Budapest is the latest European city to signal it’s open for business events.
As things stand indoor events have no upper capacity limit in Hungary, unless they involve music and dancing, in which case the limit is 500. Conferences and exhibitions could potentially host thousands.
Recently the newly formed Budapest Convention Bureau and the Budapest Festival and Tourism Centre, along with several other industry associations, hosted a live event for hundreds of people in the conference room of Puskás Arena as part of the international #PowerofLiveEvents initiative.
The safety protocol and ‘COVID handbook’ for business events that organisers hope will play an important role in the relaunch of the Hungarian economy and the life of Budapest was presented.
The aim was showcasing how events can be organized under the current circumstances.
Speakers included Jens Oliver Mayer, CEO of Jack Morton Worldwide, who spoke about how planners could use big data to provide a seamless delegate experience and Jan Oršič, head of the Ljubljana Convention Bureau, who discussed how the event industry could retain key partners during the almost complete shutdown forced by the coronavirus pandemic.
Safety measures includeda disinfection gate with a digital thermometer; masked and gloved hostesses managing elevators to reduce the number of surfaces touched; chairs, tables and microphones were regularly disinfected; lunch packages were individually prepared; and with the right coloured armband, it was possible to indicate without words if someone wanted to keep a greater distance.
The newly formed Budapest Convention Bureau’s primary objective now is to formulate a recovery strategy with local and national government, while creating a new marketing and sales strategy.
Anna Békefi, managing director of Budapest Convention Bureau, said: “In the current situation, we all now need to work together, shoulder to shoulder, to help industry workers and strengthen our position in the international MICE market. It is in our common interest to bring quality tourists to a liveable city, also keeping sustainability in mind. We are strongly convinced that Budapest and the Hungarian meeting industry professionals are prepared and able to organize and conduct business events for hundreds of people in accordance with current epidemiological rules. Delivering this message across borders and boosting the business events market requires a proactive, solution-oriented attitude and the collaboration of the entire profession. With this conference, we have taken the first significant step in this collaboration.”
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
