NBAA-BACE Adds Vaccine Requirement For Attendees, Exhibitors

LVCVA
Credit: LVCVA

The National Business Aviation Association is adopting a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for attendees and exhibitors at the 2021 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Las Vegas to ensure a “safe, interactive and successful event.”

NBAA-BACE will run Oct. 12-14 in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s new West Hall and at Henderson Executive Airport. The 2020 event was held as a virtual show because of the pandemic.

Since vaccinations are required, mask wearing will be a personal choice, organizers say.

A vaccination requirement is the most effective tool for creating a safe environment for in-person events, they say. It has become a best practice for trade shows and other live events, such as during Las Vegas Raiders football games, CES, formerly the Consumer Electronics Show, and the National Association of Broadcasters.

NBAA-BACE will include other health safety measures, such as the placement of hand sanitizer stations throughout the convention center, deep cleaning of the hall before the event and the use of electrostatic sprayers to disinfect high-touch areas, such as door handles, escalator handrails and seating. Restrooms will be sanitized every hour.

“For decades, the aviation industry has brought people together and transported them forward safely and responsibly,” says Ed Bolen, NBAA president and CEO. “We are leveraging that approach to aviation safety to guide us with regard to NBAA-BACE. We are taking guidance from health and safety experts and adopting trade show best practices. Including a vaccine requirement in the comprehensive safety protocols for the show will create the most interactive environment possible for buying, selling, networking and learning.”

The exhibit floor is sold out for NBAA-BACE, which will include new features, such as a maintenance pavilion and an owner/single-pilot pavilion.

“This is an exciting time for business aviation,” Bolen says. “Flight activity is high, transactions are strong and innovations are coming to the market at an accelerated pace.”

Molly McMillin

Molly McMillin, a 25-year aviation journalist, is managing editor of business aviation for the Aviation Week Network and editor-in-chief of The Weekly of Business Aviation, an Aviation Week market intelligence report.