EXSA NEWS

Getting back to the business of exhibitions

Energy Capital and Power (ECP) recently hosted two events in Africa. HOTT3D designed and produced the infrastructure for their events including stage sets, venue branding and exhibition booths.

By Liam Beattie, board member of EXSA.

The professionally run events proved that events have the ability to take place safely during the current pandemic.

The first event, SSOG (SSOP) took place in Juba, South Sudan at the end of June 2021. Over 300 attendees participated at The Crown Hotel, which has a capacity in the main ballroom of 600 pax.

The second event, AOG, took place in Luanda, Angola at the Centro de Convencoes Talatona (CCTA) during September. The main auditorium is able to seat 700. For this event, a maximum of 350 pax was allowed in at any one time. A special dispensation was granted by the Angolan government for this event (although the presidential decree had advised on increased numbers a few days prior to the event). Over the course of the two days over 600 delegates attended.

Both events followed guidelines as those proposed to the South African government by The South African Events Council (SAEC). In fact, the guidelines were developed based on the SAEC protocols developed by the South African events industry as well as aligned with Angola’s protocols. Huge appreciation goes to the SAEC for the immense amount of work and effort which was offered by so many role players.

At both events, I found that everyone realised the importance of following the protocols and even in the Covid-19 testing queue, there was not one issue. In fact, the outside area of the testing marquee became a place to meet up with friends and colleagues not seen for some time.

VIPs such as ministers and government officials were tested privately and, again, there was no hesitation to work within the rules and lead by example.

Tests were conducted by International SOS though in some cases delegates were able to bring their off-site official test result along as proof. Of the 350 onsite tests, there were no positive tests. One offsite test resulted in a positive case and, of course, that person did not attend.

Katie Briant, events director for ECP, said: “We are proud to be starting events again in Africa. Covid-19 knocked the events industry hard. However, we have taken every opportunity possible to start up physical events, with a virtual ‘element’.

“With the most effective Covid protocols in place and the endorsement from our local government partners, this resulted in us having minimal cases reported at the events. It has not been easy, but slowly and surely we are seeing the results of our continued effort,” Ms Briant continued.

In South Africa, we are required four tests, in total, per event. First, 72 hours prior to arrival in the new country and the same on return, as well as two tests in-country. On arrival at the airport and before the event. It’s clear that we need to move beyond testing as soon as possible and the way to achieve this is to ensure a high level of vaccination.

During both events, the talk was that attendance at future events will be subject to full vaccination, to scale up the numbers that may attend.

In summary, it is very clear that events such as these may be carried out with the correct protocols in place. Having an integral part of the business events industry completely closed is very damaging to South Africa’s economy and so we back the SAEC’s call to allow the reopening of this sector and call on the SA government to urgently catch up with our fellow African countries’ efforts to kickstart their economies.