Administration’s Silence is Being Exploited by Other States
The Governor’s “Blueprint for a Safer Economy” has no mention of this sector of the tourism industry and no guidelines for safe future re-opening have been issued or even discussed by the administration.

This silence sends a misleading signal that California is closed indefinitely.

Other states are exploiting this perception to poach corporate meeting and events that would otherwise take place in 2022 and well into the future. Even if guidelines came out tomorrow, our communities and California stand to lose billions more revenue and thousands of hard-working Californians will remain out of work.

This exploitation is happening because planning and booking for this sector of the economy requires several months and sometimes years of lead time. Our convention centers, hotels and other meeting venues can’t compete for future events - including the jobs and desperately needed local revenue that come with them - when it appears California is closed indefinitely.

CA is the ONLY State without Guidelines and Remains Closed to this Business
Every other state released protocols and has been safely holding meetings during the pandemic, but California has prohibited meetings of any size since the state’s stay at home order went into effect on March 19, 2020.

Safety Protocols and Best Practices Already Exist
A diverse coalition of organizations that manage convention and meeting venues and represent labor organizations and workers who depend on this business for their livelihoods presented proposed guidelines to the Administration in June 2020.

These protocols adhere to safety standards established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and California’s Department of Public Health (CDPH). They include best practice recommendations for sanitation, staff training, physical distancing, and communication. 

Approving or releasing these, or similar guidelines, is desperately needed to signal California is ready to compete for and win back future business, jobs, and revenue we are currently losing to other states.

Other states are exploiting California's lack of guidelines for meetings, trade shows and conventions and poaching business that isn't scheduled to take place until 2022 and beyond. This is happening because planning and booking for this sector of the economy requires several months and sometimes years of lead time. The state loses $4.1 BILLION each month we continue to delay safely reopening for meetings and events. Even if guidelines came out tomorrow, our communities and California stand to lose billions more revenue and thousands of hardworking Californians will remain out of work because of the long lead time necessary to book events.