Meetings of the Future

 

Organising events in the ongoing pandemic era has taken on a whole new meaning. Regulatory requirements, implementing health and safety measures, and designing new event experiences are just some of the key considerations for organisers.

Since last October, Marina Bay Sands collaborated closely with the authorities to restart the MICE industry safely and gradually. Through these key pilot events, Marina Bay Sands has demonstrated its capability and nimbleness in harnessing technology to re-energise the MICE industry. These successes also showcased Singapore’s preparedness in welcoming back international events to the city state.

From WiT Experience Week 2020, Singapore International Energy Week 2020 to TravelRevive and PCMA Convening Leaders that was recently held in January 2021, Marina Bay Sands spared no efforts and continues to raise the bar of event management in the new world.

Here’s a look at some baseline requirements that event organisers need to look out for:

 

Regulatory Approvals (events for up to 250 pax)

  • Organisers to demonstrate the following:
    • Have clear reporting protocols and communication plans to monitor health of all delegates (local and foreigners) before event
    • Mandatory activation of TraceTogether app and/or use of SafeEntry check-in on event day
    • Pre-registration of all attendees and allocation of zones (of up to 50 pax each)

 

Event Design and Operations

  • All event activities including attendee registration are to be executed within the respective licensed areas within the halls and ballrooms only
  • Designated ingress and egress paths for attendees to ensure 0 "cross-path" and keeping a 1-metre distance among the group
  • Identify hotspots for potential bunching, with proposed crowd dispersal mechanism
  • Implement a one-way traffic flow at the event space as well as exclusive entry and exit points for each zone
  • Ensure a safe distance of at least 3- metre between the stage and the audience
  • Limit the number of unmasked speakers from same cohort/zone to ≤10pax at any one time with a spacing of at least 1 metre at all times

 

Onsite Event Management

  • Use of Trace Together App for check-in and check-out of all personnel entering and exiting event spaces, and any person with symptoms of fever or sickness to be denied entry
  • Deployment of Safe Distancing Ambassadors to maintain composition of individuals in each zone and to ensure no intermingling between cohorts / zones
  • Large format signage onsite to remind delegates of Safe Management Measures
  • Redesigned F&B to modified buffet offerings (served) and set lunches
  • Use of facial masks, gloves by all F&B front line serving staff, with dedicated staff deployed to serving F&B to respective cohort