By Bev Fearis, published 25/11/20

Meetings and events venues and organisers are being told to comply with new Government guidance when restrictions are lifted next week, instead of trying to find loopholes.

Business meetings and events of up to 1,000 guests will be permitted in Tier 1 and 2 areas from December 3, but there are still strict rules relating to the nature of events.

Jane Longhurst, Chief Executive of the Meetings Industry Association, urged venues to prepare immediate marketing to ensure they are promoting only what is legally permissible and “not what you think you can ‘get away with’”.

“Instead of looking for loopholes, we should all be operating in the spirit of the guidance and always with safety and business reputation in mind,” she said.

“We continue to be in regular communication with DCMS and are likely to have clearer guidance by the end of this week, but we already know from those conversations that business social events will not be permissible. In other words, if you have a residential conference for 250 delegates, this cannot be followed by a dinner or anything resembling a social occasion.

“We are a hugely responsible and safe sector, and now is our chance to prove this not just to Government but also to the media, to protect the reputation and longevity of our venues and businesses.”