The latest: IHRSA 2021 to require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. The show will take place October 13-15 in Dallas, Texas.
On September 14, IHRSA announced an additional safety precaution to attend the IHRSA 2021 trade show October 13-15 in Dallas, Texas.
All attendees, speakers, visitors and exhibitors will be required to show either proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of on-site registration. COVID-19 testing will be available on-site.
In its Health & Safety guidelines, IHRSA outlined additional precautions including routine cleaning and disinfecting of common touch points, and hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipe stations provided throughout public spaces. Currently, masks are not required.
The guidelines also included IHRSA’s position on vaccines:
“IHRSA supports vaccination against COVID-19 and strongly believes that vaccination benefits the fitness industry and the individuals and communities it serves. We encourage all IHRSA 2021 attendees and exhibitors to get fully vaccinated. Research shows vaccines are the very best tool we currently have to prevent infection from COVID-19, to stop its spread, and, ultimately, to help us emerge from a pandemic that has been physically, emotionally, and economically devastating to so many individuals, families, and businesses, including to our own industry. We encourage all attendees and exhibitors to get fully vaccinated.”
According to the guidelines, IHRSA is also closely monitoring the impact of the delta variant. However, the organization does not anticipate the City of Dallas to force the show’s closure, stating: “The ability to safely host the convention in October with a high degree of certainty was the primary reason for moving IHRSA 2021 from California to Texas.”
The October show will be the first trade show to be put on by IHRSA since March of 2019, after the 2020 show was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
IHRSA 2021 was originally scheduled to take place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was then pushed to September in Los Angeles, California, and finally to October at the current Dallas location.
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
