At InView copy deadline, Governor Cuomo was a guest on Morning Joe, and he discussed emergency measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus. In the New York metro area, Westchester County was hardest hit. Cuomo talked about mobilization, containment, testing and voluntary telecommuting. He did not shut down the city. He encouraged “business as usual,” but cautioned against hugs and handshakes.

Fast forward to InView publishing deadline and the situation has changed drastically. Decisions we made last week, even two days ago, are no longer relevant. The news in New York City is changing by the minute. We are all working from home and at the same time doing our best to counsel our leadership and make informed decisions. NYC & Company has been publishing up to the minute news of announcements and closures, and they are encouraging New Yorkers to text “Covid” to 692-692 for updates. Their system, Notify NYC, will provide you with important updates.

Thankfully, I’m in close contact with many of our NYSAE association members. We’re still on phones and we’re doing business by Zoom. Many asking, what should we be doing about our events in May, June and even later in the summer? No one can predict when the emergency will lift. Our hotel partners are heavily impacted, receiving inquiries about postponement and cancellation options, sharing cleaning protocols and explaining over and over again what constitutes force majeure. Face-to-face meetings, education and conventions are the lifeblood of our association members, so what are we doing? Our headquarters team at NYSAE is currently preparing for a community conference call so we can discuss how we are dealing with COVID-19. I’m expecting we will share our stories, experiences, and get questions answered by our industry colleagues. Stay tuned.

I know that our members are strong, smart and entrepreneurial. It may not be “business as usual” but they are coming up with virtual solutions and innovative processes to continue to provide value to their stakeholders.

We will continue to monitor the situation.

 

Warm Regards,

Holly