Health & Safety Protocols Lead to COVID-Free Event

JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort

The Incentive Research Foundation hosted nearly 500 attendees at one of the industry’s first large-scale in-person events of 2021 on June 2-5 at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort. Throughout the entire planning process, health & safety protocols were a driving factor in every decision. The IRF details this planning process in the new case study Health & Safety Protocols Lead to COVID-Free Event.

“The IRF is proud that the Board, staff, partners and attendees worked together to ensure a safe environment at the 2021 IRF Education Invitational,” said Stephanie Harris, IRF president. “Successful planning required new strategies and timely responses to evolving circumstances and guidelines. But most important, ensuring the comfort, health and safety of our attendees was our ultimate goal.”

From room set up to required health screenings, the IRF continuously revised the program design, and health & safety protocols, for the Invitational. As vaccinations became more accessible and CDC guidelines became less restrictive, the IRF’s health & safety policies continued to be modified just prior to the event. Attendees were notified days before the event that the mask mandate had been relaxed so that fully vaccinated attendees were not required to wear a mask.

The IRF’s case study provides insights into the process that resulted in a safe and successful event:

• Health & Safety Partners: The IRF expanded its capabilities by forming partnerships with businesses that specialize in critical health & safety services
• Pre-Event Planning: Considerations around program design and distancing included spacing and room setups, attendee flow, networking, and food & beverage service
• During the Event: Shifting the mask mandate, daily health screenings, proximity contact tracing and temperature checks
• Post-Event Follow-up: Attendees were surveyed at 5, 10 and 21-days following the event. No attendees reported any red-flag symptoms, illness or positive COVID-19 test

To read the case study, visit the IRF’s Health & Safety Protocols Lead to COVID-Free Event page.