“Sometimes we can only find our true direction when we let the wind of change carry us.” – Mimi Novic
Novic’s statement has never been more relevant than it has been these last few years. The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly changed the events industry, forcing clients and suppliers to find new ways to stay connected despite the physical distance.
Now, after 24 long months, our province of Alberta is finally reopening. Restrictions on venue and event capacities have been lifted, and busy spring and summer events are fast approaching us here in Calgary.
Our multiple configurable event spaces stand ready and waiting. We’ll help to bring the community back together – without forgetting the lessons learned about the importance of connection or how to make everyone feel included and safe.
At the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, safety is and will always be at the top of our priorities. For that reason, we have chosen to continue upholding our safety standards as certified by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council STAR® accreditation.
Those high standards – you can read them in full here – permitted us to serve as the AHS and City of Calgary’s mass vaccination site through the pandemic, and furthermore allowed us the opportunity to host the many events and conferences we’ve held since March 2020. It is our commitment to keep clients, guests, and our staff safe while at the Centre.
Moving forward, our facility continues to be equipped with touch-free amenities, dedicated signage outlining our health and safety standards, an award-winning ventilation system, the expertise of our caring team (who will continue to wear masks when onsite), and many more cleaning and disinfecting protocols.
Customizing The Experience
As delegates return to in-person events, it is critical to address the elephant in the room: everyone will have different comfort levels regarding distancing and other health and safety etiquette. Some cannot wait to return to pre-pandemic norms. Others are more cautious. Standing in line or enjoying a delicious buffet become potential confrontation points. There is an increased need to design events taking all opinions into consideration.
Our team of experts will continue to go above and beyond for our clients, offering a wide variety of optional health and safety practices that can be completely customized to tailor the needs of each event.
From staggered arrivals and venue modifications, to assigned seating, screening stations, and even welcome ambassadors, there are many ways to achieve scalable solutions for everyone’s peace of mind. This holds true for any large-scale gathering, whether it is conventions, concerts, conferences, or another function entirely.
No matter the personal opinion of each delegate, creating connectivity spaces that are safe and inclusive is crucial. The desire for human connection will never go away, but making people feel comfortable and heard should be at the top of the list when it comes to designing event experiences.
We can’t wait to see you again at the Centre very soon.
(If you’ve got any questions about our reopening plans, or how we can help you host the perfect conference, don’t hesitate to get in touch.)