2020 has been a year of global change. Modern society currently faces sudden impacts that has shifted the way industries operate. Sports leagues, live entertainment, conventions and in our industry, tradeshows have either had to cancel, reschedule or adapt to adhere to new safety regulations.
For the produce industry, quickly adapting to the way business is done is vital since produce keeps growing and people need to keep eating. It is uncertain when tradeshows will return to “normal” however, convention centers are working hard at making sure that attendees and exhibitors are as safe as possible upon reopening and beginning to host large events.
The Orange County Convention Center in Orlando Florida, the second-largest convention facility in North America, has already begun implementing their ‘Recovery and Resiliency Plan’ in order to able to safely host events. The plan will adhere to city, state, federal and CDC guidelines:
- All employees of the OCCC will wear masks and gloves.
- The convention center will also have hand sanitizer stations in areas of high traffic areas.
- Contact surfaces will be cleaned at an increased rate to ensure sanitation.
- The plan then emphasizes a new training protocol for employees to ensure they keep themselves and convention center attendees as safe as possible.
The OCCC’s plan going forward is an example of what the future holds for produce tradeshow events. So, why incorporate these new measures instead of continuing with virtual events and Zoom calls?
Tradeshows are what brings industries together. A handshake, eye contact and in-person conversations are still very much an important component of multi-million-dollar deals between exhibitors and buyers. During these events, verbal conversations with a handshake and eye contact are held sacred – something an email, phone call, or online video chat simply cannot replace. As a tradeshow coordinator in this exciting world, I am eager to see how the tradeshow industry adapts and ‘grows’ back to more a ‘fruitful’ future.
Anthony Bonilla
Accounts & Tradeshow Coordinator
