AMSTERDAM - Senthil Gopinath, CEO of the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA), has appealed to its member-suppliers and associations “to be pragmatic in these challenging times but to also share positive messages where possible”.
He added, “Big events are continuing to take place in their destinations, despite worries and complications brought from the COVID-19 outbreak.
“To boost the meetings industry during this difficult period, we should send out encouraging messages to show we are united, resilient and confident as an industry.”
Mr Gopinath said that while the international meetings industry was navigating a period of uncertainty, “we must look forward and proceed as best we can, working together to ensure all member-suppliers and associations’ well-being and safety is at the forefront of our decision making, while trying to continue with upcoming activities”.
“We should be prepared for negative messaging about the need for people to meet face-to-face, but where this is not possible, we must collaborate and bring solutions to maintain the exchange of information, as we believe the international meetings industry can have a role in finding the solution to the outbreak.
“Let’s remain united and work together to overcome the challenges that COVID-19 presents,” Mr Gopinath urged.