Global Show Preview Metstrade Ramps Up Organizers hope this year’s in-person event will mark a reunion of the global recreational marine industry A 24 By Jeff Moser This year’s show marks a return to the RAI facility after last year’s all-virtual event. What has the response been like? We are very pleased with a solid exhibitor landscape of over 1,300 exhibitors who are currently allocated in our What about face coverings? Face masks are not mandatory, but we do very much re-spect any individual who wishes to wear one. So in general, we’ll have a strong and secure admission policy to ensure a safe environment. It is highly advised to have to arrive fully vaccinated. But those who have not had the full vaccination September 2021 tradeonlytoday.com PHOTOS: METSTRADE/RAI AMSTERDAM fter the cancellation of last year’s in-person show, Metstrade organizers are looking to this fall’s event — scheduled for Nov. 16-18 at RAI Amsterdam in the Neth-erlands — as a reunion of the global recreational boating industry. And the industry has responded in droves, led by Eu-ropean Union and North American companies. At the time of this writ-ing, the event was nearly sold out, with some companies placed on a waiting list as organziers worked to accommodate them. Niels Klarenbeek Soundings Trade Only spoke to show director Niels Klarenbeek about plans for the event, the precautions organizers are taking in response to Covid-19, the event’s packed schedule and what’s new for 2021. temporary floor plan for this year. And we even have a waiting list of more companies who wish to be a part of the event. Currently, we have slight capacity problems, but we do anticipate that we will be able to accommodate most of the companies that wish to be there. All preparations for this year’s events, from our perspec-tive, as far as we can control, look very good. We have a solid exhibitor landscape. We have many of the traditional factors of the Metstrade show which are part of the DNA, like the breakfast briefing, the DAME Awards and the Boat Builder Awards. And we even completed an entire content scheme for our new initiative, Metstrade TV. What should visitors and exhibitors expect in regards to Covid protocols at the facility? First and foremost, it’s elementary to say that we aim to have a safe and successful event, and that we will not compromise on any of those criteria. If it cannot be held safely or successfully, we will definitely need to call off the events. And of course, we do not hope to be in that situation, but how would we ensure the safety of our exhibitors and visitors? We have a solid health and safety protocol at the RAI Convention Center. And for the upcoming Metstrade show, we will ensure a physical barrier around the halls of Metstrade outside. There will be Covid passport checks at the entrance gates — we are going to create a green zone outside, in front of our convention center, where the E.U. digital corona passport is going to be checked. It is currently in an app, which is issued by the E.U. governments. All E.U. member states have equivalent apps with equivalent QR codes that allow us and our security staff to do the check. By November, we anticipate that the app will also be available for travelers from the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and all other non-E.U. countries. You get in with a corona passport into the green zone. From there, you’re getting to the main gates of Metstrade. Once you’re in, you’ll be having your lanyard and your badge, the same as [previous visitors] are used to. Inside, we have conducted a network of safety corridors in all the halls of Met-strade — every single hall, we will have at least a set of safety corridors. Those will be a bit wider aisles to ensure elegant flow of the foot traffic. And hand sanitizer will be available. We are also going to implement a no-handshake, no-contact policy. So we are going to advise all exhibitors just to stick to the [fist bump] or the elbow [bump].
Trade Only September 2021: Page 24
