By Tom Cornwall, CVE

I retired from Oilers Entertainment Group in December 2019 after a great 47-year career in sports/entertainment and was fortunate to have been in several unique roles and be involved in several once-in-a-lifetime events along the way. My wife, Betsy, and I had planned for 2020 to be an awesome year of adventures and travel to celebrate our retirements. And then the pandemic hit and changed all that. And instead of travel, 2020 found us living a life of self-imposed isolation at our lake property an hour south of Edmonton. After four-plus months of pretty well exhausting the ‘Honey-Do list’ and wondering what I was going to do to occupy my time, the phone call came and I wouldn’t have to worry any longer what I was going to do, at least for the next several months.

A good friend, Doug Higgons, from Oak View Group, called and asked if I would be interested in helping his team with a National Hockey League contract to manage the security and hygiene protocols for their Return To Play Hub Cities Tournament to award the 2020 Stanley Cup. Edmonton and Toronto were to be the chosen hub cities and he knew I would be a great asset to their team because of my previous experience with the NHL, living in Edmonton and just retiring from OEG after helping build and operate Rogers Place. Doug explained that the NHL was creating a secure bubble and I would need to physically move my life into the bubble for the next 80 days if I was to be a part of this project. It didn’t take much persuasion to say YES to another once-in-a-lifetime major project. It did take a little convincing Betsy that she would be OK for the next 80 days taking on ALL the household chores and only communicating with me through FaceTime for that whole time.

So on July 14 I joined members of Prevent Advisors, a division of Oak View Group, in Edmonton and we began working with the NHL to create and secure ‘the bubble.’ The OVG Edmonton bubble team is a group of six whose role is to work with the NHL staff to build and secure the bubble and ensure the health/safety/security/hygiene protocols are adhered to by all who work/live in the bubble for the length of the tournament. We have five Compliance Officers and a Facility Hygiene Officer who work hand-in-hand with NHL Legal/Medical to implement and monitor the protocols. OVG also has a similar team in the other hub city of Toronto doing the same thing there. IAVM member Frantzer LeBlanc is a member of that team.

The hub city concept is for 12 NHL teams to reside/play hockey inside a secure bubble and to eventually crown the Stanley Cup Champion in early October at the end of the tournament. Twelve Western Conference teams are in Edmonton and 12 Eastern Conference teams are in Toronto. The quarterfinals and semifinals are played in each hub city and then the two remaining teams in Toronto will move to the Edmonton bubble and complete for Eastern/Western Conference Champions and then those two teams will compete for the Stanley Cup.

Toronto’s bubble is a bit different design but the Edmonton bubble is literally a secure fence connecting three hotels and ROGERS PLACE arena and Scotia Place Plaza in Ice District in downtown Edmonton together creating a secure path from one property to the next over about 3.5 city blocks. Inside the bubble are the people responsible for putting on the tournament, the teams participating, and the medical and security teams responsible for keeping everyone safe. With few exceptions for some hotel and contractor staff everyone with an essential role is virtually locked in the bubble 24/7 until the tournament is over. We work, eat, and sleep inside the bubble for approximately 80 days when the Stanley Cup will be awarded. There are about 650 hockey players, staff, and management plus about another 300 NHL staff/contractors and hotel/arena staff involved in the Edmonton bubble. Toronto has a similar number.

Through amazing cooperation from city, Provincial, and Federal governmental agencies, the NHL was able to reach agreement to have the two Canadian cities host this tournament. Anyone inside the bubble undergoes COVID testing and there are very stringent quarantine and contact tracing protocols we follow should anyone test positive on any given day. After 18 days and a few thousand tests, we don’t have any positive test results in Edmonton. This is largely due to the hygiene protocols OVG and the NHL have put in place. EVERYONE wears a mask except when in your hotel room or at meals, no exceptions. Some 200-plus hand sanitizers plus disinfectant sprays and wipes have been placed strategically throughout the bubble so that whether you are walking the path to/from the hotels or in the hotel or arena there is sanitization equipment within easy reach. Everyone has been issued personal packets of wipes and hand sanitizer and signage everywhere reminds all to wash hands regularly and properly, to practice social distancing, and always wear your mask. The only time the mask isn’t required is when the hockey players, coaches, and officials are on the ice for the practices and games. Otherwise NOBODY is exempt from wearing a mask at all times.

After twelve days of helping my team and the NHL staff build all the fences, distribute all the sanitization equipment, hang all the signs, and set up all the hockey equipment in the locker rooms, weight rooms, team medical spaces, and set up the COVID testing facilities, the twelve hockey teams arrived in Edmonton and entered the bubble to begin practice and participating in the tournament. My role as one of the Prevent Advisors/OVG Hub City Compliance Officers is to make sure the security is in place to ensure no unauthorized person enters or leaves the bubble, ensure all sanitization equipment is always in place, filled and available for use, ensure everyone gets tested every day, and ensure compliance with the hygiene protocols established as part of the NHL Phase 4 Return to Play Protocols agreed to by the NHL Players and General Managers. We literally walk the hotels, fence lines, outdoor patio spaces, arena, and restaurants to ensure there is enough sanitization supplies and that people are wearing masks and following proper social distancing protocols.

Today, August 7, was the start of the elimination games and most of us have been in the bubble for 24 days and have 58 more to go! Another once-in-a-life event opportunity that I am proud to be a part of.

To see a video on NHL life in the bubble, click here.

Tom Cornwall, CVE, is Hub City Compliance Officer for Oak View Group/Prevent Advisors.

By ISSA and R.V. Baugus

IAVM members continue to go through and earn GBAC STAR accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association. There are currently more than 3,000 facilities in 66 different countries undergoing the process of earning GBAC STAR accreditation.

Outside the industry of interest is the Dubai Mall is the first shopping center to achieve GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation. In the past week this mall, one of the largest shopping malls in the world, along with 14 additional facilities around the globe have achieved accreditation.

Newly accredited facilities include:

Ashford Castle in Cong, County Mayo, Ireland
Brazilian Court Hotel in Palm Beach, Fla.
Chase Center, home to the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, in San Francisco
The Dubai Mall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The Evelyn Hotel in New York City
Hotel Amigo, a Rocco Forte Hotel in Brussels, Belgium
Il Sereno Hotel in Torno, Italy
Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center in Long Beach, Calif.
The Palace Hotel in Tokyo, Japan
Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs, Calif.
Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix
Rockliffe Hall in Hurworth-on-Tees, Darlington, United Kingdom
United Scrap Metal in Philadelphia
Villa Pliniana Hotel in Torno, Italy
Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

GBAC STAR is the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response, and recovery accreditation for all types of facilities, including retail, stadiums and arenas, hotels, restaurants, commercial, and more. Accreditation ensures a facility has highly skilled and trained cleaning professionals who follow a strict cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention program to minimize risks associated with infectious agents like the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

“No matter where a facility is located, GBAC STAR’s program elements can help organizations establish cleaning and disinfection practices that help prevent the spread of infectious disease,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “GBAC STAR is truly changing the way the world views cleaning.”

More than 40 facilities worldwide have achieved GBAC STAR accreditation to date. GBAC has produced a series of video interviews with executives at accredited facilities about their experience with the GBAC STAR process and what the accreditation means to them. Hear from leaders from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, and more at this link.

Scroll down on the link to “Media Interviews” to hear IAVM members.

To review a full list of GBAC STAR accredited facilities, committed facilities, and industry supporters, click here.

To apply for GBAC STAR facility accreditation, visit gbac.org/star.

By Cliff Wallace, CVE

The Shenyang New World EXPO has fully reopened in the capital of Liaoning province in the northeast of China.

IAVM member and EXPO General Manager Diane CHEN reports: “With great acceptance and success, EXPO has reopened following our closure on January due to the COVID-19 outbreak. To a reduced delegate attendance of 500, in keeping with the health guidelines now in place, the one-day Yonyou Digital Industry Summit was held on 30 July.”

It was the first event since 20 January after which the venue was closed under Government directives as were all of China’s public assembly venues.

Continuing, Chen, said: “The staff was ecstatic to get back to work. It was the fourth time the venue had been prepared to open since April but again had been closed due to COVID-19 outbreaks within the PRC. We now look forward to the upcoming 2020 T-mall Auto Show on 7-9 August and The 22nd China Northeast Public Security Exposition 26-28 August.”

Cliff Wallace, CVE, the Senior Executive Advisor to EXPO’s management company which he chaired from 2009-2018, shared that the staff had been amazing during the 6-month shut-down in keeping the venue ready for reopening while staying constantly abreast of the status of the pandemic. Their learning exercise during this period consisted of constantly monitoring the Pandemic and gaining knowledge of the safest means to reopen when the greenlight was received from government.

Wallace also continues to advise in Zhengzhou (China’s Henan province) relative to the Zhengzhou International Convention Center where he served as Chairman from 2005-2012 and Vice Chairman 2012-2018. The first event after reopening at ZZICEC was the Central China Auto Show which opened on 12 June with the 250,000+ sq. ft. Central China Auto Show. The venue held four events in June and eighteen events in July. Twelve exhibitions are scheduled in August. The earlier opening to that of EXPO was due to this venue being in a geographical area of China where no new cases of COVID-19 had been experienced many weeks prior.

CHEN and Wallace both are cautiously optimistic that China is back on track to open all venues fully soon. It will be the international events that will be returning later on after travel restrictions are lifted and the Pandemic becomes less a risk factor to travelers.

Chen confirmed that a full video highlighting the reopening health measures at EXPO would be available soon on the EXPO website (English & Chinese version): www.shenyangnwEXPO.com

Cliff Wallace, Senior Executive Advisor, also continues to advise in Zhengzhou, China for ZZICEC, where he served as Chairman from 2005-2012 and Vice Chairman from 2012-2018.

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By Nadia Vanderhoof, MA

The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) successfully hosted the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior National Volleyball Championships under modified operations from July 14-22, 2020. With an estimated 9,600 players, chaperones and coaches in attendance, the OCCC proactively implemented a series of precautionary measures to protect the health and safety of guests, employees, and the surrounding community throughout the duration of the event.

The AAU generated an estimated $12.3 million in economic impact for the community. Fueling local employment, tourism, and commerce, the OCCC is an economic engine for our region. By devising a data-driven strategy, the OCCC is positioned as a model for the industry, demonstrating how it can safely get back to business, and steadily continue our path to recovery.

Returning to the OCCC for the past 19 years, the renowned volleyball tournament has developed a rhythm for success at The Center of Hospitality. This year, planners and organizers developed a strategy to review the entire guest journey with safety in mind, revising all aspects of operations from check-in, to participating, coaching and socializing.

“Providing participation opportunities to athletes in a safe environment has always been the AAU’s highest priority,” said AAU President/CEO Dr. Roger J. Goudy. “We worked diligently with our partners at OCCC to ensure the highest standards of social distancing and containment mitigation measures were in place for our event. During these unprecedented times, to be able to offer athletes a chance to compete and play safely is immeasurable. Thank you to OCCC for your tireless efforts on the behalf of the Amateur Athletic Union.”

Putting its Recovery and Resiliency Plan into practice, the OCCC worked in close collaboration with AAU officials to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for attendees. New protocols this year included no spectators, temperature monitoring during check-in. and mandated face coverings. In line with government guidelines, the OCCC also reduced the total courts and games that could be played at any one time and increased distancing between courts and participants.

As a Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accredited venue, the OCCC also demonstrated its ongoing commitment to sanitation. Each evening, OCCC staff adhered to a comprehensive sanitation schedule, in line with GBAC STAR requirements. Additionally, throughout the day, a thorough cleaning schedule was maintained, including sanitation of high-touch areas throughout the OCCC campus, as well as the cleaning of scoreboards and volleyballs in between each match.

“As one of the first venues to resume operations, our success is testament to how modified events can be hosted safely, responsibly and enjoyably,” stated OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “I thank the AAU for their continued confidence in our center and look forward to working with the AAU in the future.”

Photo: The Orange County Convention Center hosted the Amateur Athletic Union Junior National Volleyball Championships under modified operations from July 14-22, 2020.

Nadia Vanderhoof, MA, is Marketing and Communications Manager in the Marketing and Communications Division of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

By Kalyn Sisco

EventBooking, a cloud-based venue software company, announced that Explore St. Louis has selected VenueOps to manage their facilities, and Simpleview, a partner of EventBooking, to help manage client relationships and marketing of the premiere CVB.

Explore St. Louis, operators of the iconic America’s Center Convention Complex, is looking forward to more a seamless and modernized way of doing business, thanks to their recent decision to use VenueOps, the latest venue management software from EventBooking, and Simpleview, a lead provider of CRM/CMS systems and digital marketing solutions.

Located in the heart of downtown, Explore St. Louis serves as a vital cultural asset of the city. They are planning for the future by transitioning from technology that has been in place for the past couple of decades, and relying on what many regard as the two most intuitive platforms in the market to manage their sales and venue management processes.

Darren Ison, Director of Information Technology for Explore St. Louis, commented, “With our legacy system, we were limited with flexibility and functionality, with a lot of double-handling and use of manual processes to do what we needed to do. After extensive research, we found the best way forward for us was to partner with these two outstanding companies. They understand our needs and are also tightly integrated, so this way we get the best of both worlds — the absolute best in class for each of their respective areas, plus they talk to each other.”

Steve Mackenzie, President of EventBooking, said, “We are truly delighted that the America’s Center has selected VenueOps to fulfill their venue management needs, and that our partnership and integration with Simpleview’s CRM will allow them to do things they could only dream of before. It’s a privilege to be recognized in this way; I consider it a testament to how we’re becoming the leading choice for convention centers, and how our level of service is increasingly setting us apart. We embrace the concept that tight partnerships with other technology leaders like Simpleview is what the industry needs, and we’re committed to this path of easy-to-use software with extremely flexible integration options.”

Kalyn Sisco is Marketing Manager at EventBooking.