Following the release of the Victorian Government’s Roadmap, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) has announced it will reopen its doors from Friday 5 November, after the state reaches its 80 per cent double-dose vaccination target.
With the return of indoor events on the horizon, MCEC is taking bookings for events with a limit of up to 150 vaccinated attendees at a density cap of one person per four square meters, with updated capacities to come.
“I cannot wait to feel the heartbeat of Melbourne’s city come back to life and welcome visitors through MCEC’s doors again,” Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre chief executive officer Peter King said.
“It’s been a long time coming and it is a relief to be able to again plan events and connect with our customers.”
With Victoria’s Roadmap indicating vaccination is to be a requirement for all public events, anyone attending events at indoor venues such as MCEC will have to be fully vaccinated and will need to verify their vaccination status upon arrival to the venue.
MCEC is currently working with the Victorian Government to establish how this policy will be implemented at its venue and is also looking into a vaccination policy for its staff, with more details expected soon.
In addition to establishing clear vaccination policies for both staff and visitors, MCEC has outlined a range of COVIDSafe practices in its VenueSafe Plan and will continue to update it with the latest government guidelines. Additionally, the centre will continue to have measures in place such as physical distancing, sanitisation, contactless payment, and the latest government health advice on wearing masks.
However, with the situation in Melbourne continuing to develop, restrictions remain in place and override the capacities currently outlined in MCEC’s plan. In a statement issued by the centre today, MCEC said that “events held under its VenueSafe plan do not need to take any additional action under the Victorian Government Public Events Framework.”
Meanwhile, the centre continues to operate virtual events, allowing up to two speakers to attend the venue and broadcast from MCEC.
