Germany will lift most of its coronavirus restrictions next month, although masks will still be mandatory indoors, as the number of cases in the country continues to decline.
The news is a boost for event planners and organisers of the industry trade show IMEX in Frankfurt, which was pushed back from April to the end of May at the start of the year.
A three-step plan will be implemented, leading up to March 20th, according to reports.
The plan will start by lifting the cap on the number of vaccinated and recovered people allowed to hold private indoor meetings, which is currently set at 10 people.
From March 4th, anyone who has been vaccinated or who has recovered from Covid will be allowed into bars and hotels without a test while a test will be mandated for those still unvaccinated.
On March 20th most other restrictions will be scrapped, apart from rules on masks.
IMEX has reported strong demand for its 20th anniversary show.
More than 1,000 buyers are committed to attending the show with new intermediaries bringing buyer groups from across the world including Australia and the US. Ten hotel intermediaries including Melia, Hilton, Marriott, Radisson, and Hyatt are also set to bring international clients.
Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group, said: “With the world now opening up, we’re seeing great excitement and commitment from our global community to come together at the show. The number of buyers and suppliers already registered reflects a strong appetite to do business, and we’ve also heard this first-hand from our partners across Europe when we’ve met face to face, most recently Italy, Spain and Germany.”
She added: “We’ve spent time investing in and developing the overall show experience, with business connections and networking sitting front and centre. We’ll also embrace our Talking Point for this year, Giving Nature a Second Chance. Our mission is to deliver a show that’s designed to supercharge business and build contacts, all in a safe, enjoyable environment that showcases the diversity, strength and opportunities of the current global marketplace.”
Portugal and Austria are among the latest European countries to ease coronavirus restrictions.
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.
