Windsor-based Ascot Racecourse has announced non-race-day events can resume at the venue.
While the racecourse would normally host 21 race days per year, the Covid-19 pandemic forced it to shut this side of the business.
Now, however, the racecourse has unveiled new Covid-19-secure measures and said it will be able to host meetings and events from 1 October 2020, in line with the government-issued start date.
The new safety procedures include segmenting the venue’s event spaces into smaller, self-sufficient spaces, increased cleaning measures, temperature checks, staff training programmes and new catering services.
In detail, the physical safety measures will ensure Ascot Racecourse’s 300 spaces are split into five exclusive zones, enabling events of any size to take place in secure surroundings, while avoiding cross-exposure with other guests on-site.
The areas have been engineered to have their own separate entrance and exit plans, as well as dedicated teams, kitchen facilities and clear signage in place to control the safe movement of guests and staff within the venue.
These new measures will all meetings of up to 30 people to take place.
Juliet Slot, chief commercial officer at Ascot Racecourse, said: “The health and wellbeing of our guests and team is our utmost priority.
“To ensure we can resume events at Ascot safely and at the incredibly high standard for which we are known, we have devised each of these procedures in close consultation with industry experts and will be reviewing them regularly in accordance with Government advice. We are excited to welcome guests and delegates back to our versatile and secure venue as soon as we can.”
Ahead of reopening, the historic venue has also been accredited with the ‘We’re Good To Go’ seal of approval from Visit Britain.
VisitBritain launched the ‘We’re Good To Go’ accreditation in partnership with VisitEngland, Tourism Northern Ireland, VisitScotland and Visit Wales.
While this is predominantly a consumer-facing safety accreditation, the business events industry can also use it in conjunction with its own accreditations, as mia chose to do, announcing its full support for the campaign in conjunction with its own, AIM Secure accreditation.
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.
