Meeting Community

  • Hotels Sue Insurance Provider for Denying COVID-19 Coverage

    2020/08/04

    Canadian hotels have launched a class action lawsuit against Aviva Insurance Co. of Canada for being denied insurance coverage for loss of business income related to the pandemic. In a statement of claim, Lerners LLP alleges Aviva is in breach of contract when it denied the hotels’ loss of business income coverage after the federal and provincial governments declared states of emergency, restricting their business due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This applies to all hotels who were insured under a…

  • Major Hotel Chains Require Guests Wear Face Masks  

    2020/08/04

    Just days after the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) released a Safe Stay Guest Checklist, hotel giants have extended mask requirements to guests. Marriott International, Hyatt Hotel Corp., InterContinental Hotels Group and Hilton Hotels and Resorts, among others, now expect patrons to wear masks in all public spaces, including meeting areas, restaurants, bars and fitness centres. Previously, masks were required for employees only. “As part of our commitment to clean, we made it a brand standard that associates wear…

  • Events Industry Council Issues Guidelines to Help Rebuild Trust, Assess Risk

    2020/08/04

    The Events Industry Council has released a best practices guide to help industry professionals as they navigate the new event landscape. “We must, as individuals and organizations, take the responsibility to own the assessment and mitigation of risk, taking into account guidance from global, national, regional and local public health officials. If we do so consistently and communicate these steps effectively, we will make considerable strides toward reestablishing trust,” says Events Industry Council CEO, Amy Calvert. “Trust with organizational decision-makers,…

  • World’s Largest Tech Conference will be Online-Only in 2021

    2020/08/04

    With the growing global health concerns about the spread of COVID-19, CES will be an all-digital experience in 2021. According to the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which owns and operates the CES, the decision to shift the U.S.’s largest business-to-business trade show and conference to an online format was a result of concern for the tens of thousands of people expected to convene in Las Vegas for the multi-day event, which was originally set for Jan. 6-9, 2021. “Technology helps…

  • Montreal Apartment-style Hotel Flouts the Odds and Opens Amid Pandemic

    2020/08/04

    Montreal’s newest hotel has opened its doors to visitors, as occupancy rates at local hotels averaged only about 10 per cent in June because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Griffintown Hotel boasts a unique experience. It offers guests not simply rooms but complete one-bedroom and two-bedroom condo-style apartments in the 14-storey building. Ranging in size from 395 to 845 square feet, each of the 114 apartments is equipped with a full kitchen, living room, and clothes washer and dryer so guests…

  • Alberta Issues Event Guidelines as Trade Shows, Exhibits get Green Light

    2020/07/20

    Indoor trade shows and exhibiting events are allowed again in Alberta. The announcement was made July 16, at a press conference. The province’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, said after studying other jurisdictions that have reopened such activities, it was found events don’t seem to be large spreaders of the coronavirus. The government has developed guidelines to support event organizers in reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 among workers, volunteers, patrons and the general public. Organizers…

  • Colour-coded Bracelets Offer Social Distancing Solution at Events

    2020/07/20

    The entrepreneurs who made their debut on Shark Tank have launched their latest product, Social Bands, aimed at helping places where large groups of people gather like trade shows and exhibitions. The colour-coded bracelets allow wearers to silently communicate their physical distancing preferences at meetings to avoid having an awkward conversation. Red indicates no contact, yellow means elbows only and green invites high-fives and handshakes. “This is new, uncharted territory for all of us,” says Desiree Haller, co-founder of Social Bands.…

  • Edmonton Venues Commit to Achieve GBAC Star Certification

    2020/07/20

    A pair of convention centres in Alberta’s capital will become two of the first venues in Canada to pursue the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) Star accreditation for outbreak prevention, response and recovery. The announcement by the Edmonton Convention Centre and Edmonton Expo Centre comes less than a month after the Toronto Congress Centre committed to the standard, and just days before the provincial government announced the resumption of trade shows and exhibits, effective July 17. GBAC Star is considered the gold standard…

  • Association Representing Corporate Travel Executives Files for Bankruptcy

    2020/07/20

    The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) has ceased operations after more than three decades in ‘business.’ In a notice on the association’s website, ACTE cited the dual impacts of the cancellation of its August 2019 ACTE Global Summit in Macau due to political unrest in Hong Kong and fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic for its decision. “The employees and board members of ACTE have worked tirelessly to reduce costs and find a home for the ACTE community within a…

  • Acquisition of Fervent Events Creates New Experiential Marketing Powerhouse

    2020/07/20

    Canadian-based Influence Marketing has acquired one of the country’s fastest growing companies, Fervent Events. “For 27 years, Influence has been committed to ongoing growth and that means continuously strengthening our team and service offerings,” says Chris Wilson, managing director of Influence. The services of the two firms will now be jointly offered to clients. These include talent acquisition, retail marketing, event activation, experiential promotions, digital marketing and sales support. “Put simply, Influence will act as a service upgrade to Fervent…

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