The National Beer Wholesalers Association will require attendees of its annual convention and trade show to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative test before entering the event, scheduled to take place October 3-6 in Las Vegas.
“Given recent concerning trends related to the Delta variant, we will be implementing enhanced safety protocols similar to other industry events, professional and college sports and restaurants,” the NBWA wrote in an email to attendees on Friday.
Attendees will have to provide documentation of having received two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine before September 19. Attendees who cannot or choose not to get vaccinated must show either proof of a negative COVID-19 taken within 72 hours of the start of the convention. Rapid tests will be available onsite for attendees who are not vaccinated or did not get tested before arriving.
“Anyone with a positive test will not be allowed entry to the event,” the NBWA wrote. “We strongly encourage you to test before you travel to Las Vegas if you do not provide proof of vaccination.”
The convention and trade show will require attendees to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status, a protocol that was in place before the vaccination or negative test requirement. Nevada’s mask mandate went into effect July 30, but Gov. Steve Sisolak signed an emergency directive on August 16 allowing organizers of ticketed, time-bound events in indoor spaces with seating capacity of 4,000 or more to forgo masks if all attendees are vaccinated.
“This gives an option for event organizers to choose between requiring masks indoors for all attendees, regardless of vaccination status, or ensuring that all attendees are vaccinated, in which case fully-vaccinated attendees can remove their masks,” a press release said.
At the Brewers Association’s (BA) Craft Brewers Conference (CBC), scheduled for September 9-12 in Denver, attendees will be required to wear masks regardless of vaccination status, but the BA has stopped short of requiring proof of vaccination or negative test results.
“Brewers Association will not require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to attend the Craft Brewers Conference,” the BA wrote today in an update to CBC’s health and safety page. “However, we encourage all attendees to be fully vaccinated to protect themselves and others. We desire that all of us who can be vaccinated do so in order to protect everyone.”
CBC attendees are required to sign up for seminars in advance to ensure they have a seat in seminar rooms. The Colorado Convention Center will have one-way flows in high-traffic areas, and hand sanitizing stations will be located through the venue. Indoor and outdoor events are permitted to operate without capacity restrictions in Denver, according to the city’s most recent COVID-19 public health order.