Tools for Planning Healthy Meetings in Spokane
Visit Spokane is here to help you plan your meeting or convention in a smart, safe and healthy way. We'll outline what Washington has done to minimize exposure as well as a roundup of health and safety practices that will help you plan a safe, enjoyable, and successful event in Spokane.
![](https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/DJI_0672.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=b8f0ece08b1bb0d05f5b32e20dbfea09 320w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/DJI_0672.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=3e3642713f0d7d7f206d06cd8fd3dd93 540w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/DJI_0672.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=dd3416c127474360a4771a73b2ae9ba3 768w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/DJI_0672.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=8c40eb548eb1ac06f139ace5c2a4dc3f 1024w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/DJI_0672.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=c35eca3f825ca4db5669dcc38b08fbde 1200w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/DJI_0672.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=8ef8cebe8c858494e9ad6ffc69cb94e4 1440w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/DJI_0672.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=85531fa8e3e835a3aa9fde8b76ef8a48 1920w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/DJI_0672.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=d086717a7ef7bf1f754fb3a21b038b6f 2560w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/DJI_0672.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=017818f1e63bd6a5f6394b1f97330fca 3840w)
Convening in the Time of Covid
We know the value of in-person meetings. They create opportunities for spontaneous interaction. They allow us to meet new, energizing people. They take us to exciting locales. Human connections and the invaluable conversations that happen by chance among attendees provide an advantage that remote meetings simply cannot offer.
Despite the value, the decision to move forward with in-person events while promoting smart, safe ways for participants to avoid Covid-19 can seem daunting. Not to worry, we're here to help.
How to Protect Convention Attendees from Covid
- Require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for all employees, clients, members, and guests.
- Create an opportunity for vulnerable participants to connect virtually.
- Reassign staff members to positions with less exposure. As an example, have them help with setup and tear down or work remotely when possible.
- Stagger employee breaks.
- Discourage congregating in areas that could become congested.
- Disallow the sharing of equipment and/or workstations.
- Avoid handshakes and hugs.
Provide information about Covid-19 levels in Spokane and any host community so that attendees can make informed decisions about traveling and participating. - Reduce session sizes.
- Avoid printed schedules and use electronic information systems.
- Increase barriers and spacing between seats.
Offer multiple conveniently positioned hand sanitizing stations. - Require masks and have extras on hand.
- Require staff to wash their hands frequently.
- Create an easy way for staff and participants to report COVID symptoms and exposure.
- Assign an employee to monitor Covid preparedness and monitoring.
Post-COVID symptom lists and facts about the virus in high-traffic areas during your convention. - Provide on-site testing and/or temperature checks.
![](https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-Covid-Cleaning-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=71df6f81ae09c220d685870dc226ccc9 320w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-Covid-Cleaning-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=c178b536e418233b7720dcc6664a7ecb 540w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-Covid-Cleaning-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=bde7211bc29602a41f6fcfba5a7d3be9 768w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-Covid-Cleaning-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=4937828acfb5160ee683945b21c057ec 1024w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-Covid-Cleaning-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=f6c3df9e978bd9777cdf3457737b3b75 1200w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-Covid-Cleaning-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=d9a2c4d8543109bbd91ed43884a6904a 1440w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-Covid-Cleaning-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=fb3ab8d2d15fb5da3f3224f2743612d9 1920w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-Covid-Cleaning-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=c3e2f2b1c7bcc04b3939b156b8d4d8bb 2560w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-Covid-Cleaning-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=29f45ef04751037590808f4cff5709ad 3840w)
How to Promote and Practice Safe Travel
- When possible, consider transportation that limits exposure such as walking and biking.
- Require any transit company providing service during your convention to follow protocols regarding masking. Consider ordering a larger than a necessary coach to space out riders.
- Ensure that buses, vans, and other vehicles providing transportation for participants are disinfected prior to service.
- Advise attendees and vendors prior to the event or gathering that they should not attend if they have tested positive for Covid-19.
- Communicate with vendors and attendees to ensure they are aware of COVID-19 safety protocols employed at the event.
- Notify staff, attendees, and the public of any cancellations and restrictions in place to limit people’s exposure to COVID-19 (for example, limited hours of operation, or expanded hours with limited attendance at a given time).
- Identify and address potential language, cultural, and disability barriers associated with communicating COVID-19 information to event staff and attendees.
- Share information in a way that is easily understood by various audiences.
- Require participants and staff to stay home when they are sick, have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or are caring for someone who is sick.
- Institute a backup staffing plan. Make sure staff are cross-trained and can change positions swiftly if needed.
- Train staff on all safety protocols. Consider using CDC’s Guidance for Businesses and Employers as a guide.
- Conduct daily health checks of staff and attendees safely and respectfully, and in accordance with any applicable privacy laws and regulations.
- Event administrators may consider using examples of screening methods in CDC’s General Business FAQs as a guide.
- Avoid or limit the sharing of convention space, particularly with groups using different safety tactics.
- Promote good health practices such as exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy foods.
Ideas for Providing Safe Meal Service
- Reduce crowd sizes by serving meals in multiple locations and staggering or elongating mealtimes.
- Assign people to a meal location to control the number of participants seated in any one area.
- Avoid the use of buffets that require the sharing of utensils.
- Provide packaged foods and single-use condiments. (There are environmentally friendly sources!)
- Serve immune-boosting foods, such as fruit, smoothies, greens, acai bowls, vitamin-infused waters, salads, lean proteins, and such.
- Offer seating options that accommodate varying comfort levels.
- Consider using large communal tables with chairs spaced and in a zigzag pattern and highboy tables for one person.
- Avoid self-serve stations and consider mini platters of hors oeuvres or charcuterie.
- Use reusable dishes and utensils or, when needed, biodegradable products made from bamboo or palm leaf.
Ways to Operate Safer Exhibitions
- Establish wider exhibition aisles, designated entrance, and exit points.
- Stagger set-up and tear-down times to minimize contact between exhibitors.
- Limit the number of people who can access the exhibit area at any one time.
- Provide sanitizing stations.
- Do not serve unpackaged food or beverages.
- Increase air circulation when possible.
- Require masks and proof of vaccination to enter the exhibition space.
![Spokane Convention Center](https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-2019.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=4a8ac2a38c900789d5e9b0234649d396 320w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-2019.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=d2706cd257b8b877c0acc866f2df13ca 540w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-2019.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=36deb96d877b76b9befd088e9e54e5ac 768w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-2019.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=3b53468fcb435c4fc45bd640bd64193c 1024w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-2019.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=5599e0c8228614db00e9bc7d9b002137 1200w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-2019.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=242622eeabba660aed5fd1f6e5c596c2 1440w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-2019.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=ada7d7a5d1a0c164f45de7e45c930a15 1920w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-2019.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=ee71f4b0d63dce6757d0886114bad6c7 2560w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/meetings-groups/Convention-Center-2019.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=c4ec33683c1d40ec9f1de20786725291 3671w)
Convention Center Information
Since spring 2020, our convention center has partnered with the Washington Meeting and Convention Coalition and other regional and public health partners to identify and implement processes and protocols for keeping you safe.
The Spokane Convention Center has achieved Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities. Under the guidance of GBAC, Spokane Convention Center has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning and disinfecting and guarding against infectious disease.
To achieve GBAC STAR™ accreditation, Spokane Convention Center demonstrated compliance with the program’s 20 core elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment strategies to personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness and response measures. Learn more about GBAC STAR accreditation at www.gbac.org.
Spokane Convention Center protocols meet or exceed the recommendations and requirements set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Spokane Regional Health District.
Additional Industry Resources
- Events Industry Council APEX COVID-19 Recovery Guides
- Events Industry Council COVID Resource Center– Updated regularly; This is a combined resource center that provides resource links for multiple industry organizations including PCMA, MPI, DI, IAVM and others)
- IACC Guide to Re-Imagining Refreshment Breaks and the IACC
- Guide to Re-Imagining Conference Breaks
- US Travel Association Coronavirus Research
- Event Safety Alliance Reopening Guide
- IAEE White Paper: Essential Considerations for Safely Reopening
- Exhibitions and Events
- PSAV MeetSafe Guidelines
- Connect Safe Space Event Guidelines
- Meetings Mean Business Resources
- US Chamber of Commerce State by State Reopening Guidance– updated regularly
- Standards of Safety in Business Travel– The Travel and Meeting Standards task force, known as TAMS
Finally, Visit Spokane thanks you for your attention to this important matter and for your dedication to preventing the spread of Covid-19. We hope that you will elect to safely convene in Spokane!