By Doug Potter

To help venues manage their reopening, VenuMax has added a free COVID-19 Wellness Tracker. Prior to the event, this module surveys attendees to record their adherence to state or venue-specific health guidelines for COVID. With this information, the venue can document its compliance or risk with respect to vaccination rates, natural immunity, and other factors indicated by the Tracker’s survey.

The Wellness Tracker surveys event attendees before the opening of the event, then it compiles the survey results so the venue can show attendees of any event what the level of COVID wellness is among the group attending the event.

The survey questions are specific to each event, and the Wellness Tracker reaches out to them by email. This process starts with the customer’s event coordinator submitting a spreadsheet of attendee emails. Each attendee then receives the survey and responds by electronically.

The Wellness Tracker records all responses confidentially and summarizes each survey’s results to management in a dashboard display panel. See www.VenuMax.com for more details.

Doug Potter is with VenuMax Sales.

ASM Global, the venue management and consultancy formed by a merger of AEG Facilities and SMG Worldwide, announced a major expansion in the Asia Pacific region with plans to open a regional headquarters in Singapore.

“We believe that this part of the world is ready for a phase of robust growth, and we’re investing in personnel and plans to ensure we’re at the forefront of a significant growth curve,” said ASM Global CEO and President Ron Bension.

ASM Global’s new regional command post will be led by a joint leadership team that includes the appointment of executive vice president of operations Paul Sergeant, OBE, and Ed Sanderson as executive vice president of venue development.

Sergeant, who joined ASM Global three years ago, brings more than 3 decades of relevant experience to the role. He most recently served as senior vice president. A seasoned industry veteran as well, Mr. Sanderson’s resume includss more than 2 decades of commercial and operational experience in venues and facilities across Asia, most recently with Populous.

Both Sanderson and Sergeant are expected to take up their roles in Singapore by the end of the year.

“This is an exciting development and reinforcement of the importance of this region to our organization and the expansion of our regionally based business activities,” said ASM Global APAC Chairman and Chief Executive Harvey Lister AM. “Having our ASM Global APAC industry professionals like Paul and Ed on the ground will bring a wealth of local knowledge and experience to our operations.”

ASM Global already has a substantial presence in the region, operating venues such as Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, the under-construction Kai Tak Sports Park, as well as six future arenas that have already secured management deals with ASM Global.

The holidays are upon us, which means celebrating friends, family, food, and tons of shopping. It’s also a time to give back by supporting the causes you care deeply about, like the IAVM Foundation. Luckily, giving back to YOUR Foundation is easier than ever with AmazonSmile!

Purchases you make this busy shopping week – and throughout the year – through the AmazonSmile Program can also support YOUR Foundation!

The process is simple…activate AmazonSmile on your Amazon account, choose the IAVM Foundation as your worthy cause, and purchase what you would normally buy! Every time you purchase an item that is listed as “Eligible for AmazonSmile Donation,”Amazon will give 5% of your purchase to the Foundation.

AmazonSmile is a quick and easy way to support YOUR Foundation at absolutely no cost to you!

There is no gimmick or cost to you to give to the Foundation through AmazonSmile. You buy, Amazon gives. It seriously does not get easier than that!

If you haven’t activated AmazonSmile to give back to YOUR Foundation, what are you waiting for?

Need a little help getting started? Here are the quick step-by-step directions on how YOU can start giving back to the Foundation through AmazonSmile….

How to Activate AmazonSmile

Step 1: Join AmazonSmile
If you aren’t yet an AmazonSmile member, sign up at smile.amazon.com using a web browser (mobile or desktop). You’ll sign in with your Amazon credentials, and the site will walk you through the process. Amazon will ask you to choose your favorite charity. This is where you search for and choose “International Association of Venue Managers Foundation.”

Step 2: Open the Amazon Shopping app on your phone
If you don’t have the app already, download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Step 3: Open Settings within the app
Open Settings by tapping the three horizontal lines and click “Settings.”

Step 4: Tap AmazonSmile

Step 5: Tap the button for “Turn on AmazonSmile”
You’ll need to follow the three-step setup process. *Note that Amazon requires you to turn on notifications to be able to use AmazonSmile on your phone.

Step 6: Make note of your renewal date
Amazon asks that you renew your AmazonSmile donation every six months. This is easy but required. When six months are up, you’ll have to choose your favorite charity again. If you don’t renew, your purchases will not count..

Step 7: Confirm that AmazonSmile is active before your next purchase
Look for AmazonSmile at the top of the app as you browse. You’ll also see your chosen charity on the confirmation screen.

Now, you can make an impact while you shop for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals! Happy shopping!

Barb Burns, IAVM’s Membership Committee Chair states “IAVM’s members support ‘Give the Gift of Membership’ campaign annually by choosing a peer or young professional to experience the value of belonging to IAVM. It’s a wonderful way to help someone become a part of the venue management community especially after the last twenty months that we’ve experienced. The educational and networking opportunities IAVM offers have been invaluable to me personally. Please join me in sponsoring an individual who is eager to get involved in the Association and who will take the opportunity to accelerate their career.”

 This is a year-round campaign but it is particularly impactful during the giving season. Click this link to provide the information we need to collect your recipients’ details . Membership Services will reach out to your candidate to finalize the application and notify you when the dues are ready to be paid.

Give your gift of membership today!

November 30th is the deadline to submit your nominations for the IAVM Foundation Legacy Award, Charles A. McElravy Award, and the Joseph J. Anzivino Distinguished Allied Award.

The IAVM Foundation Legacy Award may be awarded annually by the Board of Trustees to an individual or organization who, in the opinion of the IAVM Foundation has made a significant financial and/or non-financial contribution to benefit the mission and objectives of the IAVM Foundation. The Foundation Chief Executive Officer will provide evidence the nominee meets the criteria. Click Here to learn more about how to submit your nomination to the Foundation Legacy Award.

The Charles A. McElravy Award may be awarded annually to a Professional, Honorary, or Retired member of IAVM who, in the opinion of the Board of Directors has made the greatest lifetime achievement to the welfare of the Association or profession. Click Here to learn more about the Charles A. McElravy Award.

The Joseph J. Anzivino Distinguished Allied Award may be awarded annually by the Board of Directors to an individual currently or previously employed by a firm which is or was an Allied member in good standing. The President and CEO will provide evidence the nominee meets the criteria. To learn more about how to nominate someone for the Joseph J. Anzivino Distinguished Allied Award, Click Here.

All award recipients will be acknowledge at VenueConnect 2022 in Phoenix, AZ.