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Venue Management Association sends sympathy to European venue managers

Venue Management Association sends sympathy to European venue managers
November 19, 2015

Trevor Dohnt, Chair of the Venue Management Association (Asia and Pacific) Limited [VMA], has shared a message on behalf of the VMA Board and all VMA Members, extending “thoughts and prayers to our European venue management friends in the aftermath of the recent terror in France.”

In statement, Dohnt advised “with the heightened security environment and awareness globally, we encourage venue management professionals in the Asia Pacific region to review and assess their emergency management preparedness and procedures in light of the horrific recent events.

”VMA members operate or work closely within a wide variety of venues which attract mass gatherings of people. As we know, patrons routinely attend our venues to participate in a wide variety of events including sport, entertainment, culture, arts, business to business, and business to consumer events.

“Our members operate venues in regional and metropolitan areas, with audiences ranging from a handful of people to over 100,000 people. We work closely with law enforcement and emergency agencies, and as such, it's a timely reminder that we review and assess our current emergency preparedness, and where appropriate, with relevant local, state, national and international agencies.

“It's also important that our members assess their events in liaison with promoters, presenters, producers, organizers and others that supply popular content for our venues. All events should be assessed using professionally recognised risk management protocols whilst taking into consideration liaison with emergency management agencies where relevant.

“The VMA is affiliated with the IAVM, and as such we support and agree with the recent comments of IAVM Chair, Karen Totaro, who said ‘as professionals who oversee a multitude of venues, much like Stade de France and the Paris Bataclan Concert Hall, we are reminded of the ever-growing need to continually assess, train, and prepare our teams and our community leaders to effectively reduce the opportunity for tragic occurrences in our own venues worldwide’.

“As VMA members, our prayers and thoughts are with our venue colleagues in Europe as well as with all of the people touched by the horrific events experienced in recent days.”

The VMA has also announced that the 2016 Asia-Pacific Venue Industry Congress will be held from 15th to 18th May 2016 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC). 

For information contact Maria Lamari of the VMA on 07 5501 6000, E: maria@vma.org.au.

18th November 2015 - SAFETY AND SECURITY CHALLENGES FOR PROTECTING STADIA AND SPORT VENUES

16th November 2015 - VENUE MANAGERS ASSESS SECURITY AFTER PARIS TERROR ATTACKS

15th November 2015 - VENUES ACROSS THE WORLD SHINE BLUE, WHITE AND RED TO SHOW SOLIDARITY WITH FRANCE

23rd October 2015 - VENUE MANAGEMENT SCHOOL PREPARES FOR 2015 PROGRAM