MCEC welcomes live music back to Plenary

MCEC EVENT CAPACITY INCREASES TO 75%

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) is now able to host events at up to 75 per cent capacity per event space, to a maximum of 5,000 attendees, following the implementation of stringent health and safety measures to keep customers safe.

MCEC has an approved COVIDSafe Event plan from the Victorian Government and is approved to hold seated or standing events of up to 75 per cent capacity.

These approved measures include methods to ensure contact tracing, changes to food and beverage service and physical distancing, as well as preventing attendance at events by delegates from designated red zones.

Each prospective event organiser seeking to hold their event at MCEC can work with venue staff to ensure their type of event complies with the approved MCEC plan, and that they provide any required additional information to the Department of Health and Human Services so that their event is safe.

Peter King, Chief Executive of Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, said MCEC is excited to see the gradual return of events to the venue.

“Whilst we have been innovative throughout the pandemic to ensure continued use of the space, we are thrilled to be able to host exhibitions and other events again,” he said.

“At MCEC we are incredibly proud to be acknowledged as a standout venue for COVID-safety, as our customer health and comfort is our top priority”

MCEC’s comprehensive VenueSafe Plan includes: VenueSafe advisors to work alongside event organisers, employees and contractors to ensure all health measures are followed.

Restricting building access to event attendees only, with no general public access allowed.

Health check stations at each entry point, including access to regular hand sanitising Frequent routine cleaning and signage prominently displayed to indicate 1.5 metre physical distancing. All employees trained on coronavirus (COVID-19) safety

GLOBAL NEWS Accor announces the global roll-out of its digital key solution,

“Accor Key”, in line with the Group’s strategy to provide a contactless guest journey in its facilities. This exciting new step for Accor confirms its ambition to innovate and invest in high-quality technological solutions to deliver the very best and most convenient experience for its guests.

The focus of the rollout will be to provide customers with a keyless door entry solution, while ensuring that hotels do not lose the human touch that guests require. On arrival at their destination, customers will receive their room key virtually upon downloading Accor’s digital key app. Customers will then be given access to rooms, entry to meeting rooms and floor access via lifts using their smartphone. Once departing the hotel, the mobile key will automatically be deactivated.

Patrick Mendes, Chief Commercial Officer Accor, in charge of Sales, Marketing, Distribution and Loyalty, said:

“We are thrilled to announce the launch of “Accor key” within our entire network. Making contactless and seamless guest experiences a reality is a priority for Accor. “Accor key” is a great example of how the Group can build solutions and deploy them efficiently in all Accor operating countries.”

Accor key program will be delivered through a partnership with STAYmyway. Faustino Fernandez, STAYmyway founder & CEO commented: "We are honored to be working with such an innovative company at such a critical time in our industry. A recent Deloitte study shows that 60% of travelers are more likely to stay at a hotel that allowed contactless check in and the ability to use a smartphone as a room key— 16% even say it’s a “must have”. The demand is even higher for frequent travelers. "

Floor Bleeker, Chief Technology Officer, Accor, said:

“We always strive to adopt technology which can improve the overall guest experience. Guests increasingly seek contact-light travel and hotel experiences. Therefore, the easy to operate and highly practical application will provide a streamlined process for our guests.”

Following successful pilot programs in North America, Europe and Asia, the roll out will start in all new Accor hotels opening in 2021 and extend to existing properties with an objective to equip 500 hotels with Accor Key this year, and at least 50% of all rooms across the network within the next five years.

By providing customers access to their rooms without a physical key, Accor will also help reduce the amount of plastic used for traditional key cards and cardboard for the key holder.

MCEC

WELCOMES LIVE MUSIC BACK TO PLENARY

Plenary at Melbourne

Convention Exhibition Centre (MCEC) saw a return to live music for the first time since March 2020, with renowned international singer and songwriter Ben Folds performing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on Sunday January 31st and Monday February 1st. MCEC is now able to host events at up to 75 per cent capacity per event space, to a maximum of 5,000 attendees, following the implementation of stringent health and safety measures, seeing Ben Folds as the first live performer to return to the venue since COVID-19 restrictions were introduced.

Darren Waite, Director of Sales at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, said MCEC was excited to have Ben Folds and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as the debut for the return of live music at the venue. “We were thrilled to welcome Ben Folds and the MSO as the first musicians to perform in MCEC’s Plenary since we closed our doors early in 2020" he said.

"We welcomed on average 1600 attendees each night of the concert and received extremely positive feedback to our Venue Safe plan. It was fantastic to see such respect from attendees as they followed strict protocols regarding queuing, temperature checks and the use of QR codes”

“At MCEC we are incredibly proud to be acknowledged as a standout venue for COVID-safety, which means we can host world class performers like Ben, safely. We look forward to this being the start of return of business events, exhibitions and conferences at MCEC.”

Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our time; a renowned pop artist as well as a critically-acclaimed classical music composer, and best-selling author. Known for his musical versatility across the pop and classical genres, Folds has travelled the globe performing with some of the world’s best orchestras for over a decade.

“I grew up playing in orchestras, so being on stage with one feels like home to me,” Folds said. Conducted by Benjamin Northey, Ben Folds with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra took places at the Plenary on Sunday 31 January and Monday 1 February.