RBMA Coronavirus Update - March 24, 2020
Info About Your PaRADigm Registration Fee
Three separate communications were sent depending on your registrant type:
Attendee Communication >>
Exhibitor Communication >>
Sponsor Communication >>
RBMA Coronavirus Update - March 18, 2020
PaRADigm Refunds
As you know RBMA 2020 PaRADigm will not be held as planned in April. We are still engaged in active discussions with the conference hotel, The Diplomat Beach Resort, that would allow RBMA to reschedule the conference to a later date, but those negotiations are not final.
We will let you know if and when we are able to reschedule the conference or whether there will be a 2020 Paradigm at all.
In the meantime, the RBMA Board of Directors is currently considering options regarding refunds which could include transferring your registration fee to the new conference dates should that become an option.
Thank you for your patience while we continue to work on next steps. We will let you know about the future of 2020 PaRADigm as soon as possible.
Please feel free to
contact us if you have any questions.
RBMA Coronavirus Update - March 17, 2020
As of today we wish to advise our registrants, exhibitors and speakers that RBMA is in active discussions with the conference hotel, The Diplomat Beach Resort, since PaRADigm is
not expected to be held in April as planned.
The current status of negotiations with the Diplomat would allow RBMA to reschedule the conference to the third quarter, but those negotiations are not final.
We will let you know if and when we are able to reschedule the conference or whether there will be a 2020 Paradigm at all.
Thank you for your patience and loyalty as we continue to work our way through this challenge.
Please feel free to
contact us if you have any questions.
RBMA Update on Coronavirus - March 13, 2020
We apologize for a delayed response regarding the current COVID-19 situation. We know many of you have called, texted and emailed asking about 2020 PaRADigm. We appreciate your patience and loyalty while we engage in active negotiations with the conference hotel, The Diplomat Beach Resort, that would allow RBMA to reschedule the conference to the third quarter. We will let you know if we are able to reschedule the conference.
We know many of your practices and companies have issued travel restrictions that prevent you from attending the conference and that, as a result, you need to cancel your PaRADigm registration. In order for us to get an idea of the potential impact to PaRADigm, we ask that you
complete this form as soon as possible in order to let us know your plans.
As a reminder, if you do need to cancel your conference registration, please be sure to also call the conference hotel at 855-689-2911 to cancel your hotel room.
The RBMA Board of Directors is currently considering options regarding refunds. Thank you for hanging in there with us. We will let you know about the future of 2020 PaRADigm as soon as possible.
Please feel free to
contact us if you have any questions.
RBMA Staff
RBMA Receives Statement from The Diplomat on COVD-19
March 6, 2020
As we continue to receive information and hear of event cancellations due to the COVD-19 (coronavirus) RBMA would like to assure you that we continue to monitor the situation and have received this statement from our conference venue, The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood, Curio Collection by Hilton:
The well-being of Hilton's guests and Team Members is our highest priority, and we remain diligent in our commitment to provide a safe, hospitable environment for all who visit our properties. We are closely monitoring updates on the novel coronavirus from local and international health authorities and encourage our guests to do the same.
The federal government has not recommended limiting domestic travel and per the Florida Department of Health, the risk to the public in Florida remains low. Nevertheless, Hilton takes the situation very seriously. To that end Hilton has been issuing guidance on Viral Outbreak Control policies, Infectious disease protocols and regular updates on Covid-19.
Many of these best practices are standard operating procedures for us and we continue to follow hygiene procedures and cleaning best practices. These include:
• Ecolab Chemicals for sanitation of our guest rooms
• Changing of glove protocol by housekeepers to prevent cross contamination from bath and bedroom.
• Encourage sick team members to take sick leave.
• Active hand-washing and glove use for food handlers
• Blood borne pathogen cleanup protocols
• We have the supplies to provide hand sanitizer for rest rooms and hand sanitizer stations in hotel common areas/lobby
The World Health Organization is providing great advice about the novel coronavirus
(COVID-19) for travelers, and we recommend it to our guests. Recommendations to reduce exposure and transmission include:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick (have a fever or cough).
• If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your health care provider.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue throw tissue away immediately and wash hands.
For us, it's currently business as usual. But Hilton continues to get updates from the WHO and CDC and provides these updates to the field. We will continue to monitor and adjust protocols as needed.
PaRADigm is ON and we look forward to seeing you in Hollywood, Florida, April 5-8, 2020!
Bob Still, FRBMA
Executive Director
RBMA
RBMA Update on the Coronavirus
March 4, 2020
Understandably, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a concern for many of us as we prepare for business and personal travel. RBMA staff and leadership are monitoring this situation very closely and our top priority remains the health and safety of all participants at RBMA 2020 PaRADigm, including attendees, exhibitors, staff, and industry partners.
RBMA staff has sought appropriate resources that will help guide our planning and communication to members. Resources have included the World Health Organization paper titled: Key planning recommendations for Mass Gatherings in the context of the current COVID-19 outbreak. We are also monitoring the CDC, the Florida Health Department advisories and the most up-to-date infections via the Johns Hopkins Covid-19 website. The American Society of Association Executives has several resources regarding meeting planning that are updated almost daily.
It should be noted that t
here are currently no travel advisories within the United States. In fact, the infectious disease physicians that I have listened to including Dr. Thomas File, President of the Infectious Disease Society of America, note that any travel precautions are the same a person should take in a typical flu season. In other words, cover your mouth when you cough and wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds.
We are also in communication with the PaRADigm conference hotel, The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida, regarding Covid-19 issues.
There are currently no function cancellations at the Diplomat. It's open for business!
PaRADigm will continue as scheduled with anticipated record attendance and a nearly sold out exhibit hall. We are excited about the conference experience we’ve designed for you this year and hope you are looking forward to it as well. Our refund, cancellation and postponement policies remain in place for your benefit.
My team and I stand ready to address any additional needs or specific questions you may have. As we receive further information from our travel destination partners, we will continue our practice of transparency.
Thank you and safe travels!
Bob Still, FRBMA
Executive Director
RBMA