Over the past four months I’ve been critical of Gladys’ handling of the latest COVID outbreak in Sydney, which has since spread to the rest of NSW, Victoria, ACT and Queensland. However I have admired how she has turned up almost every day to face the media (like Dan Andrews). OK she avoided answering some questions and gave very longwinded answers to others. But that is what politicians do and it was compulsory viewing. I’ll miss her. Shame she was brought down by a bad choice of boyfriend.
This week we saw some more detail of the NSW, Victorian and ACT roadmaps to recovery.
Anecdotally I’m hearing that business events are not storming back. For the most part it looks like February/March next year before most will kick in again, and this is across the country. Business clients just don’t have enough confidence that they will not be shut down again and border closures are stymieing national events. I’m also hearing that while corporate events were slow, weddings were going gangbusters in Brisbane, until yesterday.
So for the weekly wrap let’s start with comment and opinion because that is what I really like to share.
Have your say, and have associations failed us?
This was going to be the weekly wrap intro – then it got away from me.
However, in the article I suggested that Gary Fitz-Roy had started his own association. This was not the case; Gary explained to me that the National Events Alliance was set up as a voice for individuals who felt unrepresented by their relevant associations; there was no membership and no fees. Gary was also a founding member of EEAA and a board member for 10 years. The NEA is now dormant because Gary is actually busy gearing up to present a bunch of consumer expos before the end of this year including Oz Comic Con at Sydney Showground. Expertise Events are leading the way in getting consumer and trade expos up and running again.
In the article I also suggested that Save Victorian Events had limited success. Simon Thewlis has pointed out that they have had a lot of impact on government policy especially on financial support for businesses generally, and kept the situation in Victoria’s event industry being discussed in all the mainstream media. In the last few weeks alone we’ve had stories about the event industry on ABC-TV, 9, 10, SBS, 3AW, Gold-FM, Triple-M, ABC Local, The Age, The Australian, Herald Sun, etc…
Tiny Good has responded regarding associations – this is a good read.
The hardest bit first. Who are we? We all do things that inform, provoke, and make people feel. We help to change their perception of something. Sounds ‘lofty’, but it is true.
And speaking of associations
Major changes at the EEAA AGM as Nicole Walker becomes President
This article is by Joyce DiMascio in mice.net. Joyce is the former CEO of EEAA so she has a good handle on what goes on at that association.
Like it or not we are on our own!
In his previous article Gary Fitz-Roy raised the issue of industry awards, not surprisingly he had a large number of emails and calls saying its good it’s been called out. Some people were at very least disappointed that these proceeded at all when there could have been the same energy put into, say, a mental wellness campaign or something that benefits the whole sector, not just those who have the resources to submit. The point on the number of entries not lost on anyone!
Don’t count the days. Make the days count.
Gary Fitz-Roy on staffing, associations and the future. We all know that planning and preparation are the cornerstones to effective performance, and there are several things you can do to increase your chances of being more successful when connecting with clients and prospects, the question for many in our industry is have we used our time wisely?
The feds have decided to pull the plug on the COVID Disaster payments
Another government blow to the events sector
Over the last three months many event businesses have managed to keep staff on with assistance from the state governments in NSW, ACT and Victoria. Meanwhile casual workers have been able to draw on the federal income support payments that replaced JobKeeper.
BECA slams shutdown of COVID Disaster Payments
The Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) is deeply concerned and disappointed with the Federal Treasurer’s announcement yesterday to withdraw COVID-19 Disaster Payments in line with vaccination targets being reached by states and territories, without any indication of a targeted replacement lifeline.
Now to the NSW Roadmap
NSW events stymied until 1st December
The NSW Premier today announced the three stage roadmap to lifting restrictions. However, once again, the announcement was short on detail.
What does the latest NSW plan mean for venues and producers?
The NSW Government has announced that venues can reopen on Monday 11th October at one person per 4 sqm and that limit will be increased to 2 sqm on 1st December.
Half-hearted cheer for weddings
The NSW hospitality industry is preparing to surge back to some sort of normality following the tight lockdown restrictions this year, although it is a half-hearted cheer as restrictions still carry a ball and chain with the Premier’s announcement.
Managing the unvaccinated when venues re-open
There are two issues – first, the promised integration of the “vaccination passport” with the QR check-in system will not be ready when venues reopen on October 11th and no guidelines have yet been issued on how this process has to be managed.
And then ACT and NZ
ACT roadmap shows events returning in November
Providing the public health risk of Covid-19 remains relatively stable over the next two weeks, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said lockdown would end as planned on October 15th with the jurisdiction then transitioning to medium-level public health restrictions.
The continued impact of COVID-19 on the NZ Events Sector
55% of respondents to the NZ Event Associations latest survey stated that the recent COVID-19 response has had a considerable financial impact on their organisation, whilst a further 23% stated that it had a moderate financial impact.
Events are back at Sydney Showground
Oz Comic-Con leads expo rebound as Sydney Showground reopens
With marks already on the board, the venue will again lead the charge bringing Expertise Events, Oz Comic-Con Homegrown to Sydney from December 4 – 5 after proving its ability to deliver outstanding events within challenging environments.
And thanks to Brett Bower for the banner www.sydneycartoonist.com
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