Coming together, staying safe together: EXPO REAL Hybrid Summit confirms comprehensive health and hygiene protocols

On September 1, 2020 the ban on trade fairs and conferences in Bavaria was lifted. This follows the Bavarian State Government’s decision in mid-June to ratify proposals from the Bavarian trade fair industry that allow trade fairs to be held in full compliance with the latest health and safety regulations. Next month, from October 14 to 15, 2020, the EXPO REAL Hybrid Summit on the exhibition grounds in Munich will be following these protocols to the letter. Ticket holders will be able to actively participate in the summit both on site and online.

Germany’s federal and state governments have agreed to extend their ban on major events until the end of 2020. However, after talks between federal and state-level governments on August 27, 2020, the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA) confirmed that trade fairs are not covered by the extended restrictions.

“Over the last few weeks we have been working flat out to develop the best possible health and safety protocols for our events. Yes, trade fairs are major events, but, unlike folk or music festivals, we can implement comprehensive contact tracing systems and guarantee full compliance with health and hygiene regulations. With our health and safety protocols in place, the risk of infection is no higher than in a DIY or grocery store,” says Klaus Dittrich, Chairman and CEO of Messe München.

The proposals developed by the Bavarian trade fair industry and ratified by the Bavarian state government define strict standards for physical distancing, hygiene and participant traceability. “These binding standards provide a solid foundation to get business going again and give the economy as a whole a welcome boost,” explains Klaus Dittrich.

Messe München has developed a comprehensive catalog of measures to ensure the standards are effectively implemented. The protocols for the EXPO REAL Hybrid Summit in October include, for example:

Traceability:

• Every single participant (exhibitors, visitors, service providers, trade fair personnel) will need to register in advance to attend the event. This will ensure that contact persons can be quickly identified and notified in the event of a coronavirus infection during the event.
• Where masks are mandatory at exhibition stands, exhibitors will not be required to maintain their own lists of contact details for stand visitors.

Physical distancing:

• In compliance with the 1:10 ratio set out in Messe München’s health and hygiene protocols, the number of visitors at the 37,000-square-meter EXPO Real Hybrid Summit is set at 3,700.
• Germany’s 1.5-meter physical distancing guidelines also apply throughout the exhibition grounds. In areas where the specified distance cannot be maintained, such as areas inside the event and at exhibition stands, visitors will be required to wear a mask at all times. As a result of this requirement, there is no need to limit the number of visitors at individual exhibition stands at any one time. The trade fair’s organizer, Messe München, will also have a supply of face coverings available for visitors who do not have their own masks.

Hygiene:

• Disinfectant dispensers will be available throughout the event. A more intensive cleaning regimen has been introduced for high touch surfaces, such as counters, tables, and handrails. As far as possible, all doors (with the exception of fire doors) will remain open to reduce contact with surfaces.
• A dedicated cleaning team will regularly clean and disinfect all Smart Spaces, halls, meeting rooms and high touch surfaces, including Plexiglas panels, surfaces, tables, etc.
• A more intensive cleaning regimen has also been introduced for washrooms, each of which will be closed, cleaned and disinfected in sequence. Despite this higher frequency cleaning regimen, the event’s organizer has designed the cleaning schedule to ensure that sufficient washroom facilities are available to visitors at all times.
• Messe München has also implemented a bespoke ventilation plan. The ICM – Internationales Congress Center München is equipped with a modern ventilation system that circulates the highest possible volume of outdoor air and the lowest possible volume of recycled air, constantly replacing indoor air with fresh outdoor air.

Claudia Boymanns, Exhibition Director EXPO REAL, is looking forward to the Hybrid Summit in October with confidence: “Thanks to our comprehensive health and hygiene protocols, we are taking the greatest possible precautions to guarantee the safety of participants at this year’s event. The health and safety of our stakeholders is our number one priority. We are committed to giving the real estate industry and investors precisely what they want and need—an unmissable conference and networking platform—even under strict corona-proof conditions. That’s why we have chosen a new motto for this year’s event: Coming together, staying safe together.”

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