By Mark Mettes, CVE

The Herberger Theater Center in partnership with the Phoenix Police and Fire Departments hosted public safety training throughout the three-theater venue in late August. The Homeland Defense Bureau and Training Bureau provided crisis response training for the Herberger Theater and in the latter part of the day, Police and Fire first responders participated in drills and scenarios in the facility. Each of these opportunities provided both short-term and long-term benefits to everyone involved.

The crisis response training consisted of Run, Hide, Fight and Stop the Bleed, the latter of which included hands on demonstrations of how to apply a tunicate after an accident or injury. n addition to the entire Herberger Theater staff, we also invited each of our six Resident Companies to participate in the training, validating our mutual commitment to the safety of all persons who come the Herberger Theater.

While these specific training opportunities focused on our crisis response, the rest of the day consisted of drills and scenarios for first responders. Over 100 members of the Police and Fire Departments participated in live active shooter training exercises that helped test their own procedures and responses in a location very different from an office building or mall. Everyone benefited as they went through the pre-planned scenarios and in the process learned much more about our three-theater facility as well as our operations.

During these exercises, some of our staff voluntarily participated as “actors” to play the part of various people that the first responders may encounter. For our staff, this brought to life many of the concepts that were discussed in the Run, Hide, Fight training. Throughout this part of the day, some of our leadership team were able to shadow the lead from the Phoenix Police Tactical Training Detail as he was following the scenarios. This helped us to better assess our own procedures and responses.

The lessons learned throughout the day will provide lasting benefits for not only the staff of the Herberger Theater Center and the primary users of our theaters but also for the Phoenix Police and Fire Departments as they better understand the complexities in responding to a large scale incident in a performing arts facility. Everything from internal and interdepartmental communications to tactical movements in a theater were tested, discussed and improved upon.

For everyone involved, this was a rehearsal in a theater for a performance that we never, ever want to take place. Nonetheless, this proactive rehearsal allowed everyone to be better prepared at the Herberger Theater Center or wherever they may be called onto or into a scene.

Mark Mettes, CVE, is president and CEO of the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix, Arizona

The Cypress-Fairbanks (TX) Independent School District, overseers of the Berry Center multi-purpose facility under the direction of Beth Wade, CVE, recently sent a press release to honor and recognize our friend Beth for being recognized as one of Michael Marion’s Chairman’s Citation honorees at VenueConnect in Chicago, as well as her appearance as the cover profile in the September/October issue of Facility Manager magazine.

(So much for the spoiler alert. Look for your magazine next week.)

To read the district’s story about one of the very best in our industry, click here.

Brad Gessner, Sr. Vice President, Los Angeles Convention Center, and Sr. Vice President, AEG Facilities Convention Center shared that AEG Facilities is currently transitioning management at the Palm Springs Convention Center and Bureau of Tourism for the company to assume full management on September 25. To read about how the venue plans to focus on meetings, click here.

Boise State Athletics has reached an agreement with ExtraMile Convenience Stores, LLC, to change the name of Taco Bell Arena to ExtraMile Arena, Director of Athletics Curt Apsey announced.

During the 15-year, $8.4 million agreement for ExtraMile Arena, Boise State will receive more than $550,000 annually.

ExtraMile is a joint venture between Chevron, USA Inc. and Jacksons Food Stores Inc.

“We have been working on this for quite some time, and I know this is going to be a great partnership – as was the case previously with Taco Bell,” Apsey said. “We’re especially grateful that John Jackson and his family, longtime Boise State supporters, were involved in putting this partnership together with ExtraMile.”

“This is a tremendous development for all parties – Boise State, Bronco fans, ExtraMile, consumers, everyone,” said Paul Casadont, EMCS president. “Not only are we supporting a top learning institution with a rich and storied athletic program, we are reaffirming our commitment to consumers as we continue to expand the ExtraMile brand in Idaho, Utah and Nevada.”

Jacksons purchased a 50 percent interest in the ExtraMile joint venture partnership with Chevron in February of 2018. Jacksons’ Shell stores will continue to operate under the Jacksons’ brand banner.

“We believe this is an exciting way to engage the fan base in building the ExtraMile brand here in Idaho and a great partnership to support the university and its athletic programs,” said Cory Jackson, president of Jacksons Food Stores and a board member of the joint venture.

–broncosports.com–

By Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association

The Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) wishes to assure all participants, buyers and exhibitors attending trade exhibitions and conferences in Hong Kong that events are running smoothly and without interruption. Hong Kong is a welcoming city for investors and visitors.

Although there have been road closures during several public activities, up until the time of this announcement, both of the two major venues for trade exhibitions and international conferences, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE), are accessible by foot, private cars / freight trucks and public transportation including subway, and are fully operational.

HKECIA Chairman Mr Stuart Bailey stated, “Business is as usual in Hong Kong. At this time we are seeing that major exhibitions and conferences in Hong Kong are running without incident or interruption. Exhibition and conference events were not targeted for disruption. Hong Kong is definitely still open for business and safe to travel.

“Of course visitors should take extra care and be mindful of areas in which protests might be taking place and take note of any special traffic arrangements such as temporary road closures and disruptions on public transport. But it’s worth remembering that Hong Kong is consistently ranked one of the safest cities in the world.”

June to August are peak months for mega consumer exhibitions in Hong Kong while a few public processions took place in different locations. All those exhibitions ran smoothly without interruption. The annual Hong Kong Book Fair was attended by nearly 1 million visitors over seven show days.

The annual trade and consumer exhibition, the Food Expo, and three concurrent exhibitions which utilize all the exhibition halls at the HKCEC was held as scheduled August 15-19 with no interruption despite there was the large scale peaceful rally on August 18. The four exhibitions brought together more than 2,100 exhibitors and welcomed a total of nearly 450,000 visitors.

There were cancellations of flights departing and arriving Hong Kong on August 12-13 due to operation disruption of the Hong Kong International Airport. Smooth operations of the airport terminals and normal flight movements have been resumed since August 14. Currently, the Airport Authority Hong Kong has obtained an interim injunction to restrain persons from unlawfully obstructing the airport’s operation. At the same time, access control at the airport terminal buildings has been implemented. Passengers are reminded to arrive early for the relevant checks.

As of today, the Seafood Expo Asia (SEA), originally scheduled for 3-5 September at the HKCEC, is the only one international exhibition that has been cancelled. Other international trade exhibitions scheduled for early September will go on as planned. They are: Restaurant & Bar Hong Kong X Gourmet Asia 2019 (September 3-5), Natural Organic Asia 2019 (September 3-5), Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair (September 3-7), Asia Fruit Logistica (September 4-6) with Asiafruit Congress on September 3, and CENTRESTAGE (September 4-7).

Further statements updating international participants will be issued by the HKECIA should the current situation changes.

About the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association: The Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) was established in 1990 to promote Hong Kong as a world-class exhibition and conference destination and the trade fair capital of Asia Pacific. It works to represent the interests of all members involved in the exhibition and convention industries, and provides a unified voice in dealing with the government, legislative and statutory bodies, the media and public organisations, on all matters associate with the role of the exhibition and convention industry in Hong Kong’s economy. In addition, it offers training and educational programmes, and collects, analyses and distributes information and statistics relating to the industry. Currently, HKECIA has over 100 members including exhibition organisers, venue managers and operators, contractors, hotels, and travel agents.

HKECIA is a member of UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, and AFECA – The Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations.