A frightening fact: over 50 countries and territories have active Zika virus transmission according to the Centers for Disease Control. The spread of Zika has meeting professionals turning to their event crisis management teams for answers. Combatting the virus is a growing priority across the Western Hemisphere, particularly with news of its spread to the United States. Fear of the virus will undoubtedly impact tourism and travel across Central America. But if you’re already contracted for an event in an affected area, should you be legitimately concerned for attendees?
Good news! Experts say chances of actually contracting Zika are very low. We reached out to the experts to find out why that’s the case, and how you can help attendees feel safer prior to an event.
Dr. Tyra Hilliard is a licensed attorney and an expert in event crisis management. She also sports a PhD in Hospitality and a CMP. We asked Dr. Hilliard for her take on Zika in the meetings and events world.
“I think the biggest impact to events is less from Zika and more from fear of Zika. Because neither the World Health Organization (WHO) or Center for Disease Control (CDC) have created a broad travel warning tied to Zika, there is no “force majeure” for most events that are held in an area with Zika. Instead, event planners have to decide between high cancellation fees or dwindling attendance numbers, both of which come with a price tag.”
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As Dr. Hilliard notes, the Zika problem is more a problem of perception. There’s no question that Zika is a legitimate health concern, but major events are still moving forward despite the scare. For example, landmark events like the 2016 Rio Olympics, which were initially on high watch for potential breakouts, have fortunately turned out to be mostly unaffected. Prior to the Olympics, many called for a cancellation of the event altogether. The protest was ultimately unsuccessful but does show us that fear of the virus is creating a major challenge for tourism and business travel in affected countries.
So, what’s an event professional to do if he or she is planning an event in a high-risk area?
“The best thing event organizers who are locked into a contract can do is educate attendees. If I were in the high-risk group, coupled with just the understanding of the ramifications to event organizers, I sure would stay away from events in areas majorly affected with Zika.” says Dr. Tyra
Here’s how to give attendees the options they need and communicate the severity of the virus to help lessen their fears.
Share the Facts
Remind attendees that Zika is known to affect primarily a small subset of the population, such as pregnant women, those who may become pregnant, or those with compromised immune systems. Healthy individuals can travel in Zika affected countries, relatively risk-free.
Be Prepared Regardless
Those that are fearful of Zika, do advise taking the necessary precautions around protecting yourself while attending any event– regardless of virus or disease. If you do choose to conduct business as usual in high-risk areas, the CDC recommends reducing your probability of getting mosquito bites, which is the primary mode of transmission of the disease.
Give Attendees An Out
Kevin Mitchell, Chairman of The Business Travel Coalition, recommends allowing employees or participants to opt-out should they choose not to travel to areas where Zika has been spotted. It will impact your bottom-line, but in cases like this, you need to show attendees that you care about their safety first and foremost.
How will you keep attendees on board? Have you dealt with a health crisis like this in the past? Join us on Facebook and share your insight.
The post Event Crisis Management Experts Weigh In: Is Zika a Problem of Perception? appeared first on The Social Tables Blog.
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