Corona Virus and Your Event
Event tips to help you manage the COVID-19 crisis
With media coverage and health warnings about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) sweeping the globe, business owners are questioning what it means for their upcoming events.
COVID-19 health emergency advice from the Federal government has effectively banned any non-essential public gathering of more than 100 people from March 18th. For most small businesses, this shouldn’t cause too many issues as your events are generally on a lesser scale but are still important as they are often used as key tools to promote your brand or sell a product.
While it’s vital that you keep abreast of the latest advice daily leading up to your event, here are some tips to get you through your local event as planned:
1. Communication
Communicate often with guests to let them know that the event is currently still going ahead and what extra precautions are being taken to ensure it’s a safe environment for all.
Refer to the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Health alert page for the most up-to-date health advice; however, the overarching message to guests is if you’ve returned from a COVID-19 moderate or high-risk country within the last 14 days, or you’re sick, do not attend.
To support this message, relax your cancellation or refund policy to ensure that people stay home when they are sick rather than persevering for the sake of the money outlaid.
2. Skip the handshake
Encourage Prince Harry’s ‘elbow bump’ instead of the traditional handshake. No chinking of glasses during toasts. Allow for a little more room between seats. Set up a hand sanitiser station within the room. Add signage to the bathrooms reminding guests to wash their hands, singing the happy birthday song twice through. Glamify your bathrooms to make them a place people want to spend time and wash thoroughly. Funny jokes on the mirror, anyone? Review your run sheet for opportunities to reduce the risk of transmitting illness.
3. Embrace personalised meals over shared food service
This solution doesn’t have to be boring. Instead of grazing tables, canapes or buffets, why not provide each guest with their own gourmet ‘lunchbox’. You’d be amazed at what catering companies can adapt to ensure the event isn’t cancelled! Budget allowing, take it to the next level and brand your food packaging to match the event collateral and you’ll be bang on trend.
4. Use local suppliers
While many companies will choose local produce and materials when possible, the travel bans and quarantines offer an added level of incentive to use local suppliers, adding an Australian flavour to your event.
5. Go online!
If all else fails and your guests aren’t comfortable with an in-person event, embrace technology and hold your event digitally. Many event formats such as conferences, seminars, meetings, workshops, and training can translate to an online platform. Smaller events could deliver catering ‘lunchboxes’ and conference packs to attendees the day before – and in the process provide a personalised and memorable experience for their guests.
