PSAV MeetSAFE Guidelines Complement GBAC STAR Accreditation for Event Facilities

May 28, 2020

Earlier this month, the Global Biorisk Advisory Council announced the GBAC STAR facility accreditation, which establishes protocols, procedures and systems for event facilities such as convention centers to help control risk associated with infectious agents, such as COVID-19. Complementing that accreditation is a new set of guidelines from event experience company PSAV that is designed to be part of a system to help event venues adapt to the changing landscape for meetings and events.

MeetSAFE, announced earlier this month, is a set of tools focused on redesigning events to deliver on the strategic goals of meetings and events while defining new guidelines to minimize risk and promote health. Being able to convene safely will be the first priority of all planning activities going forward, as the ability to conduct in-person meetings will be dependent on making people feel safe in any setting, according to PSAV officials.

“Our industry has more to consider when planning live events in the future,” said Ben Erwin, president of PSAV. “While there has been an explosion of virtual events due to today’s environment, we know there will be a time when both hybrid and fully live meetings will return.” 

He continued, “People feel a strong desire for face-to-face interactions, so we wanted to be proactive and offer guidance on how they can ensure important live meetings and events are productive, but also safe at the same time.”

These new MeetSAFE guidelines cover four key areas: event design, room layout and traffic flow, technology enhancements and cleaning guidelines. With input from venue partners, event planners and leading industry associations, the new guidelines include meeting formats, technology tools and other recommendations that outline paths around how the event industry could re-open during the early phases of recovery.

Events Industry Council has applauded PSAV for its efforts in launching MeetSAFE. “We are encouraged and inspired by the work we are seeing in all segments and regions to address today’s challenge and adapt for the future,” said Amy Calvert, EIC’s CEO.

Additionally, EIC’s APEX COVID-19 Business Recovery Task Force is focused on curating and sharing accepted practices across the global events ecosystem. Calvert says the organization will include MeetSAFE’s tool in that work.

 

Image by cdu445 from Pixabay

Don't miss any event-related news: sign up for our weekly e-Newsletter HERE and engage with us on TwitterFacebook and LinkedIn!

Add new comment

Expert Profile
Off
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.  Remodeled Guest Rooms MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las more