Palais des congrès de Montréal unveils key points of forthcoming health measures program

MONTRÉAL, June 16, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - As it prepares to reopen, once the public health authorities greenlight the restart of operations, the Palais des congrès de Montréal is working diligently on the final touches of its health measures guide, which will make it possible to host events safely and in accordance with social distancing rules. PROGRESS, the Palais Reopening Operating Guide to Running Events with Safety Standards, addresses different facets of a conference or exhibition, which have been retooled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The main pillars of this new approach to health and safety include:

• Redefining the participant greeting process to ensure traffic flow and facilitate crowd management
• Running a contactless environment to foster safer transactions
• Adopting a considerate approach to communicating with event organizers and participants predicated on preparation, guidance and reassurance
• Stepping up housekeeping standards and upgrading the cleaning products used
• Developing new event concepts and digital solutions designed around practicing 2-metre distancing every time and everywhere
• Adapting our caterer's food and beverage offering with safe, responsible solutions, without compromising delicious taste

The program's new measures are based on the directives already issued by the government of Québec, namely the recommendations by the Québec public health institute regarding work and public places, and  by the Québec council on tourism human resources. Both bodies will have to approve the measures before the Palais reopens.

Browse the particulars of the program

Masks and personal protective equipment
As part of the new measures, event participants will be strongly encouraged to wear a mask. Also, Palais employees whose roles and duties require them to be in contact with participants, will wear personal protective equipment (PPE), as per the directives of the province's public health agency and workplace safety board. These employees will receive mandatory training on recommended PPE usage.

New hybrid event solutions
Alongside this new program, the Palais also recently announced new hybrid solutions aimed at facilitating the process of organizing and hosting events. An emerging concept, hybrid events will make it possible to combine a live physical event with virtual interactions in real time thanks to affordable digital solutions. Given the current situation, hybrid events will help offset lower turnouts, especially those occasioned by travel restrictions.

Read about our integrated hybrid solutions

Quote

"We have always made it our priority to offer participants attending events at the Palais a positive and safe experience. Our team adapted to the situation very swiftly, and we are now ready to host gatherings as soon as circumstances permit."
? Robert Mercure, CEO of the Palais des congrès de Montréal

About the Palais des congrès de Montréal 
The Palais des congrès de Montréal convention centre stands in the heart of the top host city in the Americas for international events. It is the recipient of the highest quality standards certification in the industry, awarded by the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC), and also a finalist for the prestigious Apex award honouring the "world's best customer satisfaction ratings." In 2018-2019, the Palais generated $215 million in economic benefits along with an invaluable amount of intellectual wealth via the 353 events it hosted. A trailblazer, it operates its own events lab, CITÉ, which houses Montréal startups that are helping redefine how conferences are held. The Palais is a carbon neutral building, and also BOMA BEST certified. Its suite of sustainability initiatives, which it runs under the name Palais Boréal, includes an innovative program that shepherds event organizers and participants through the process of offsetting their GHG emissions locally. Actively immersed in the community, the Palais opens its spaces to visitors and stages art-driven experiences for the public, like the Palais Seasons, showcasing Québec creatives. A leader and visionary, the Palais is at the forefront of the Convention Industry 4.0 transformation. Visit congresmtl.com.

SOURCE Palais des congrès de Montréal