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COVID-19 Response & Protocols

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COVID-19 Response & Protocols

Revised 9/1/21

When GBTA Convention 2021 takes place on November 17-19, nearly 2 years will have passed since the business travel community has come together in person.  As an attendee, you can rest assured that as we plan for the industry’s flagship event the safety of our attendees is our #1 top priority.  Find out how GBTA and the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) will keep you safe during GBTA Convention 2021.

OCCC has received its Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation on outbreak prevention, response and recovery. GBAC is a division of ISSA (International Sanitary and Supply Association) and composed of international leaders in the field of microbial-pathogenic threat analysis, mitigation, response and recovery. GBAC led the effort on the SARS outbreak and was the lead agency in the eradication of Ebola. GBAC provides training, guidance, accreditation, crisis management assistance and leadership to government, commercial and private entities looking to mitigate, address and/or recover from biological threats in real-time.   

Recognized as the gold standard of safe venues, OCCC is one of the largest venues in the nation to receive the GBAC STAR™ accreditation - view the press release.

 

Free Orange County Health Services COVID-19 Testing Sites

 

 

Watch the Video

Find out what measures OCCC, OIA and Orlando’s restaurants and hotels took to enhance safety for event attendees.

“The convention was a success, and has kickstarted the conventions industry again.”

Carolyn Martin, CM | Destination Services Sr. Manager,
Visit Orlando

 

 

 



GBTA understands that a portion of our attendees may be vaccinated prior to the event. The health and safety protocols established by GBTA are applicable to all attendees regardless of vaccination status. The CDC notes that we are still learning how well the vaccines keep people from spreading COVID-19 and vaccinated individuals should continue to adhere to prevention measures that reduce spread when participating in events of this size.

Many of our protocols have been elevated beyond those recommended by CDC, State of Florida, and OCCC, in order to ensure your safety and set an example for the industry. All attendees need to do their part to ensure the health and safety event participants, staff, and partners.

 


GBTA expects all attendees to comply with these elevated protocols throughout the event. Should an attendee be found violating protocols multiple times, GBTA will ask the attendee to leave the event at which point the attendee will not be allowed to return and their event registration will be cancelled. Registration cancellation may result in financial responsibility for the attendee. GBTA will not provide reimbursement or credit of any kind incurred resulting from non-compliance and cancellation. Thank you in advance for helping us demonstrate safe event protocols to the industry!


Building Security

  • The OCCC maintains twenty-four (24) hour building security in the public halls, corridors, and grounds. 
  • The Security Command Center is staffed by OCCC security officers twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week.  Security officers are on duty twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week. 
  • OCCC security officers are uniformed with the majority being First Responder-certified. 

Transportation

TSA

Attendee/Exhibitor Personal Safety Commitment

  • By registering and attending GBTA Convention 2021, you agree to comply with all terms and conditions, such as but not limited to, standards of behavior and engage in certain health-and-safety conduct as directed by state/local laws while attending the event.  This includes, but is not limited to, submitting to daily temperature checks, wearing a mask at all times in public areas, engaging in appropriate physical distancing and not attending the event if you are ill or have been recently exposed to COVID-19.
  • In light of the ongoing spread of COVID-19, individuals who fall within any of the categories below should not attend the GBTA Convention. By attending the GBTA Convention, you certify that you do not fall into any of the following categories:
    • Individuals who currently or within the past fourteen (14) days have experienced any symptoms associated with COVID-19, which include fever, cough, and shortness of breath among others;
    • Individuals who have traveled at any point in the past fourteen (14) days either internationally or to a community in the U.S. that has experienced or is experiencing sustained community spread of COVID-19; or  
    • Individuals who believe that they may have been exposed to a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are not yet cleared as non-contagious by state or local public health authorities or the health care team responsible for their treatment.
    • I agree to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 (symptoms typically include fever, cough, and shortness of breath) and, contact GBTA if you experience symptoms of COVID-19 within 14 days after participating in the GBTA convention.
  • Symptoms of Coronavirus, CDC

prevent the spread of COVID-19

Questions?

Have a question about what GBTA and the Orange County Convention Center are doing to ensure the healthy and safety of our attendees? Email conventionhelp@gbta.org.