Angela Tupper

Texas made headlines last month when it lifted all restrictions including its state-wide mask mandate, but industry sources say most businesses are still upholding safety rules that go beyond government requirements — and so far, consumer demand seems to be onside. 

With Barcelona’s 5,000-person concert and Madrid’s HIP Expo, Spain has been revving up its event sector alongside its tourism industry. But even if events continue to receive regulatory approval, the country’s rising case count could derail plans.

Building on the success of an experimental December event, Barcelona has upped the ante for same-day testing by hosting a concert for 5,000 Covid-screened attendees. Will this prove to be a workable model for B2B events?

The European Union’s proposed digital Covid passport may soon become the norm worldwide. But will this kind of portable vaccination record also be used for access to public spaces and events? The Israeli model suggests yes, but many remain skeptical.

Many have championed Australia and New Zealand for their zero-Covid policy. Crowds of 30,000 daily spectators at the Australian Open reinforce the impression of success. Why, then, do survey results show an event industry on the brink of collapse?

A February “Stronger Together” joint trade show in Orlando was the first of its kind to trial an onsite testing program. Then news broke about a cluster of infections related to a much smaller testing bubble on the other coast. So how reliable is testing?

The UK’s announcement of a staggered end to lockdown restrictions triggered a 600 percent increase in the country’s Ticketmaster sales last week. Concert-goers may have renewed confidence in future events, but how dependable is the projected timeline?