SISO Update
We're thrilled to tell you off the top that this SISO Update is packed with encouraging news and many ways to get involved with SISO and our community. Plus, there are new ways to continue to help support our industry and advocate for key causes to help ourselves and our fellow industry peers. Thank you for taking the time to connect, read - and take a listen.
SISO Activities
SISO has remained active - and so should you! Join us and get involved and engaged. If you have not yet, join one of our SIGs, tune in for some of our remaining development series sessions, or register for our next webinar (plus make time to watch any past webinars you've missed!).
- SISO Webinars - NEW! Join us Tuesday, 10/20 at 11 am EDT for this one-hour webinar, “Is virtual the new Emperor's clothes? - Lessons from taking a major event virtual” An interview with Paddy Cosgrave, CEO, Web Summit. Cosgrove will be interviewed by SISO Chair Douglas Emslie. Register and submit your questions.
- NEW! Mark your calendars for Thursday, 10/29 at 11 am EDT and plan to attend “The Events Industry and Global Business Travel: Building Consumer Confidence Together” webinar. Join Hervé Sedky, SISO Vice Chair and President of the Americas at Reed Exhibitions, interview a panel of travel professionals to identify the two industries' customer synergies and examines the role of events and travel in worldwide economic recovery. To register for this event, click here!
- SISO Small Business SIG - Only a couple more of our Small Business SIGs remain:
- 10/22 - Marketing in the Era of COVID-19
- 10/27 - Restarting our Events after COVID-19
Sign up now for the final two discussions. Small business members that would like to participate should contact info@siso.org.
- SISO Women's Leadership SIG Virtual Leadership Development Series - This learning and development program focuses on leading through crises. The series began on 9/30. Only two sessions remain. Sessions are on Wednesdays at 11 am EST.
- Session 3: 10/21 - Avoiding Burnout: How to Cultivate Personal Resilience - to register for this event, click here.
- Session 4: 10/28 - Remember me? How NOT to Lose Sight of Your Career Ambitions - to register for this event, click here.
- NEW! Study Group for Session 3 & 4: Tuesday, November 10, 2020,11:00 am – 12 pm EST – Click here to register.
- NEW! Office Hours, Live with Angela Scalpello - Get Your Questions Answered! November 18, 2020, 11:00 am – 12 pm EST - To register for this event, click here.
Note: The option to participate in a group study session is available after session 4. This group will allow participants to network and apply what they've learned.
If you've missed the Women's Leadership Forum sessions, Small Business SIG sessions, or one of many other topics, check out our library of webinars. Several have been added in just the last few weeks, including:
- 10/7: Women's Leadership SIG - Session 2: Individual and Organizational Decision-Making During a Crisis
- 10/1: Small Business SIG - Health and Safety Issues Related to COVID-19
- 9/30: Women's Leadership SIG - Session 1: How to Lead Through a Crisis and Help Others Do the Same
- 9/24: Opportunities and Implications for Events in the Age of COVID-19: A Weathering-the-Storm Webinar
- Session 3: 10/21 - Avoiding Burnout: How to Cultivate Personal Resilience - to register for this event, click here.
- Take A Listen! - The Exposure Podcast for October features a visit with our very own David Audrain. Check it out for his thoughts on what needs to happen to get events moving forward again as well as advocacy insights!
Moving Forward Updates
Our Moving Forward Updates section is divided into subsections for this issue to help you skim the details most important to you. We have news about various cities and countries around the world - all encouraging steps forward! As well as promising advances in testing and some exciting prospects, plus more good news and next steps.
City + Country Updates:
- The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced that initial plans will soon be underway for Elon Musk's underground transportation system to expand throughout Las Vegas (beyond the Convention Center tunneling previously begun). This new transit system, to be named ‘The Loop' will be the first-of-its-kind solution for a tourism destination. See the proposed map of system stations. (10/13)
- The Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers, together with Singapore Tourism Board and Enterprise Singapore has launched a new website, Events Industry Resilience Roadmap for a COVID-safe Future. The roadmap provides guidance on safety measures and best practices for a gradual resumption of events. (10/8)
- Congratulations to the growing list of GBAC STAR accredited facilities, including recent additions:
- Las Vegas' Sands Expo held a mock trade show last month with a 296,000 square foot, physically distanced event setup. Check out the video about how they're keeping attendees safe. (10/1)
- Cannes, the premier business tourism city of France, has strengthened its position for reassuring international clients by recently stepping up its optimum health approach. The Palais des Festivals et des Congres is the first European center to achieve quadruple certification. See Cannes Safe & Business Ready video. (October)
- Orlando is excited and committed to hosting in-person events, watch its ‘Meeting Today for a Stronger Tomorrow' video released last month. Orlando's Orange County Convention Center is GBAC STAR certified. (September)
Testing:
- Along with UFI, SISO released a call for “Testing over Quarantine” policies to keep businesses going from governments around the world in order to maintain the flow of people, products and services. In doing so, also the push to activate the potentials of rapid antigen COVID tests. (10/8)
- A test that can detect the coronavirus in five minutes has been developed (the team is led by the joint winner of this year's Nobel Prize for chemistry). The test uses gene-editing technology and a modified mobile phone camera. (10/10)
- On the horizon: A 5-cent sensor could detect the coronavirus in 10 minutes - at home. Still, a way off, but a promising thought indeed! (10/5)
- India's new paper COVID-19 test could be a ‘game changer' . Producing fast results, the paper test is noted as similar to a pregnancy test. The test kit could return results in under an hour and cost about $6.75. (10/4)
- A vision to accelerate the Las Vegas comeback - Wynn Resorts building their own COVID19 Testing Lab at Wynn Las Vegas to deploy thousands of accurate rapid tests daily. (10/1)
More Good News & Next Steps:
- Fern announced 1Rate; which provides exhibitors a single per pound rate that is predictable and provides certainty that is a first in the market. This rollout has Fern saying ‘NO' to minimums, overtime charges, marshaling yard fees, special handling fees, small package fees, late fees, warehouse fees, and more. (10/13)
- The Austrian government has announced a EUR 300 million financial support package for organizers; which will also support security planning enhancements for 2021. Austria Center Vienna also recently rolled out COVID-19 rapid test pilot project. (10/12)
- Freeman just released a report on the impact of COVID-19 on event attendance. The executive summary highlights that the expected timeframe for attending in-person events has stabilized and is looking to be Summer 2021. (October)
- Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) launched its GBAC STAR Facility Directory, making it easy to identify facilities that have earned or committed to achieving the accreditation. (10/9)
- WELL Health-Safety Rated is a new certification program that hotels and entertainment venues can earn. In addition, different types of treatments are being used to minimize the chance of spreading infection. (10/6)
- Following the release of the Global Recovery Insights report, produced in partnership with UFI and supported by SISO, Explori outlined reasons for optimism (navigate to page 10). (October)
- Along with 112 other organizations, SISO was a signatory of a letter sent to Federal Trade Commissioner Simmons and Attorney General Barr requesting the urgent attention to proliferating fraudulent business practices of welling falsified or stolen association mailing lists, event attendees and or/ exhibitor lists. (10/1)
Coalition Updates
Go LIVE Together
Go LIVE Together remains active in fighting for our industry. It asks that you sign this petition to help small businesses. 99% of the companies in our industry and 80% of all exhibiting companies are small businesses. Signing the petition urges elected officials to pass a bipartisan small business recovery plan now.
Go LIVE Together is launching a new series to show how business events are catalysts that can restart industries, stimulate local economies and get people back to work. The first piece features the National Restaurant Association Show, take a look, and get hungry!
As you see promising stories about cities easing limitations on public gatherings, in-person events starting to move forward and more positive steps, Go LIVE Together encourages sharing those on social media with its new hashtag, #GLTgoodNews.
Resources remain available via the Go Live Together coalition toolkit.
COVID Relief Now Coalition
Along with over 250 partners, SISO supports the COVID Relief Now Coalition. Its message to Congress is clear: No relief, no recess. Congress and the administration must reach a bipartisan agreement on relief legislation or too many companies and Americans will close forever and/or lose their pandemic unemployment insurance benefits.
How can you help? Take action today! Visit the Coalition toolkit for resources. Amplify the message on social media, use talking points and call members of Congress and/or email your Congressional representatives and senators using this action alert. We must ACT NOW.
Let's Go There
Join SISO by supporting the Let's Go There Coalition. Promote its campaign via your social network (see its toolkit for resources) or become an official supporter with a financial contribution. Watch the Coalition's video or contact letsgothere@ustravel.org to learn more.
Resources
Order them for your team, your event, or whatever your needs may be, through SISO Visit our site for COVID-19 updates and guidance.
Q&A
Let's stay connected! Join our community through SISO's social channels. Members engage in our online member forum. Interested in getting more involved? Consider joining one of our SIGs, noted above. Questions? Email info@siso.org.
Has your show or organization produced any new materials or resources that would be beneficial to the SISO community? Or, have you seen something from another organizer worth sharing? Post those on our online community!
Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay strong. Stay connected.