01 October 2020

Nevada approves return of large meetings, conventions

The Las Vegas events industry has received a welcome boost after Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak announced easing of restrictions at gatherings.

Sisolak is raising the limit on public gatherings from 50 to 250 people.

Larger events are also permitted in specific venues.

It will take effect from midnight on 1 October.

"We continue to watch numbers for signs of progress and whether the current mitigation measures that are in place are having an impact. "I'm pleased to say the answer is yes, they are," Sisolak said.

"If we notice an undue uptick in our positivity and our hospitalizations, we maintain the flexibility to dial some of these things back," he added.

Venues that can hold 2,500 people or fewer may hold events for 250 people or 50% below their capacity, whichever is fewer.

It applies only to seated events with no-standing-room audience allowed.

Larger events are allowed as long as the number in attendance is no more than 10% of the capacity.

Organizers of live entertainment or other events with more than 250 people will have to seek specific approval.

After the new directive was announced, MGM introduced a plan to restart in-person meetings and conventions

The company says it has been developing the 'Convene with Confidence' program for several months.

It features options for multi-layered health screening and on-site rapid Covid-19 testing.

 

Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor