As we near the end of the year, we once again find ourselves adjusting to a new wave of the pandemic. This time, however, more of us have the protections of vaccines and masks are readily available.
How will this most recent wave affect the events industry? In this newsletter we’ll look ahead to 2022 and adjustments we might expect for the early months of the year.
If you have an event planned for 2022, I’m happy to consult with you to make sure you are prepared for the challenges of hosting an event during a pandemic.
Thank you for your continued support as a member of this community. I wish each of you the happiest of holiday seasons and all the best for the New Year.
Proud to have Provided Full Event Planning for the 33rd Annual Scholarship Benefit and Awards Gala for the Organization – 100 Black Men
Aurice Guyton Events provided full event planning support for this amazing event. Our team enjoys working on all aspects of large events, but it is especially gratifying when we see a full event come together through our efforts.
The gala was held at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis hotel with 670 guests in attendance. Proof of vaccination was required to enter the event for the safety of all guests.
En Vogue provided the entertainment for the evening, providing a big draw and great energy for the event.
Our graphics team designed and created all of the banners, signage and printed material, including the program book.
We helped secure silent auction items, designed the reception area space, secured and coordinated with all of the vendors, and we secured and managed the volunteers for the event.
l worked closely with En Vogue’s management team to ensure they had the required items listed on their rider, in their dressing room, and on the stage.
Paintings from local artists were displayed around the reception area to add to the ambiance and to provide an outlet for their work to be seen and sold.
What Omicron Means for the Events Industry
In some ways, with the rise of Omicron, it feels like we’re back where we were at the beginning of the pandemic when the events industry collapsed. But, so much more is known about the virus that we are able to create safer events, especially outdoors. My clients with events in 2022 have been concerned about how the Omicron variant will affect their attendance numbers. They don’t know whether to cancel their events, postpone them or proceed as planned. As an event planner, my advice is to proceed as planned. People have been isolated for over a year and they are ready to get social again, responsibly of course. According to The Conference Board, consumer confidence is up even with the rise of Omicron. With each new wave or new variant, consumer confidence is less reactive due to the increasing number of vaccinated people. Businesses are remaining open, even as cases rise. And people are going about their day-to-day lives but taking Covid precautions such as wearing a mask. Covid doesn’t seem to be going anywhere so people are learning how to co-exist with it. So if you are planning to have an event in 2022, unless things get worse, I think you can go for it as long as you follow Covid safety protocols. Let’s take a look at the newest CDC guidelines for both large and small gatherings.Masks
Well-fitting N95 and KN95 masks are useful for protecting your own health and preventing the spread of Covid-19. They are much more readily available and no longer need to be reserved for medical personnel. The CDC suggests that people who are fully vaccinated are OK to go without masks in outdoor settings, unless in an area of high transmission. However, if you aren’t fully vaccinated and are aged 2 or older, you should wear a mask for indoor events. If you are immunocompromised or have health conditions that put you at high risk, please follow all safety precautions outlined by the CDC and your healthcare professional. What you can do as host:- Provide masks at the door and request event attendees wear them. You can add branding to the masks to make wearing them a little more fun, especially at corporate events
- Request proof of vaccination
- Request attendees take a rapid Covid test prior to attending the event
- Ask attendees to scan their temperatures before entering the event
- Continue to encourage people to keep a safe distance
