COVID-19 and the Meetings Industry

During this uneasy time of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the meetings industry, amongst many others, is taking a hard hit.
It is becoming more difficult to navigate in the rapidly changing news and regulations. Given the highly unpredictable nature of this situation, many events and meetings are being postponed or canceled all over the world. However, the situation doesn’t necessarily mean the cancellation of events as there are alternative routes that can be taken regarding the health and safety of participants and the well-being of events.
It goes without saying that offering excellent hygienic amenities at events is vital, but what other actions can be taken? Congresses can be held virtually, to some extent, in order to allow the participation of attendees who would otherwise not be able to join. Combining a virtual aspect to an event can also be beneficial for speaker attendance, as they can present and teach from their destination or prepare a presentation beforehand, which can then be streamed at a later date. With many doctors and professionals being held back from traveling, virtual options could be the way to go for the time being in order to keep the event afloat and avoid cancellations.
This option can also be applied for sponsors and exhibitors. Virtual booths with chat groups can be set up, where attendees could read, learn and chat about products and services being presented. At C-IN, we are firm believers that this epidemic will run its course soon. But of course, we are not underestimating the situation and continuously monitor any changes in preventive regulatory measures in the destination of our events, recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health authorities.
The WHO shares general principles for reducing the transmission of COVID-19 virus, which are applicable for international events. The full document can be found here.
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