Masks are now “recommended and encouraged” for vaccinated attendees at the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) in Denver next month, the Brewers Association (BA) announced last week in an update to its CBC health and wellness site.
“As with many venues/events, our COVID restrictions loosened in June based on guidance from the CDC, state and local public health officials,” Nancy Johnson, senior vice president of meetings and events, said in a statement to Brewbound. “Given the current landscape with the Delta variant, that could change at any time. We support mask-wearing as a precaution for anyone in indoor public spaces regardless of vaccination status.”
The BA shifted CBC — which includes the BrewExpo America trade show — from its original late March 2021 date in San Diego to September in Denver, a move that was announced in January when COVID-19 cases were spiking. However, lower-than-expected vaccination rates and the highly contagious Delta variant have caused many local governments and businesses to return to elevated public health practices.
CBC typically draws as many as 15,000 attendees from across the world. When the BA first announced the event’s shift from March to September, the organization suggested that proof of vaccination could be required for entrance and capacity was cut nearly in half. However, those precautions were removed when Gov. Jared Polis lifted some restrictions earlier this summer.
“The state updated capacities in June,” Johnson wrote. “At that time, we increased the available seats in seminar rooms to reflect the new guidelines. This translates into increased allowable attendance from our original limited capacities.”
Although local protocols allow for full capacity at the Colorado Convention Center, the BA is asking attendees to register for educational seminars in advance to guarantee a seat in each presentation room. Thirty minutes are built in between each seminar to allow for air circulation and room cleaning.
Other safety measures in place include one-way traffic in high volume areas and hand sanitizer stations throughout the venue.
Whenever possible, food served at the venue will be individually packaged. Dining spaces will be expanded for social distancing and sanitized frequently.
“Malt and grain product samples, hop samples and other ingredients are considered food items,” the BA wrote. “We highly recommend that such samples be distributed for sampling by exhibitors in single serve, compostable cups, and unconsumed portions discarded.”
Conference passes are still available, and registration costs are set to increase next week.
“We are seeing strong registration numbers from craft brewery owners and employees, exhibitors, and members of the craft brewing industry,” Johnson said. “The early bird discount deadline is Monday, August 9, and we will offer onsite registration for industry professionals.”
In 2020, the pandemic forced the BA to cancel the in person versions of all four of its signature events, which dealt a blow to the non-profit organization’s bottom line. The BA’s total revenue declined 64.9%, to $9.7 million, according to its 2020 stewardship report.
In addition to CBC, the BA also hosts the American Homebrewers Association’s HomebrewCon and the Great American Beer Festival, which were or will be held virtually in 2020 and 2021. SAVOR, a craft beer and food pairing event historically held in Washington, D.C., has been canceled both years.
The Denver Rare Beer Tasting, a fundraiser hosted by Pints for Prostates and the Colorado Brewers Guild that was slated to take place September 9 during CBC, was canceled yesterday, its organizers announced.
As COVID cases rise across the country, local governments have begun instituting stricer protocols. In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that proof of vaccination would be required to enter indoor bars and restaurants, gyms and entertainment venues for both customers and workers. Enforcement is slated to begin in mid-September.
Organizers of the New York International Auto Show canceled the event just two weeks before its scheduled start, according to AdAge.