The Convention Centres, Meetings and Events industry has for objective to maximise the encounters between people, products, and information, in turn creating value at the local, regional, and international level. Yet to create this value in the current context, the industry recognises the importance of establishing global common protocols focusing on health and hygiene to maintain its value.

The suggested protocols for Convention Centres, Meetings and Events were compiled based on input from leading companies in the industry either directly or from their public announcements around the safe, healthy, and responsible reopening of convention centres, meetings, and events to the public. The objective is to ensure that protocols are in place across all relevant functions with an increased focus on health, safety, and physical distancing guidance which event participants and organisers will need and expect.

Note that these recommendations are subject to change and may be enhanced as new information about the virus becomes available. These recommendations are based on the operational characteristics of each space and consultation is recommended prior to implementation. Measures should be limited in time and re-evaluated and monitored regularly. In effect, it will be critical to reduce the measures as the risk diminishes. What is more, when more effective, suitable and less disruptive and scientifically supported measures become available, they should be implemented at the earliest opportunity and defunct measures removed.

For the Travel & Tourism sector to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, event participants will need to feel assured of their own safety when attending. In that context, it is important that participants are clearly and simply advised of the new protocols implemented within the Convention Centres, Meetings and Events to ensure their safety. Protocols are developed through a riskbased approach and will include as appropriate: health assessment and screenings, enhanced health and hygiene measures across the venue including catering, availability of hand sanitiser, recommended physical distancing measures, re-evaluation of timelines to avoid queuing and bottlenecks, the reduction in the venue participant capacity as appropriate and use of hybrid setting to enable participants to engage virtually.

For the purpose of alignment across industries within the Travel & Tourism sector, WTTC has divided the protocols in four pillars, namely:

1. Operational and Staff Preparedness

2. Ensuring a Safe Experience

3. Rebuilding Trust & Confidence

4. Implementing Enabling Policies