The Meetings Industry Association (mia) has launched guidance to the industry to assist contract negotiations and to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on trade.
Entitled ‘Extraordinary matters: contract guidance’, the best practice provides information on reducing the impact of cancellations and managing postponements. It also aims to help keep everyone in business and ensure health and wellness is a top priority.
The best practice has been created after the mia brought together 140 members, booking agents and other industry representatives to its ‘Extraordinary matters: COVID-19 and its effects on your business’ event, which took place on 9 March at 15Hatfields.
The event discussed the challenges and issues surrounding contracts and future business planning. Following the debate, the mia promised to create a set of recommendations to help steer considerations and decisions for venues across the UK.
Caroline Bull, CEO and founder of CCT Venues, Steve Jones, managing director of Wyboston Lakes and chair of mia, Steven Matthews, head of catering, Lincoln Inn, Angelee Rathor, managing director of Seven Events and Jane Longhurst, chief executive of mia collaborated to ensure the recommendations are realistic, supportive and achievable.
Jane Longhurst, chief executive of the mia, said: “Nearly three-quarters of our member venues have had events cancelled as a result of fears of COVID-19 and there are serious concerns about the future of the industry since the UK moved from its current containment phase to delay and further restrictions are predicted.
“In order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on all our businesses, it’s essential that the industry works in solidarity and that fairness comes first, which is why we created this document to help guide the industry in their approach to cancellations and postponements.
“We want to keep events alive and continue to encourage organisers to book events for the future. This is very much an evolving paper and we will continue to update our recommendations as the situation develops.”
mia members can download a copy of the guidance here. To register for regular COVID-19 updates visit https://www.mia-uk.org/Coronavirus.
