As we approach the second anniversary of COVID-19’s initial outbreak, we should by now have accepted that ‘business as usual’ likely won’t resume in the foreseeable future and begun to devise new strategies to make the best of an unstable situation. For the MICE industry, this means finding ways to make events as inherently ‘virus proof’ as possible and enable them to carry on as scheduled under most conditions.
Providing some food for thought on how this might be achieved are mega-events such as Expo Dubai and CES. Attendees of the physical shows will be ‘encouraged’ or required to present proof for vaccination.
That some form of ‘vaccine passport’ may become a routine feature of any mass activity is underlined by Germany’s adoption of the so-called ‘3G rule’ of geimpft, genesen, getestet (vaccinated, recovered, tested) which lifts limits on attendance. This approach is expected to at least limit the potential for new outbreaks. For MICE and other sectors, it’s the best chance yet for business to resume a substantial degree of normalcy.
Lawrence Chia
Chairman, Pico Group
