Following the government’s recent update regarding the safe reopening of events and working in consultancy with the Association of Event Organisers (AEO) and the NEC, it has been confirmed that this year’s Glee exhibition (14th – 16th September) will ask all attendees to verify their COVID-19 status on arrival.

Visitors and exhibitors at Glee 2021 will be asked to provide proof of completion of a full course of vaccination two-weeks prior to arrival; or proof of negative lateral flow test taken within 48 hours of arrival*; or proof of natural immunity shown by a positive PCR test result for COVID-19, lasting for 180 days from the date of the positive test and following completion of the self-isolation period.

These updated safety measures have been put in place to ensure that everyone participating in Glee 2021 feels both safe and secure onsite and are part of a list of measures that together form Glee’s “Safe and Secure Guidance”. 

Created by Glee’s Operations Director, Ian Solomon – who has been instrumental in working with the event industry’s associations alongside the government to create a safe and secure route to reopening events – Glee’s Safe and Secure Guidelines will take into account all elements of the show including pre-, during and post show, and will ensure that all those onsite can rest assured that all possible measures have been put in place to reduce the chance of transmission. 

Wider measures onsite will include access to hand sanitiser and increased cleaning regimes particularly in high traffic touchpoints, plus 3m wide aisles to allow for more comfortable movement around the event, and contactless registration of visitors at entry points. 

Additionally, building on the experience gained when constructing and operating the NHS Nightingale Birmingham facility, the NEC has upgraded all the filter media within the ventilation systems to high efficiency F7 media, which was the standard specified by University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Trust. 

Glee will also be a mask friendly event. Whilst not currently government legislation to wear masks, Glee will be encouraging all exhibitors, contractors, and visitors to consider wearing masks, especially when in enclosed or crowded spaces.   

Exhibitors have also been given a wealth of advice regarding how to ensure exhibition stands remain compliant, including guidance on stand layout, data capture, staffing and displaying product effectively. 

All of this, plus advice on how to plan your visit to Glee and details on how NEC facilities will be working within government guidelines can be found at https://www.gleebirmingham.com/the-community/safe-secure - with regular updates added as the show approaches.

Glee Event Director, Matthew Mein said: “The safety of our visitors and exhibitors is of paramount importance and we believe that by implementing COVID-19 Status checks – despite not currently being mandated by the government – we are operating in the best way to reduce the risk of transmission within the event itself. The return of Glee as an in-person event is a key milestone for us as an industry and we want to reassure our audience that we are doing everything we can to establish a safe and secure space for all involved.”

Adding to this, Ian Solomon, Operations Director said: “We appreciate that the situation is constantly evolving, which is why we are in continuous contact with our peers, supporting trade bodies, and the NEC to ensure that our ‘Safe and Secure’ guidelines go above and beyond.  Verifying COVID-19 status before entry is a pragmatic solution that is backed by the events industry as it enables exhibitions to resume but, more importantly, gives further confidence to customers that events are backed by protocols to ensure the safety and protection of all involved.”

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