Business Events Council of Australia delivers COVIDSafe guidelines to government

May 14, 2020

The Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) has delivered a set of strategic principles to Government that instils confidence in Australia’s business events industry so that COVID-19 restrictions can be safely lifted and the industry can rapidly restart.

The news coincides with the unveiling of the three-step plan to lift COVID-19 restrictions by the Government last Friday. While welcomed by BECA, the peak industry body and its Safety and Hygiene Subcommittee are now seeking to work closely with officials to ensure a robust and sustainable distinction can be made between highly organised and managed business events in controlled settings from mass gatherings – to further expedite the industry’s recovery.

The development of COVIDSafe Guidelines for Business Events by BECA will underpin the distinction and allow for the rapid restart and reinvigoration of business events and the many businesses, industry groups and associations that rely on these for success.

A recent study shows the Australian economy is set for a $35.7 billion loss over the next 12 months, as the impact of COVID-19 on these businesses bites (source: Lost Business Report: Impacts of COVID-19 on the Business Events Industry, McCrindle, April 2020).

The new guidelines focus on five key areas, providing advice on managing a business event during the planning phase, the event itself and following the event. The guidelines will be applied, adapted and implemented in a fit for purpose way across the business events industry to ensure the highest levels of COVID safety. They will remain a living document to be updated and reviewed as knowledge of the virus grows, health advice develops and the industry gains experience in best-practice safety and hygiene regimes.

Chair of the Business Events Council of Australia, Dr Vanessa Findlay noted “the Government’s three-step framework is a positive step forward for the business events industry. There is a recognition by Government in that framework that given the right operating environment, larger gatherings can be considered. We must now work closely with officials to ensure we can increase gathering numbers for businesses events, which will be critical for the industry’s rapid recovery, as well as that of the many businesses that rely on its success and wider Australian economy.”

Findlay adds “the establishment of the Safety and Hygiene Subcommittee is an important step in this process. Clear industry guidelines for hygiene and safety will provide Government with the confidence to lift restrictions and for organisers to rebook and hold events as soon as possible. We’re also working with individual State and Territory jurisdictions to ensure clarity and consistency across the country so that delegates can travel interstate to attend business events.”

The COVIDSafe Guidelines for Business Events will:

• Ensure personnel and personal safety
• Enable physical distancing
• Increase health and safety measures
• Implement maximum gathering controls
• Encourage and enforce measures

For more information go to www.businesseventscouncil.org.au/covidsafe-guidelines.html

Image courtesy of Cairns Convention Centre.

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27th April 2020 - Tourism Australia revises Business Events Advance Program to support industry in COVID-19 recovery

24th April 2020 - Collapse of events sector wipes $35 billion from Australia’s economy

22nd April 2020 - Kitchens at Hamilton’s Claudelands Events Centre stay busy producing meals for those in need

7th April 2020 - New Zealand Events Association highlights dramatic deterioration of the sector

6th April 2020 - CINZ launches recovery plan to support business events industry

24th March 2020 - New Zealand events industry reports cancellation of more than 3,000 events

20th February 2020 - Cairns Business Events Industry promotes holding events with purpose

18th February 2020 - Tourism Australia’s Business Events enhances presence at AIME 2020

25th October 2018 - Global business events experts head to first ever CINZ Conference in Auckland

26th July 2018 - New Business Events Manager appointed to lead Business Events Sunshine Coast

15th March 2018 - Australian Government announces $12 million Business Events Bid Fund Program

21st December 2017 - Business events sector looks to develop future workforce

10th November 2017 - Business events must adopt Olympic standards on safety

12th January 2017 - New software platform gives marketers increased visibility on business event performance

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