The Javits Center Hosts its First Live Hybrid Event Since the COVID-19 Outbreak

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Venues & Destinations
The Javits Center Hosts its First Live Hybrid Event Since the COVID-19 Outbreak

10/28/2020
The Javits Center has hosted the first live hybrid event in New York City since the COVID-19 outbreak, featuring a combination of in-person and virtual participants from around the world. Located inside the Javits Center’s new state-of-the-art broadcast studio, the event – Grant’s Fall 2020 Conference – included in-person and virtual speakers and participants, a full catering program and strict safety protocols designed in accordance with all state regulations. With a maximum of 50 attendees hosted in a socially distanced setting on site, the financial conference was the first in-person event at the convention center since the venue was transformed into a temporary COVID-19 hospital in order to reduce the burden on local hospitals during this unprecedented crisis. The daylong conference took place on Tuesday, October 20 from 8 AM to 6 PM.

“We have been thrilled to host Grant’s 2020 Fall Conference as our first hybrid event in our new broadcast studio, marking a positive step in the economic recovery of our city, our state and our industry,” said Alan Steel, President and CEO of the New York Convention Center Operating Corporation, which operates the Javits Center. “Events generate a significant amount of economic activity for the New York region, and we are working closely with our clients, stakeholders and government partners to create a safe environment where people can meet, connect and share ideas that move our businesses forward.”

“The Javits Center treated us – shall we say, a not overlarge organization – as if we were the New York International Auto Show. I couldn’t be happier, nor more grateful,” said Jim Grant, Founder and Editor of Grant’s Interest Rate Observer. “We wanted to do a live event, in the first place to make some money, in the second place to take a stand against the fear and defeatism that have attended the pandemic and lockdown. The wonderful Javits Center staff got right into the spirit of the thing. I can’t say enough about their dedication, competence and good cheer. A thousand thanks to the Javits Center!”

Due to the success of the hybrid event, Grant Financial Publishing, Inc., the organizers of Grant’s Fall 2020 Conference, have already committed to hosting another event at the Javits Center in April 2021, demonstrating the effectiveness of hybrid events in today’s environment. Among the safety protocols implemented for the event included designated entry and exit points for all participants, required masks or face coverings and advanced online registration for guests. Hand-sanitizing stations and signage were installed throughout the event space to ensure all participants and employees followed necessary safety protocols. Catering was provided by Great Performances, which is a member of the Javits Center’s preferred catering program that allows approved vendors to supply food and beverages.

The Javits Broadcast Studio was specifically designed to host virtual and hybrid events, including live streaming announcements, conferences and pre-recorded segments, and help event planners reach audiences around the world. Last month, the Javits Center hosted The Nest Summit – an official program of Climate Week NYC – as the first virtual event in the broadcast studio. The 30,000 square-foot space is considered the largest of its kind in the City and can host up to 300 participants in a comfortable, socially distanced setting inside the venue. Equipped with the latest technology and equipment, the studio features a giant video wall, an on-site production team, a control room, multiple video cameras, wireless connectivity and 10 hours of studio time for any package. For an in-person tour of the studio, please contact our Sales and Marketing Team at sales@javitscenter.com.

As a part of New York State’s COVID-19 response, more than 450 Javits Center employees helped to coordinate, construct and operate a temporary hospital at the height of the virus outbreak in March 2020. With the assistance of more than 20 federal, state and city agencies on site, nearly 1,100 patients were treated at the hospital, which became a model for similar facilities throughout the country. Since then, the Javits Center has implemented a comprehensive cleaning program to sanitize all areas of the convention center – including HEPA-grade air filters – and instituted strict safety protocols throughout the six-block campus. The Javits Center has achieved the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) Star accreditation, the gold standard for facilities implementing strict infectious disease protocols in today’s environment. To achieve GBAC STAR, our staff demonstrated compliance with 20 core elements, from standard operating procedures to personal protective equipment.

Designed by I.M. Pei & Partners, the Javits Center opened in 1986 and has since become New York City’s primary venue for large conventions, trade shows and special events and serves as home to many of the world’s top 250 trade shows, hosting millions of visitors a year. These large-scale events have generated more than $2 billion in annual economic activity for New York City and New York State, supporting as many as 18,000 jobs in and around the facility. Located on 11th Avenue between West 34th and West 40th Sts. in Manhattan, the Javits Center has 760,000 square feet of total exhibition space, 102 meeting rooms and four banquet halls, as well as a range of catering, security, sustainability, and technology services. A major expansion project, which will add 1.2 million square feet of total event space, is underway and scheduled to be completed in 2021. For more information, visit www.javitscenter.com.

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