Part One
Here’s a quick roundup of what associations here and around the world have been doing concerning the coronavirus outbreak:
The Chicago-based Professional Convention Management Association, the world’s largest network of business events leaders and strategists, has put up a comprehensive resource page in its web site, “Covid-19: What Event Professionals Need to Know,” which covers news and updates, risk management resources, crisis management tools, and webinars. The PCMA, through its CEO, also sends regular emails to its members advising them on developments around the issue.
The Amsterdam-located International Congress and Convention Association, the global community and knowledge hub for the international association meetings industry, has teamed up with the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) and the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) in backing and supporting an industry-wide global promotional campaign dubbed, “Our Events are Open for Business.” It has a dedicated homepage, “Supporting Events,” inviting members and guiding them on how to participate in the campaign. ICCA has also put up its web site, “Covid-19 Outbreak: Status & Updates,” providing the latest data on worldwide events that have been affected by Covid-19.
The Washington, D.C.,-based American Society of Association Executives, with 47,000 members in 50 countries, also has a dedicated webpage, “Issue Roundup: Coronavirus Disease” that provides advisory services and updates on the status of its scheduled programs and activities. The ASAE also did a webcast that featured a panel of association industry experts who discussed the impact of the coronavirus on associations, including the current incidence of the virus worldwide, key steps to take to mitigate losses with hotel and vendor contracts and other legal considerations, and insurance options if events or trade shows must be canceled or attendance is greatly diminished.
Worth mentioning, ASAE President and CEO Susan Robertson sent a letter to White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow, making the case for associations to receive relief in response to the significant number of event cancellations and changes in recent weeks. “As the [US] Administration considers federal intervention to temporarily assist the airline, travel and other targeted industries impacted by the Covid-19, Asae urges you to include tax-exempt associations suffering from event cancellations and reduced meetings attendance in any federal aid package,” Robertson wrote.
The Australasian Society of Association Executives, in its CEO message to members, “Business as Usual,” said it will continue to deliver all scheduled meetings and events, including their annual conference and exhibition (ACE 2020) this March, directly working on current advice and information provided by both Federal and State government authorities.
Here, the Management Association of the Philippines has issued a memo to its members on what the association has been doing to address Covid-19 and crafted a business continuity plan checklist. The Procurement and Supply Institute of Asia is harnessing its technology and talent assets to run online learning courses.
In all these, I sum up the following good practices: (a) direct involvement and hands-on action of the CEO; (b) focused messaging and provision of advisory services in mass communication channels; (c) morale-boosting campaigns to promote the industry; (d) engaging with government on policy support and funding assistance; (e) use of technology to do online events; and (f) top-of-mind care and helpline for members.
The column contributor, Octavio “Bobby” Peralta, is concurrently the secretary-general of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific and the Founder & CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives. PCAAE is holding the Associations Summit 8 on November 25 and 26, 2020 at the Philippine International Convention Center, which is expected to draw over 200 association professionals here and abroad. The two-day event is supported by Adfiap, the Tourism Promotions Board and the PICC. E-mail inquiries@adfiap.org for more details on AS8.