Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1325965
ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION JANUARY 6, 2021 Page 21 What Will Events Look Like in 2021? By Todd Ginter, PSAI's Director of Marketing Continued on page 22 One of the biggest casualties of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic was large in-person events. For the portable sanitation industry, that meant severely reduced business opportunities at sporting events, fairs, concerts, city celebrations, and more. For the PSAI, it meant that the 2020 Convention and Trade Show could not go on as planned in Baltimore. In November, a modified trade show and educational event was held virtually for attendees. As 2021 begins, everyone is getting both a literal shot in the arm with the vaccine and figurative shot in the arm as 2021 brings hope of normalcy to our lives. This would seem to mean we can transition back to live events. But what will this look like and just how long will that take? What have we learned from 2020 and how will people react to a live event? These are all questions that everyone wonders about and cannot be easily answered. But we know a few things—so let's take a look at those. Ready or not, 2021 is here and hope is on the horizon! Will the World Return to In-Person Events in 2021? Right now the outlook for re-starting in-person events it is positive for the second half of 2021, although many unknowns could still impact the timing of these things. Take this into consideration: at what point will other attendees not react when someone sneezes in their vicinity? What will it take for people to feel comfortable standing at a food and beverage counter in a convention hall without being extremely cautious about people serving, grabbing and exchanging food? How about at a coffee station or continental breakfast set-up? Before anyone walks into a trade show hall or crowded outdoor venue where food is being sold, there better be hand-sanitizing stations and wide aisles or some customers may not get close to a booth. Right now, a lot of people are thinking hard about these issues. I've done a bit of research on this. Experts in public health safety for events continually estimate that it is going to take at least a couple more years, regardless of what kind of vaccine, drug therapy or physical distancing there is, before large events evolve back to 2019 levels of attendance and "normalcy." Long before we can all gather in a convention hall or small session rooms, we must all be willing (and safely able) to gather in the same place. Even if you are personally comfortable with meeting and traveling, many people may not be ready to do so. The idea of airports, airplanes, shuttles, hotels and buffets may keep many from even considering showing up. Some would say, "To each his own. If they don't want to come, don't spoil it for those who do!" Unfortunately, it isn't that simple. There are financial considerations for event organizers and trade show exhibitors that need to be made when the possibility of lower attendance is a real possibility. Both of these entities are not interested in having an event for the sake of "being back" if attendance is so low it ultimately costs time and money they cannot spare. ?