A confident plan
for a confident return
Jane Longhurst, chief executive of the Meetings Industry Association, reveals how the organisation
is guiding the meetings and events industry back to business
11
Association view
n March, the business meetings
and events sector, like many
others, was abruptly halted, with
venues ordered to close, and
meetings postponed or cancelled
after we were ordered to ‘stay safe
and stay home’ to help stop the
spread of Covid-19.
At times like this, trade
associations take on a huge burden
of responsibility. It is our duty to help
steer the sector we represent
through the most difficult of times.
Crises of any description are bound
to put the spotlight firmly on trade
associations and this has indeed
been a crisis like no other, which
from the outset has placed the
Meetings Industry Association (mia)
in the spotlight.
While our initial efforts focused
on lobbying and calling for
recognition and an effective
business support package for our
sector, our attention swiftly shifted
towards the future, to address the
many challenges and questions of
how we could successfully, and
safely, start operating again.
As we continue to push
Government to provide clear
guidance on when business
conferences, events, exhibitions
and trade fairs will be allowed to
take place, we recognise that the
process of reopening will not be a
simple one.
That is why a great deal of our
time and attention has been
focused on creating a package of
support to assist venues with their
reopening preparations. While we
are all desperate to get back to the
industry we love, the environment
we will be heading into will look very
different to the one we left back in
March, so we need to accommodate
these changes and inspire
confidence.
One of the ways we are
supporting venues with their
reopening plans is with a dedicated
reopening and operating roadmap.
The extensive framework considers
the safety of both an operator’s
staff and clients throughout the
whole customer journey and guides
venue operators through their
reopening assessment
preparations.
Creating the 38-page roadmap
entailed hard work and expert
consultation to ensure we got it spot
on. After drawing up the initial
guidance, an early draft was fed into
the government’s Visitor Economy
Working Group – to demonstrate
how business meetings are
organised events that can be
managed safely – and it was also
shared with hospitality trade
association UKHospitality.
We are pleased that our diligence
has been highly regarded. The
roadmap has been signposted as a
key resource in both the
Government’s ‘Visitor Economy
Guidance’ as well as UK
Hospitality’s Covid-Secure advice for
the hospitality industry. Aside from
positive member feedback, it has
received critical acclaim from
“Our
attention
swiftly
shifted
towards the
future, to
address the
many
challenges
and
questions
of how we
could
successfully,
and safely,
start
operating
again."
booking agents and ABPCO, the
association directly representing
professional conference organisers,
so we are certain that we are aiding
venues to reopen with confidence.
Rebuilding confidence with clients
is, of course, the other crucial part
of the journey on the road to
recovery for venues which is why we
felt it was essential to enhance our
national quality accreditation. The
new AIM Secure brand features vital
infection prevention and control
protocols and will enable venues to
proudly reassure their clients of
their operational compliance. Over
the coming weeks, all AIM
accredited venues will need to meet
the new criteria, to achieve the
increased quality standard.
It has been a tough time for the
industry, and we will need to work
hard as we reopen, but I do
sincerely believe that business will
come back if we all play our part in
preparing meticulously to rebuild
confidence.
www.conference-news.co.uk