planners, Corporate, Education, Hospitality

Can we come back to Safe in-person meetings? Two-thirds of meeting planners intend to hold their next in-person event this year. Meeting owners and event organizers can take effective steps to dramatically minimize the risk of contagion. The following tips come from Loren Edelstein, vice president and content director for Northstar Meetings Group.

Steps to minimize the risk:

full story here

Share the facts. “People are much less likely to contract Covid-19 at a business event than in day-today activities, according to new research conducted by global event producer Freeman and Epistemix.
Know the local mandates.“Government-mandated requirements regarding vaccination status, testing and mask use vary widely by city, state and country—and change often.
Set requirements for entry. “Events must meet local requirements, at a minimum, but many go further. A cautious approach might require provide proof of vaccination and/or a negative Covid test taken within 48 or 72 hours of the event. Rapid Covid tests and/or temperature checks at the entrance to the event would add a final layer of protection.”
Establish on-site protocols.“In the current COVID climate, all participants—regardless of vaccination status should be wearing face masks.
Consider going hybrid.“Offering an option to attend remotely will extend your audience reach and lay the groundwork for a contingency plan.

Bottom line: Proceed with caution. In-person business events are typically held in highly controllable settings, requiring registration to enter private spaces at designated times.

The Show Must Go On

Full Story here

With the recent surge in Covid cases, more planners are cancelling or rescheduling events, according to Northstar Meetings Group’s latest Pulse Survey. However, findings show a slight rise in sourcing and booking activity, and a dip in the number of respondents who are not working on in-person events.

The second half of the year still looks strong: Two-thirds of the 826 respondents to the latest survey will hold their next in-person event in Q4 of this year. Among stepped-up health-safety measures, half will require attendees to wear masks indoors and 28 percent will require proof of Covid-19 vaccination. Resiliency is critical, however, as requirements and policies are changing daily and vary from location-to-location.

Working with suppliers has been a considerable challenge, and those challenges have grown over the last several Pulse Survey cycles. The most vexing problem: Hotels and venues aren’t adequately staffed, according to more than half of respondents. Also high on the list of gripes: Room rates are higher than expected, contract terms are not flexible enough, supplier contacts are gone, and it’s tough to find the dates and space desired. In this difficult environment, 17 percent have put negotiations on hold for the time being.

“Covid is a roller-coaster and it makes planning for it extremely tough,” noted a respondent. “We have to remain fluid, and that doesn’t always translate well when planning events — especially when changes happen at the last minute.”

Safe In-Person Meetings. BH as a solution to drive group business

New preferences in accommodation are established?

September 24, 2021 by BH Editor

Meeting Planners, Hospitality

The new preferences in accommodations. Despite continued challenges due to the Delta variant, many countries around the world, thanks to successful vaccination programs, have started to relax travel restrictions and social distancing requirements.

In a recent wave of research, conducted using the Traveler Panel, STR sought to find out if the accommodation preference changes seen in previous research were still evident, despite significant vaccination progress in many countries.

Same but slightly different?

full document here

The most recent findings show a familiar picture compared with the previous research. Many accommodation types were still perceived more negatively compared with before the pandemic. Smaller types of accommodation continue to attract more interest as consumers adapt to living in a Covid-19 world. In July 2021, traveler interest in short-term rentals was 15% above the pre-pandemic level of interest.

Consistent with previous research, hotels with less than 50 rooms also recorded higher interest compared with before the pandemic. Also the latest data shows that cancellation policies are still important. However, location, price and reviews are now the three key determinants when choosing accommodation.

Luxury versus economy

Consumers were also asked for their views on different classes of hotel accommodation. Overall, travelers are still less interested in staying at hotels now than compared with before the pandemic. Interestingly, economy and budget hotels were perceived significantly more negatively than upscale and luxury hotels in the current environment.

Continuing to reassure guests about COVID-safe measures will help to encourage travel at a time when lingering anxieties about the virus remain. Effective marketing will be another important component to enable the recovery of the accommodation industry. The current evidence shows that some sectors may have to be more inventive and creative than others in luring back customers.

New preference in accommodations are established? Bulwark Hero can help the economy of the hotels

Hybrid work, there is no going back

September 17, 2021 by BH Editor

Corporate, Hospitality, Meeting Planners

With the latest wave of return-to-office delays from Covid-19, some companies are considering a new possibility: Offices may be closed for nearly two years. Hybrid work.

Pat Gelsinger, chief executive officer of Intel Corp., predicts hybrid and remote work will remain the norm for months and years to come. “There is no going back.”

Return dates have been postponed repeatedly. Some big companies have postponed September returns, others were delayed until at least January and companies like Lyft Inc. said it would call employees back to its San Francisco headquarters in February, about 23 months after the ride.

Perceptions

full document here

Perceptions of remote work have shifted as the pandemic has gone on. When professional-services giant PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP surveyed employers across the U.S. in June 2020, 73% of respondents said they deemed remote work successful. By January 2021, when PwC released updated data, that figure rose to 83%. Now, more workers also say they want to stay at home full time. In new data released by PwC on Thursday, 41% of workers said they wished to remain fully remote, up from 29% in the January survey.

The prospect of two years out of the office still concerns many employers, though, if only because it is harder to get a sense for how employees are feeling now. Conning, a Hartford, Conn.-based institutional asset-management firm, recently told U.S. employees that they won’t be required back in offices, even on a hybrid schedule, until January at the earliest.

Many workers are still eager to see offices repopulated, said Ms. Cowger, the CEO of the law firm Schwabe, which employs about 400 people across the Pacific Northwest. Her firm delayed its mandatory office return until at least November, though Ms. Cowger said she eventually wants employees back in offices, some of the time, to help local cities recover economically and to ensure colleagues learn from each other.

“We can’t keep our office closed indefinitely,” she said. “We just can’t.”

How Office Culture Changed in the Pandemic:

full document here

A year and a half into the pandemic, many workers have yet to return to offices. But plenty others have been coming in since the early days of Covid-19—and they have much to say about what to expect.

Some workers returned because their job descriptions required it, others because their bosses feared company culture would erode if they didn’t. Some never left. Many say they have learned to live with constant uncertainty as they navigate shifting safety protocols, sudden quarantines and occasional outbreaks. Despite the fits and starts, they say their experience is evidence that offices can function amid Covid-19 risks. In some cases, they say pandemic office life has brought them and their colleagues closer.

The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center’s 50-member staff in Plymouth, Mich., has been back at their desks full time since May 2020. Bringing people back was an urgent priority, says Jamie Headley, director of business development: “Some didn’t do well with the isolation or had awful internet and weren’t ever fully present on Zoom.” Though some workers were wary of returning so soon, “once people got back and saw what we were doing, it calmed down pretty quickly.”

Ahead of their return, the center upgraded its heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system and added a robot that moves around the office with a UV light to sanitize the space. “It’s like a Roomba,” Ms. Headley says. Other staff have nicknamed it “Fido” and “Rover.” The center also required masks in common areas, daily desk sanitizing by employees and temperature checks each day as employees arrived.

Some workers say there have been unexpected benefits to pandemic office life. At Branson, Fowlkes & Co., a Houston wealth-management company whose office has been open throughout the pandemic, its nine employees started eating lunch in the office to minimize exposure at restaurants or take-out joints. During the midday break, they watched the Showtime series “Billions” together. “The collaboration and chemistry is much better,” says President Jay Branson

There is no going back. Bulwark Herö is the possibilities to assist the corporate market return to back to the office.

Covid-19 New 2022 timeline

September 9, 2021 by admin

Education, Corporate, Hospitality, Meeting Planners

Education

What is the Covid-19 New 2022 timeline? The warning by the government’s top infectious diseases expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, that the crisis won’t be under control until spring of next year. It also meant that Biden’s best-laid plans of triumphing over the pandemic and riding an economic wave into the campaign for congressional election results in November next year now look at risk.

Most Americans, encouraged by Biden himself, had already expected that kind of normality to be restored and may be in no mood to contemplate months more of deprivation. The spike in Covid-19 cases that has hit many areas of the country has already turned what was sold as a summer of freedom from the virus into a replay of some of the worst parts of the pandemic as hospitals are overrun by Covid patients.

Covid storm in US schools

full document here

The long-awaited full approval by the US Food and Drug Administration of the Pfizer/BioNTech is coming too late to prevent the Delta surge — and the newest Covid storm that is already here in US schools.

Millions of kids are returning to in-person classes at the worst moment yet of the crisis for children, as the Delta variant — more dangerous to minors than previous manifestations of the virus — sweeps the nation.

“Cases among children are still rare, and severe cases among children are very, very rare, but I know that parents are thinking about their own kids. It’s not as reassuring as anyone would like it to be,” Biden said on Monday.

While the President is right that severe cases of Covid-19 are rare, hospitalizations of children with the disease have hit record highs this month as the national daily average of all new infections hit 150,000 per day and average daily deaths hit 1,000. Anecdotally, many parents now have experience with kids or their friends testing positive for the much more infectious Delta variant.

The political frenzy over the virus, vaccines and Covid-19 treatments is escalating. Several Republican governors, are waging cultural wars over mask mandates in schools ahead of reelection races and possible presidential bids.

Who Should Wear a Mask?

full document here

People, including children older than 2, who are not fully vaccinated
Fully vaccinated people with weakened immune systems
To maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, fully vaccinated people should wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission

Bulwark Herö can help to come back to schools, hotels, restaurants and more.

Kids and Covid 19: Might be a tough year

September 2, 2021 by BH Editor

Education, Corporate, Hospitality, Meeting Planners

Education

The Kids and Covid 19, just days into the new school year, thousands of kids are under quarantine in public school districts after being exposed to Covid-19. The highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus makes up about 90% of new infections among kids, according to experts.

Some data for the past weeks:

full story here

While parents and school officials battle over back-to-school safety measures, schools are overwhelmed with the task of keeping kids safe while attending class in person.

Over 10,000 students in Florida school district isolated or quarantined a week into school year. The district has reported more than 1,800 confirmed Covid-19 cases. Hillsborough is the seventh-largest school district in the U.S., with more than 213,000 students. As of Wednesday, 10,384 students and 338 staffers are isolated or under quarantine, the district told ABC News. Full story here
Nearly 1,000 students and staff in Nashville, Tennessee, were in quarantine or isolation.
New Orleans School District saw 299 active Covid-19 cases and more than 3,000 students and staff in quarantine, according to district data. (The Nola PS Covid-19 Case Tracker provides the number of active and cumulative positive cases of Covid-19 by school site, total number of currently quarantined students and staff, and the number of positive cases of Covid-19 reported over time for the district and by school site. Check on it’s website here
Ware County in Georgia closed all its public schools after an increase in cases.
20,000 students are quarantining across Mississippi.
Schools in Texas counties shut down because of ashortage of staff members.

Should kids wear masks in school?

Full Story here

While some states have banned schools from requiring masks for students, experts say the practice will keep kids safer. Children under 12 are still not eligible for vaccines against Covid-19. And just in time for back-to-school season, the highly contagious delta variant is causing pediatric cases of the coronavirus to skyrocket.

The good news is experts agree on how to keep kids and teachers safer at in-person school. Adults and older children should be vaccinated, and everyone should wear masks. But many schools aren’t requiring them – and many states say they can’t, even if administrators and parents want to.

Most states have lifted mask mandates in schools but allow local districts to impose them as they see fit. Twelve states have imposed mask mandates in schools, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico – a group that has grown in the past week. Click here to check on your State.

Wearing a mask provides instantaneous protection. It can guard a person from infection even in environments where not everyone is masked, such as schools without mask mandates.

Should everyone wear masks?

CDC new mask recommendation here

Delta’s threat: CDC reveals data on why masks are important for the vaccinated and unvaccinated.

Updated information for fully vaccinated people given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant currently circulating in the United States.
Added a recommendation for fully vaccinated people to wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission.
Added information that fully vaccinated people might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission, particularly if they are immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease from Covid-19, or if they have someone in their household who is immunocompromised, at increased risk of severe disease or not fully vaccinated.
Added a recommendation for fully vaccinated people who have come into close contact with someone with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 to be tested 3-5 days after exposure, and to wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result.
CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.

In Hillsborough County Public Schools in Florida announced that nearly 6,000 students and staff members were out because of quarantine, necessitating an emergency board meeting to discuss how to prevent further spread, including putting mandatory masking on the table.

In Kentucky, Lee County Public Schools Superintendent Sarah Wasson announced schools would temporarily close at the beginning of this week. “This will be a tough year, and we don’t want to have to shut down this early, but if we can determine who is positive now, we believe we can stay in school longer,” Wasson said.

Bulwark Herö can help you create a safe environment for your next face to face meeting

How to minimize Covid-19 impact

September 1, 2021 by BH Editor

Hospitality, Corporate, Meeting Planners

Learn how to minimize Covid-19 Impact. Before the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, only four known coronaviruses were circulating among humans, including 229E. All four of these coronaviruses cause common colds, and in the most optimistic scenario, our newest coronavirus will end up as the fifth. In that case, COVID-19 might look a lot like a cold from 229E—recurrent but largely unremarkable.

The pandemic will end

full document here

The current spikes in cases and deaths are the result of a novel coronavirus meeting naive immune systems. When enough people have gained some immunity through either vaccination or infection—preferably vaccination—the coronavirus will transition to what epidemiologists call “endemic.” It won’t be eliminated, but it won’t upend our lives anymore.

If immunity to the new coronavirus wanes like it does with these others, then it will keep causing reinfections and breakthrough infections, more and more of them over time, but still mild enough. We’ll have to adjust our thinking about COVID-19 too. The coronavirus is not something we can avoid forever; we have to prepare for the possibility that we will all get exposed one way or another.

The coronavirus will no longer be novel—to our immune systems or our society,

but does not mean we should drop all precautions.

The timing and severity of reinfections and breakthrough infections once COVID-19 becomes endemic depend on how quickly the protective effects of immunity against the virus wanes. And that, in turn, depends on a combination of two factors: first, how quickly our immune systems get rusty against SARS-CoV-2, and second, how quickly this coronavirus evolves to disguise itself.

Endemic Scenario:

The virus itself will also change with time. As more people gain immunity via either infection or vaccination, the coronavirus will try to find ways to evade that immunity too. This is a natural consequence of living with a circulating virus; the flu also mutates every year in response to existing immunity. But in the endemic scenario, where many people have some immunity, the coronavirus will not be able to infect as many people or replicate as many times in each person it infects.

In the best case, COVID-19 will follow the same pattern: we were likely first exposed to other common coronaviruses as children, when the resulting disease tends to be mild; our immune systems get rusty; the virus changes; we get reinfected; the immune response is updated; the immune system gets rusty again; the virus changes again; we get infected. And so on.

The risk we were willing to tolerate

It’s going to come down to some level we find acceptable, Better vaccines and better treatments might reduce the risk of COVID-19 even further. The experience may also prompt people to take all respiratory viruses more seriously, leading to lasting changes in mask wearing and ventilation. Endemic COVID-19 means finding a new, tolerable way to live with this virus. It will feel strange for a while and then it will not. It will be normal.

Bulwark Herö can help you create a safe environment for your next face to face meeting

How to do a Covid-19 Safe Indoor Meetings

September 1, 2021 by BH Editor

Hospitality, Meeting Planners

Meeting organizers preparing for shows scheduled in 2021 and beyond must consider the health and safety of attendees and staff at every step of the planning process. Here you can find the most important areas to design a Covid-19 Safe Indoor Meetings

Risk Factors to Consider while in an event

full document here

Setting of the event—Indoor events, especially in places with poor ventilation, pose more risk than outdoor events.

Length of the event—Events that last longer pose more risk than shorter events. Being within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more (over a 24-hour period) greatly increases the risk of becoming infected and requires quarantine.
Number and crowding of people at the event – Events with more people increase the likelihood of being exposed. The size of the event should be determined based on whether attendees from different households can stay at least 6 feet (2 arm lengths) Physical distancing at events can reduce transmission risk—for example, blocking off seats or modifying room layouts.

Recommendations before the event.

full document here

For meetings that are scheduled to go on, the CDC has offered the following recommendations before the event:

Make sure both attendees and staff members will have access to the supplies such as soap, hand sanitizers that contain at least 60 percent alcohol, tissues, disinfectant wipes, no-touch trash cans and face masks that will be distributed on-site. Staff members should be required to wear face masks and attendees should be encouraged to wear them as well.

The CDC recommend to modify the event layout for social distancing. This includes limiting attendance or reducing seating capacities, but instead you can use Bulwark Herö that provides a tangible layer of protection an enclosed meeting space. Tangible protection to meet in person with a sense of security, freedom and comfort. Is easily set, sanitized, and stored, the patent-pending Bulwark Herö meets the most rigorous criteria and high levels of quality and expectations for all venues worldwide.
Prioritize outdoor activities where social distancing can be maintained.

Offer online options in addition to in-person attendance to help reduce the number of guests on-site.
Consider limiting event attendance to guests and staff who live in the local area to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus from areas that have high levels of transmission.
Identify automated platforms that can be used to quickly disseminate updates to staff members and attendees via text message, email and more. Take care to consider any potential language, cultural or disability barriers that may affect communication.

During the event

Stagger and limit attendance times to reduce the number of guests in the venue at one time.
Conduct daily temperature screenings and/or health checks of employees and guests.
Limit the number of people who can use a restroom at one time and post signs or markers outside the restroom to prevent crowds from forming. Consider adding barriers between bathroom sinks.
Avoid offering any self-serve food or drink options such as buffets and salad bars. Add floor markers to ensure attendees stay six feet apart while waiting in line to order or pick up food.
Ensure ventilation systems operate properly and increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible by opening windows and doors when feasible.

After the event

Ask participants, partners and staff to share additional feedback.
Look for new agencies and partners who can help improve future plans.
Continue to monitor emergency preparedness resources and training.

Cleaning and disinfection can help reduce the risk of exposure to Covid-19 and are key to reopening public spaces, according to the CDC. The organization has issued reopening guidelines for how to properly clean public spaces, including what the appropriate disinfectants are and how frequently surfaces should be cleaned. The guidelines can be viewed in full here

Bulwark Herö can help you create a safe environment for your next meeting

Covid19 Shaping the future of the Meetings Industry

How COVID-19 is shaping the future of the Meetings Industry

August 13, 2021 by BH Editor

Hospitality, Meeting Planners

I’ve devoted 30 years of my life to what I believe is the most beautiful and fulfilling industry in the world, “Hospitality”. My career evolved through many positions in the Meetings Industry, hotel chains, and titles; however, my focus has been on meetings and events from 1999 to today.

Hospitality has shaped my life, professionally and personally. I graduated from college while already working in the hospitality industry; I became a professional, was recognized as a leader, and met my husband along the way.

I grew up in this industry, and I have seen how my industry has survived global economic hardships, national financial disasters, and horrific events like 9-11. Each time we came back stronger and with ample knowledge of how to overcome any future downturns. However, Covid-19 has and continues to be a steep mountain to climb. During the last 17 months, it has been hazy as to what the road to recovery should be.

Leadership during COVID19

The Covid-19 vaccine became the hope to my industry. However, the lack of leadership or a well-thought-out unanimous plan to re-open the meetings sector has made it impossible to see a 100% recovery. It’s hard to believe that we can re-open without long-term guidelines, by almost pretending like nothing ever happened.

Our history has shaped our present behavior and has dictated our reactions to events that have changed humanity. Who can forget 9-11? The world witnessed a horrific act of terrorism, and we all quickly adopted a new way to travel. The creation of TSA reassured the world’s citizens, and together we became a society that felt safe to travel again. We were able to quickly change our behavior due to a group of terrorists that threatened our safety. However, we are refusing to change our behavior after a pandemic. Covid-19 threatens our existence as humanity.

Traveling experience under the pandemic

We need a solid plan, not the image of one that is not working out. Let me give you an example: For the first time after 17 months, I recently traveled to San Antonio, I chose to get vaccinated, travel with antibacterial wipes, gels, and, of course, a face mask. As I arrived at the San Diego airport, the mandatory signs of needing to wear a mask were everywhere, I felt like I was in a safe environment, but it was only a few steps away from TSA that I walked by the food court and coffee shops, that I realized that most people were having breakfast, and of course, no-one was wearing a face mask. For some reason, I believe that taking temperatures before hopping on a plane is not an out of the ordinary expectation, and yes, I know that having a temperature does not necessarily mean you have Covid-19; but it does mean that you have an infection and should not be traveling. Then we got on the plane and again the mandate to wear a mask was announced. However, minutes after take-off, pretzels and drinks were offered, (and yes, your guess is correct), all face masks were off.

Challenges of face to face meetings

I am fully aware of the vaccination statistics in the US, barely at 50+ percent; and I am sure there could have been at least 40% of unvaccinated people on my flight. Therefore, flying is not completely safe, the weak guidelines that are presented to us like “You Must Wear A Mask at all times” are not enforced. How can we expect results if our behavior doesn’t change?

Almost everyone takes simple viruses lightly; for instance, it is common to travel to a training, a conference, or a meeting, where you will always encounter someone with a cold, maybe some fever, carelessly shaking hands, and even hugging people. I hope you all agree that we cannot tolerate this type of behavior anymore; whether we want to admit it or not, we cannot afford to take a chance and become part of the problem. The flu season is 90 days away, and with Covid-19 facing a surge in worldwide cases, we are in for a harsh fall and winter; this leaves our hospitality industry in a very vulnerable place.

If we want to remain open and move into “our new normal”, we need to make the meetings industry a safe place again; a place of care, where our actions show the meaning of Hospitality; by always putting the well-being of our external and internal guests, first! Currently, it seems like everyone is creating “their own a set” of personal safety rules, that don’t necessarily measure the immediate and future possible risks. I believe we are responsible for the outcome of our story, our survival, and the future of our meetings industry. As we all take what we may consider a negligible risk, in the end, together we are creating significant risks; and by now, we all know that no small risk with Covid-19 is ever insignificant.

Let’s reclaim our space back safetly

I am proud to be part of a San Diego team that has helped to create “a solution” to bring people back together again; this product is a defensive personal device we call the Bulwark Herö. The “Bulwark Hero” was designed to provide an additional layer of physical protection, in group settings, by creating a tangible barrier that can be used again and again. Not only can it help to bring people back together again, but it also helps to keep them together. As we continue to face uncertainties with Covid-19, and with all the variants that will emerge, Bulwark Herö provides a tangible layer of protection, and also a sense of comfort, in the office, board rooms, meeting rooms, cafeterias, and any public space. Bulwark Hero is a solution to keep the meeting industry active while boosting the economy we all desperately need to maintain and grow.

Trends for CVBS and DMOs Post-Pandemic

August 13, 2021 by BH Editor

Meeting Planners, Hospitality

CVB and destination marketing professionals are looking toward the future, and what helping rebuild their community’s hospitality and tourism sector after an unprecedented worldwide pandemic is going to look like. Discover the Trends for CVBS and DMOs Post-Pandemic.

Trends for DMOs

full document here

Based in a 2021 DestinationNEXT Futures Study, NextFactor conducted 150 interviews with a group that consisted of “disruptors” in industries like technology and health, tourism industry professionals, association leaders, meeting and event planners, supply chain partners like hotels and airlines and community leaders such as economic development and education organizations.

Government, community and industry priorities have to become aligned to drive the competitiveness of a destination.
There continues to be a thirst of unique, authentic travel experiences.
There’s an increase in the desire to experience travel that has deeper meaning and that generates personal enrichment and wellbeing.
Business events costumers are expecting better collaborations with destinations to achieve greater outcomes.

Within the top 25 out of 100 ranked industry and consumer trends of the 2021 DestinationNEXT Futures Study, there are new trends based on new hygiene protocols and wellbeing:

Travelers are Paul Ouimet, president of MMGY NextFactor said: “Today, it’s not good enough for a destination to just be known—you have to be known for something.”

Key Prevention Strategies for Facilities:

full document here

Promote vaccination against COVID-19.
Work with local and state health departments to offer COVID-19 vaccination events.
Prevent crowding at events, for example, by modifying layouts or installing physical barriers or guides to support physical distancing, where appropriate.
Hold events outdoors, when possible.
Improve ventilation for indoor events.
Conduct routine cleaning to help maintain healthy facilities.

How many guests can safely attend a conference event:

CDC does not provide specific numbers, including maximum or minimum numbers, of attendees for events and gatherings. Event organizers should work with local public health officials and follow applicable local laws and regulations, including those related to privacy, to determine the prevention strategies needed in their area. Event organizers should also monitor levels of community transmissions (low, moderate, substantial, or high) and local COVID-19

How to select the right destination for your next in person meeting?

full document here

The safety and wellbeing of the attendees is the utmost priority.

Safety Protocols

What phase of reopening are the city and state in, and what safety and sanitation protocols are in place?
Are there any restrictions that limit out-of-state and/or international visitors?
What steps has the destination taken to ensure continued visitor safety? Is there an ongoing local program in place for restaurants, attractions and shops?
Are there local partners that can provide Covid-19 testing for your meeting attendees either on site or nearby?
Does the CVB provide relevant, updated information for Covid-19 and meetings in one convenient location?
Can the CVB share a list of available emergency medical services within a prescribed area of response to your event?

Food and Beverage guides for inside safety events

August 5, 2021 by BH Editor

Meeting Planners, Hospitality

New guides for inside safety events are emerging: New seating layouts, zero-proof cocktails and meals that boost your immune system are among the top food-and-beverage trends for face-to-face meetings this year.

10 Catering Trends for Events in 2021

full document here

There’s a lot to love about in-person meetings — the travel experience, personal connections and, of course, the food. When artfully chosen, prepared and delivered, F&B creates memorable moments that spark conversations and lend a feel-good vibe to the event.

First and foremost, communicate safety requirements for food functions, and be completely transparent about how food is prepared. Consider an open kitchen, where guests can watch and ask questions. This builds trust and also adds a level of excitement to the meal. If the rave ratings of shows like “The Great British Baking Show” are any indication, people love to watch cooks in action.

New Seating Layouts

Seating guests at a standard round is not only boring, but might make some attendees uncomfortable. Since guests will be unmasked while eating and the risk of contagion rises the closer people are to each other, you must ensure proper distancing during mealtimes.

Instead, take the advantage of the Bulwark Herö that provides a tangible layer of protection an enclosed meeting space. Tangible protection to meet in person with a sense of security, freedom and comfort. Is easily set, sanitized, and stored, the patent-pending Bulwark Herö meets the most rigorous criteria and high levels of quality and expectations for all venues worldwide.

Covered Cuisine

The days of open buffets are gone. Instead, most event organizers are opting for plated service, where masked and gloved servers bring dishes directly to each attendee. To add an extra level of safety, keep meals covered until placed on the table. For some fun, rather than using the standard stainless covers, use glass cloches to add some pizzazz to the dining experience.

Make It Mini

Adhering to health protocols doesn’t mean you have to skip the passed hors d’oeuvres. For those who want to offer their guests a variety of foods, small dishes work well and can be done three ways: passed, pre-plated or set up at server-attended stations. Among the most popular are mini cheese boards and charcuterie cones.

Taste of the Town

Bring local flavor into the meeting by having several nearby restaurateurs create food stations. This approach is also a good way to support local eateries, which have been hit especially hard by the pandemic.

Add Mocktails to the Menu

A rising number of attendees are cutting back on cocktails, and planners are recognizing that trend. Not only does limiting alcohol and/or serving zero-proof drinks encourage healthier habits, it also can reduce the risk of attendees becoming intoxicated and ignoring safety protocols. Among other benefits, attendees who drink less or abstain will feel better and more alert for learning. As a bonus, nonalcoholic drinks are typically less expensive.

Allowing more time for meals is one way to avoid the problem of long lines at food stations. For large meetings, consider splitting attendees into smaller groups and assigning meal times or different dining locations. This will help limit the potential for exposure to illness, and guests are likely to feel more comfortable dining with fewer people.

Maintaining Healthy Environments

full document here

Food Service

Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that handling food or eating is associated with directly spreading COVID-19. However, people sharing utensils and congregating around food service areas can pose a risk. Limit food or beverage service in areas in which people are more likely to congregate as that may encourage unmasked interactions.
If the event includes food service, refer to CDC’s COVID-19 considerations for restaurants and bars.
Use touchless payment options as much as possible, if available.
Ask customers and staff to exchange cash or card payments by placing them on a receipt tray or on the counter rather than by hand to avoid direct hand-to-hand contact.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as pens, counters, or hard surfaces between use and encourage patrons to use their own pens.
Provide physical guides, such as tape on floors or sidewalks and signs on walls, to ensure that people remain at least 6 feet apart when waiting in line to order or pick up.
If a cafeteria or group dining room is used, serve individually plated meals or grab-and-go options, and hold activities in separate areas.
Use disposable food service items including utensils and dishes. If disposable items are not feasible or desirable, ensure that all non-disposable food service items are handled with gloves and washed with dish soap and hot water or in a dishwasher.
People should wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after removing their gloves or after directly handling used food service items.
Avoid offering any self-serve food or drink options, such as buffets, salad bars, and drink stations. Consider having pre-packaged boxes or bags for each attendee.