Resources

Although hard hit, the MICE industry is proving its resilience. It has demonstrated its ability to safely run events, with a number of proof-of-concept events clearly showcasing the measures that can and should be taken to create a bio-bubble zone.

STAYING INFORMED

Be in the know with the industry resources and tools that are available to guide you on the measures you need to have in place to create the ultimate bio-bubble.

10 GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR HOSTING EVENTS SAFELY

1 Conduct a thorough risk assessment

2 Screen attendees prior to entry

3 Implement social distancing

4 Ensure all staff are well and equipped with the necessary PPE

5 Put in place capacity to handle an influx of arrivals safely

6 Check that venue facilities meet government requirements

7 Confirm that catering will be managed according to regulations

8 Develop rigorous cleaning processes

9 Encourage best practice in personal hygiene of all staff and attendees

10 Train your staff and make sure that communication is firmly in place

EVENT SAFETY ALLIANCE REOPENING GUIDE

The Event Safety Alliance Reopening Guide is the culmination of efforts that saw contributions from more than 300 professionals from across the length and breadth of the live events industry. Steven Adelman, the Event Safety Alliance’s VP and head of Adelman Law Group, as well as the editor of the Reopening Guide, explains how this applies the legal duty of care. “As a matter of common law, everyone has a duty to behave reasonably under their own circumstances. Consequently, there is no such thing as ‘best’ practices. There are only practices that are reasonable for this venue, this event, this crowd, this time and place, during this pandemic. Because few operational bright lines would make sense, the Event Safety Alliance Reopening Guide is designed to help event professionals think through their own circumstances. In the order that one plans an event, the Reopening Guide looks closely at the health and safety risks involved in reopening public spaces, then proposes risk mitigation measures that are likely to be reasonable under the circumstances of the smaller events and venues that will reopen first.” Within the guide, which is reviewed every six months, it is noted that guidelines from bodies such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control should also considered.

eventsafetyalliance.org/esa-reopening-guide

OTHER RESOURCES:

• CDC • The WHO’s risk assessment tool for mass gatherings • Department of Health

EVENT SAFETY COUNCIL’S RE-OPENING GUIDELINES

The Re-opening Guidelines are a solid reference for the South African events industry as they have been brought together by a number of local associations, in the form of the South African Events Council together with the Event Safety Council. The 73-page document provides steps that can be implemented for the prevention and control of Covid-19 within the events industry, as well as key considerations for communication and the dissemination of information to the public. “The South African event community understands that events and gatherings have a direct effect on the transmission of Covid-19 from person to person. By developing and adopting best practice guidelines throughout the events industry as a whole, we believe will provide a level of comfort to the government of South Africa and the public that reasonably practicable processes are in place to protect persons against the spread of and exposure to Covid-19 at events,” says the guide.

saeventscouncil.org

PLUGGING IN

Thami Nkadimeng takes a step back to reflect on some of her inspiring conversations and experiences.

Afair share of my time is spent on local and global stages – both virtually and physically – and in various industries having strategic conversations that have an impact across numerous facets. Among the benefits of being afforded such an opportunity is that it provides me with extensive and in-depth knowledge through the research I carry out prior to conducting these conversations, as well as lessons learnt listening to each subject’s views. Three days spent at a sustainability conference in 2020 taught me that sustainability is no longer about green – it is about people believing they are partaking in something with legacy value. What legacy value is your product or service going to present? Meanwhile, during a human-resourcesfocused conference in November last year that I had the privilege of moderating, it struck me that it can no longer be about the money alone, and industries – especially those that are peoplecentric – must focus on integration to drive growth and development that supports the well-being of their people. We all need to pay attention to this point because the pandemic has thrown many a spanner into the works and highlighted the fact that a salaried individual is not necessarily fulfilled. Our roles demand a much greater contribution and the wellness you provide must filter through to your staff, clients and customers, and beyond. Being my home, and the first industry that edified my raw skills and assembled my talents, I have been wondering how the tourism industry, in particular, can benefit from these instrumental truths and insights. When tourism and other industries such as live events open up – and they will – we will be flooded by an influx of high expectations that are likely to result in some of the workforce taking strain. Compassion towards employees is key here, as they will not get much empathy from customers. This is the time to start thinking about how you can build this into your culture to support them through any challenges they may face.

It is inevitable that the next chapter of the tourism industry will be spent ensuring that establishments and sites are ready, with Covid-19 protocols in place. It is also important that the time is used checking that we are making provision for an influenced and changed consumer and employee.

THE FINAL WORD While delivering a talk to a group of young ladies recently, it dawned on me that people took this time to discover their talents. Allow your employees to lead without a title and, instead, give them the freedom to use their talents to better the offering of the business without it having to be accompanied by a job description or subject. You could be amazed at what may transpire.

Over the next few months, I will continue to share some lessons from other industries I have been taught and continue to learn as I navigate through them. I will also seek out venues and experiences that I believe have started to incorporate some of these foresights in preparation for the full comeback.

Reach out to me on thami@thaminkadimeng. com and let’s identify your legacy value!

A moderator, MC and facilitator, Thami Nkadimeng is a message architect who creates impactful messages through both conversation as well as through nonverbal, written and visual communication.