Event professionals are crying out for a roadmap that will lead Wales out of lockdown and get events started again.
The pilot event held at Celtic Manor Resort in Newport on 20 May proved that under current Covid-19 safety protocols, meaningful business events would be impossible.
Celtic Manor and ICC Wales chief executive Ian Edwards said: “It’s fantastic to be back in a meeting room after more than a year, but just looking out over this eerie room, it’s clear we have a long way to go."
While the roadmap set out in February for England already allows for events up to 1,000 people indoors, the reopening of the events sector in Wales has been more cautious with reluctance to outline any schedule. This has a damning effect on client confidence and is preventing advance bookings in Wales.
The event saw Celtic Manor’s Caernarfon Suite, which can normally hold more than 1,000 people, utilised for the trial event. However, the two-metre distancing configuration meant it was already full with a capped audience of 100 people.
“We are lucky we have a room this size which means we can host this event, most venues will struggle to hold 50 people with two-metre distancing in place. More than 70 staff are working on this event to look after only 100 delegates – numbers like that just do not stack up," said Edwards.
“Restrictions like this, and the fact we still do not have a roadmap or a schedule for the fuller reopening of the events sector, place us at a catastrophic disadvantage to competitors in other parts of the UK. It is vital that there is a four-nation approach to any regulations, to provide organisers with complete consistency across all of the UK and ensure Wales is not left behind.”
Public Health Wales officials were present to observe the event and provide feedback to Welsh Government. Survey responses will also be gathered from attendees to shape the business events reopening strategy in Wales.
The Pilot Event at the Celtic Manor Resort was one of nine indoor and outdoor pilot events throughout South Wales, in partnership with Welsh Government.
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
