The Convention Center has achieved Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities. Under the guidance of GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, the Convention Center has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention in its facility.

As the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response, and recovery accreditation, GBAC STAR™ helps organizations establish protocols and procedures, offers expert-led training, and assesses a facility’s readiness for biorisk situations. The program verifies that the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center implements best practices to prepare for, respond to and recover from outbreaks and pandemics. By taking this important step to pursue GBAC STAR™, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has received third-party validation that it follows strict protocols for biorisk situations, thereby demonstrating its preparedness and commitment to operating safely.

To achieve GBAC STAR™ accreditation, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center was required to demonstrate compliance with the program’s 20 core elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment strategies to personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness and response measures. Learn more about GBAC STAR accreditation at www.gbac.com

Additional preventative and cleaning measures have been implemented to ensure the health and safety of all guests and staff. Our Health and Safety plan can be accessed here: www.mccno.com/health-and-safety.

The leadership team at the Convention Center contracted with an Industrial Hygienist to review our standards of care. Our Facility Operations team implemented recommended changes with all Convention Center departments.

The new cleaning protocols require more frequent action and the use of Environmental Protection Agency List N (EPA-N) approved products. Because the frequency of these actions is critical, we have created a Risk Assessment Matrix, which is designed to mitigate ongoing risks associated with high traffic, cross-contamination, close-quarter areas and other hazards involving infectious disease. We will utilize this Matrix to determine the Risk Rating based on location, risk assessment and hazards. The Risk Rating will then determine mitigation strategies including but not limited to scheduling, the frequency of cleaning, type of chemicals used and disinfection methods. The strategies established by this Matrix will be utilized to protect all building occupants from the ongoing risk of infectious disease.

Low-Risk Areas

1. These areas have light traffic and a limited number of persons (i.e., common areas, lobbies, offices, etc.).
2. Regularly scheduled cleanings via the Horizontal/Vertical Cleaning/Disinfecting Procedure are followed.
3. Routine follow-ups via the General Disinfecting Procedure are followed.

Moderate Risk Areas

1. These areas have medium traffic and gatherings of more than 10 persons (i.e., restrooms, breakrooms, locker rooms and smaller meeting room events, etc.).
2. More frequent scheduled cleanings via the Horizontal/Vertical Cleaning /Disinfecting Procedure (vertical cleaning refers to commonly touched surfaces up to a minimum of 6ft high) and Restroom Cleaning/Disinfecting Procedures are followed.
3. Routine follow-ups via the General Disinfecting Procedure are followed.

High-Risk Areas

1. These areas have heavy traffic and gatherings of more than 10 persons (i.e., larger events, conventions and confirmed other potentially infectious materials, such as human bodily fluids, unfixed tissue).
2. General Disinfecting Procedure must be followed.
   The Horizontal/Vertical Cleaning /Disinfecting Procedure and/or Porous Surfaces OPIM Cleaning/Disinfecting Procedure must be followed.
3. General Disinfecting Procedure must be followed.

Convention Center Training on safety and sanitation protocols

1. All Convention Center employees will receive training on safety and sanitation protocols with more comprehensive training for our teams with frequent guest contact including Housekeeping, Food and Beverage, Public Safety, Guest Safety Ambassadors, and Facility Operations.
2. Proper hygiene and frequent handwashing with soap is vital to the health of all our employees and guests. All Convention Center employees have been instructed to wash their hands for 20 seconds, or use sanitizer when a sink is not available, every 60 minutes (for 20-seconds) and after any of the following activities: using the restroom, sneezing, touching the face, blowing the nose, cleaning, sweeping, mopping, smoking, eating, drinking, entering and leaving an active event area, going on break and before or after starting a shift, among others.
3. The Convention Center will install permanent hand sanitizer stations at all time clock locations.

The Convention Center will continue to maintain the highest standards of care for carpet and upholstery cleaning using only EPA-N list of cleaners and disinfectants. Once an event begins occupancy, lobby furniture adjacent to the contracted space will be considered “High Risk Areas.” The coffee and side tables will be sanitized a minimum of once an hour.

Once an event begins, we will thoroughly sanitize the furniture surfaces of each meeting room daily, including tabletops, chair rails, and door handles. Should the Convention Center Production Services Department be contracted to provide equipment, these objects (i.e., microphones, lecterns, laser pointers, etc.) will be sanitized daily.

In between sessions, the Convention Center will sanitize tabletops, head tables, door handles, and disinfect the top rail of each chair. The Event Organizer will need to coordinate with your Event Manager to ensure adequate time to effectively service the space being used. Here are some strategic solutions to help maintain meeting room cleanliness:

⦁ Programming timelines may need to be adjusted to accommodate proper cleaning and disinfection between sessions.

⦁ Event Organizers are encouraged to use creative programming to avoid back-to-back sessions in the same room.

⦁ Materials and handouts should be offered in digital format only, without any physical handouts or collateral, if possible.

⦁ Please encourage your attendees to remove and discard their own trash.

⦁ Should guests attend sessions in the same meeting room, they should be encouraged to sit in the same seat.

The Event Organizer will be responsible for ensuring outside audio-visual vendors disinfect their own equipment between sessions. Should the Convention Center Production Services Department be contracted to provide equipment, these objects (i.e., microphones, lecterns, laser pointers, etc.) will be sanitized by our team between sessions.

The Convention Center will continue to provide cleaning for green rooms associated with the New Orleans Theater. The Event Organizer will be responsible for providing a cleaning schedule for green rooms to the Event Manager thirty (30) days in advance of the first contracted move-in date. The cleaning process will include disinfecting all surfaces of tables, counters, door handles, shower areas, and removal of trash. Should the Event Organizer build green rooms in conjunction with other contracted spaces, then the contracted event cleaning vendor will be responsible for maintaining cleaning to the highest standards of care.

The cleaning of the event offices will require coordination between the event cleaning vendor and the Event Organizer.

During an event, the Convention Center will provide an attendant for each restroom to ensure the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting occurs. Attendants will also serve as visible reminders of our commitment to the health and safety of every individual. The Convention Center will post signage to deliver friendly reminders about the importance of handwashing in each restroom.

Currently, the Convention Center has 100 sanitation stations located in front of house. The sanitation stations are in “High-Risk Areas.” The following areas include but are not limited to:

⦁ Top and bottom of each escalator bank

⦁ Outside each elevator

⦁ Food and Beverage areas

⦁ Near Charging Stations

⦁ Near Vending Machines

The Convention Center has a limited inventory of hand sanitation stations available for rent.

The Convention Center continues to work with New Orleans Emergency Medical Services (NOEMS) during every event. The Event Manager will coordinate with the Event Organizer to explain sanitation protocols for the NOEMS. The medical offices are equipped with necessary supplies to facilitate hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette (i.e., coughing, or sneezing infection prevention) and bio-hazard disposal.

Should a guest present a fever or other concerning symptoms, NOEMS will provide the patient with a face covering, the patient will be isolated and will be referred to a healthcare facility or provider for evaluation. The Event Manager will update the Event Organizer on all incidents. 

The Convention Center is working to ensure as much information as possible is available virtually (i.e., photos, floor plans, etc.) and has invested in technology to conduct a virtual meeting when needed; however, we invite and welcome Event Organizers to conduct an in-person Site Visit or Planning Meeting as needed.

Should a Site Visit or Planning Meeting occur, the following steps will be required fourteen (14) days before arrival:

• Event Organizer will provide names, organization, email addresses and an agenda or outline of their expectations for all participants to your Sales Manager and/or Event Manager.
• If the Event Organizer would like to see specific parts of the building, a list of these areas will also be required.
• The Event Organizer will coordinate with the Sales Manager and/or Event Manager to encourage that social distancing guidelines are met, if applicable.
• If any food and beverage service will be needed, the Sales Manager and/or Event Manager will coordinate with Sodexo Live, as necessary. Based on current guidelines from the City of New Orleans, proof of at least one dose of an approved vaccine or a recent negative COVID PCR or antigen test will be required for food functions associated with the Site Visit or Planning Meeting.

Upon arrival at the Convention Center, Site Visit or Planning Meeting participants can expect the following actions to take place:

• All individuals entering the Convention Center are required to wear a face covering.  Should an individual not have one, the Convention Center will provide a face covering.
  

• Some inhouse events may require all individuals entering their contracted space to provide proof of at least one dose of an approved vaccine or a recent negative COVID PCR or antigen test. Any Site Visit or Planning Meeting attendee should be prepared to meet these requirements, if necessary.
• All individuals are required to wear their company badge; however, if an individual does not have one, a self-adhesive badge will be provided.
• Seating or eating for any meetings will be encouraged to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

As of March 21, 2022, New Orleans has lifted its mandate requiring proof of vaccine or negative COVID test to enter certain businesses. As of March 3, 2022, the City of New Orleans is no longer under an indoor mask mandate. Mask requirements will continue where federally mandated, such as on public transportation and in healthcare facilities.

Entrance policies such as vaccine checks or mask requirements will be issued on a show-by-show basis. Before visiting the Convention Center, please check with the event you are attending to know their entrance requirements.

We encourage each Event Organizer to contact their Event Manager and Sales Manager to determine if any restrictions are applicable to their specific event. Each Event Organizer is responsible for ensuring their event adheres to any local, state, or federal requirements.

As of March 3, 2022, the City of New Orleans is no longer under an indoor mask mandate.

Currently, no social distancing is required. Should requirements be reinstated, the Event Organizer will be responsible for adhering to the City of New Orleans, State of Louisiana, and CDC guidelines. More information can be found here: https://ready.nola.gov/incident/coronavirus/safe-reopening

We encourage each Event Organizer to create signage and announcements promoting their attendees’ adherence to social distancing requirements, if applicable. The Event Organizer will be responsible for producing and displaying all event specific safety and social distancing signage.

As of March 21, 2022, New Orleans has lifted its mandate requiring proof of vaccine or negative COVID test to enter certain businesses. Mask requirements will continue where federally mandated, such as on public transportation and in healthcare facilities.

We encourage each Event Organizer to contact their Event Manager and Sales Manager to determine if the restriction is applicable to their specific event. Each Event Organizer is responsible for ensuring their event adheres to any local, state, or federal requirements.

Yes, the Event Organizer can choose to require proof of vaccination to enter their contracted space for all attendees. The Event Organizer will be responsible for developing an actionable plan to check for and verify vaccination status, in conjunction with their Event manager. Any expenses related to this process will be incurred solely by the Event Organizer. The Convention Center staff will comply with this restriction if it is requested by the Event Organizer. As of 11/4/2021, the Convention Center staff is over 91% vaccinated.

Currently, there are no social distancing requirements in place; however, social distancing is recommended per CDC guidelines. If additional space is requested to provide social distancing, the Event Organizer will need to contact their Sales Manager. The Convention Center sales team will work with you closely to accommodate your additional space requests.

Currently, no social distancing is required.  Should requirements be reinstated, the Event Organizer will be responsible for adhering to the City of New Orleans, State of Louisiana, and CDC guidelines.  More information can be found here:   https://ready.nola.gov/incident/coronavirus/safe-reopening

We encourage each Event Organizer to create signage and announcements promoting their attendees’ adherence to social distancing requirements, if applicable.  The Event Organizer will be responsible for producing and displaying all event safety and social distancing signage.

The Convention Center has posted signage and will place attendants to deliver friendly reminders about the importance of handwashing in each restroom.

Escalator railings are considered “High-Risk Areas.” Once an event begins occupancy of the Convention Center, we will manually sanitize a minimum of once an hour.

During an event, the elevator button panels are considered “High-Risk Areas” and will be sanitized a minimum of once an hour. The Convention Center has installed a NanoSeptic self-cleaning removable adhesive to elevator buttons. These nanocrystals harness the power of visible light to create a powerful self-cleaning oxidation reaction that continuously breaks down all organic contaminants by using technology rather than toxins, using no chemicals, heavy metals, or diluted poisons.

Our previous policies for the use of magnetometers and handheld wands process will remain. Additionally, Security staff are required to wear a face covering. As always, individuals will be denied entry if security is unable to identify a metal object through the use of magnetometers or handheld wands.

For your safety and protection, the Convention Center will provide transparent plastic barriers and hand-sanitizing supplies at our customer service counters.

The Convention Center does not have “contactless” credit card machines; however, we will sanitize the machine after each transaction. We have created service options that limit personal interaction. These options include:

⦁ Self-service kiosk to create new orders or to view existing orders.

⦁ A new QR code feature allows an exhibitor to ask for assistance.

Signage will be posted to share safety guidelines and newly available service options. “High-Risk Areas,” including counters, door handles, and waiting areas are cleaned and sanitized hourly throughout the business day and after each transaction.

Currently, no social distancing is required. Should requirements be reinstated, the Event Organizer will be responsible for adhering to the City of New Orleans, State of Louisiana, and CDC guidelines. More information can be found here: https://ready.nola.gov/incident/coronavirus/safe-reopening

We encourage each Event Organizer to create signage and announcements promoting their attendees’ adherence to their event-specific face coverings, social distancing and/or vaccination requirements, if applicable.

We encourage Event Organizers to design their floor plans to enforce a controlled ingress and egress, and institute other features to prevent crowding. Other suggestions include:

⦁ Creating extra wide aisles, “one-way” aisles, and separate entrances and/or exits where possible.

⦁ Provide no-touch hand sanitizing stations on the exhibit floor.

⦁ Plan a no-touch ingress and egress process for the exhibit floor.

⦁ Promote advance appointments with popular exhibitors (i.e., reverse tradeshow model).

⦁ Replace 3’ high drape with 8’ high drape.

⦁ Stagger admission for exhibit hall hours and/or mealtimes.

⦁ Add floor graphics to encourage proper social distancing.

⦁ Utilize the event security contractor to monitor exhibit floor attendees’ and exhibitors’ adherence to suggested or recommended social distancing guidelines on the exhibit floor.

The Convention Center will continue to prepare and ensure the contracted space is clean to the highest standards of care using only EPA-N list of cleaners and disinfectants prior to releasing space to the Event Organizer and General Service Contractor. During move-in and event hours, the Event Organizer and General Service Contractor will be responsible for maintaining an exhibit hall (i.e., exhibitor booths, carpeting, etc.) that meets the highest standards of care. During move-out, the Event Organizer and General Service Contractor will continue to be responsible for removing all their equipment, trash and leaving the floor completely clear of debris. After the hall is released by the Event Organizer, the Convention Center will sanitize the floor, door handles, and up to six-feet high on all columns and walls using only EPA-N list of cleaners and disinfectants.

⦁ A detailed freight arrival and departure plan is more important than ever as it will be used to ensure entry requirements and upgraded cleaning protocols are met.

⦁ Sharing of equipment must be limited and it should be sanitized after each use. No more than two (2) people will be allowed on any cart.

⦁ The Event Organizer is responsible for posting signs during their event to communicate basic requirements that may be new and different to their attendees.

Event vendors are encouraged to stagger labor check-in times in a designated and controlled area. The event vendor will be responsible for developing a robust cleaning and disinfection plan for all equipment and staff handling of equipment. Please visit the City of New Orleans guidelines for any additional requirement at: https://ready.nola.gov/incident/coronavirus/safe-reopening

The Convention Center will support the Event Organizer during the planning process to review and provide feedback on attendee, exhibitor, and event vendor communications, “what to know before you go” materials, as well as onsite signage and messaging. Event Organizers will be responsible for creating and placing any event-specific safety signage.

Sodexo Live mandates that all staff have a food handler’s card and that all supervisors are ServSafe certified. Combating foodborne illnesses and bacteria is part of our normal daily procedures and we have added additional precautions to help ensure guest safety.

Yes. Water fountains, bottle fillers and bubblers are available for use; however, our facility has added cleaning measures to ensure they are sanitized on a regular basis throughout the day.  The Convention Center water bottle fillers operate with a “no-touch” electronic eye; therefore, these amenities remain operational.  Sodexo Live bubblers will continue to be available for rent.

When developing the room sets, the Event Organizer will be responsible for adhering to the CDC, City of New Orleans and State of Louisiana safe reopening guidelines to determine what set up is best for their event.  More information can be found here:  https://ready.nola.gov/incident/coronavirus/safe-reopening.  Buffet style meal service will be affected depending on the area in which it is served, as follows: 

In Event Offices
⦁ Sodexo Live will provide a hand sanitizer station at the start of each buffet line.

⦁ Sodexo Live will continue to service all tables with linens and changed daily unless requested by the Event Organizer to use vinyl or paper instead of linens.

⦁ Food service will continue to be served with china or disposable ware as agreed upon.

In Meeting Rooms

⦁ Sodexo Live will provide a hand sanitizer station at the start of each buffet line.

⦁ Sodexo Live will continue to service all tables with linens and changed daily unless requested by the Event Organizer to use vinyl or paper instead of linens.

⦁ Should there be a turnover of guests at each table, Sodexo Live will provide an option to place multiple linens on the table and remove as needed.

⦁ Food service will continue to have to have the ability to be served with china. All guests are encouraged to place their used china and flatware on the serving trays provided.

In Exhibit Halls
⦁ At the start of each buffet line, Sodexo Live will post important safety messages, such as: For your safety and protection, please allow us to serve you.”

⦁ All staff will follow food safety and ServSafe guidelines.

⦁ All services will be provided at responsible distances or will be behind sneeze guards.

⦁ Tables will be serviced with vinyl, whenever possible.

⦁ All meal functions in the exhibit hall will be served with disposable flatware and plates.

⦁ Food and beverage events that require guests to frequent the same table will require an additional server to be present. As the guest exits the table, the server will sanitize the area. Guests will be encouraged to remove and discard their own trash.

⦁ Sodexo Live is prepared to work with each customer to meet their social distancing expectations.

⦁ Servers are always required to wear face coverings and will keep personal interaction to a minimum.

⦁ The servers are also required to wash their hands periodically or if they encounter any other triggers that mandate sanitizing.

• All staff will follow food safety and ServSafe guidelines and provide services at responsible distances or will be behind sneeze guards.
• Servers will keep personal interaction to a minimum.
• Food and beverage events that require guests to frequent the same tables will require an additional server to be present. As the guest exits the table, the guests will be encouraged to remove and discard their own trash.
• The Sodexo Live staff is prepared to work with each customer to meet their social distancing expectations.
• It is the responsibility of the Event Organizer to establish and seating guidelines that include options for families or groups larger than 10.
• Sodexo Live will continue to service all tables with linens unless requested by the Event Organizer to use vinyl or paper instead of linens.

• The Convention Center will provide a server for each coffee break.

• All staff will follow food safety and ServSafe guidelines.

• All services will be provided at responsible distances or will be behind sneeze guards.

• The Event Organizer will coordinate with Sodexo Live the placement of self-serve condiments (i.e., cream and sugar) to adhere social distancing guidelines.

⦁ Sodexo Live will continue to work with each event to schedule the appropriate food and beverage retail service.

⦁ Sodexo Live offers pre-packaged items or single hand-off items. All food will continue to be prepared in accordance with ServSafe guidelines.

⦁ All staff will follow food safety and ServSafe guidelines.

⦁ All services will be provided at responsible distances or will be behind sneeze guards.

⦁ The Convention Center will have hand sanitizing stations available for guests at the start of each queue.

⦁ The current POS systems will take the “contactless” cards like Google pay or Apple pay. The cashiers will be required to wear gloves for handling guests’ cards.

⦁ Seating in concession areas will be redesigned to comply with Department of Health and CDC guidelines for the specific reopening phase.

Vending machines will remain operational and will be sanitized at regular intervals. In addition, hand sanitizer stations will be available near each vending machine location.

⦁ All carbonated beverages, as well as iced tea and other drinks, will be sold in the package form until the phase of recovery permits the use of this type of equipment. All self-serve fountain drink and ice machines are not operational.

Food items can be dispensed by an exhibitor who has valid food insurance coverage only if they have signed an agreement with or received written permission from Sodexo Live. The agreement states they will abide by Title 51 of the State Health Code (which are the standards for restaurant and bar operations). Depending on the specific item being distributed, the exhibitor may consider the use of a handwashing sink or hand sanitizer within their booth.

⦁ Sodexo live will continue to provide and manage all coat and bag check requests.

⦁ During an event, the coat and bag check location is considered a “High Risk Area;” therefore, Sodexo Live will periodically sanitize the tables throughout the business day.

For your safety and protection, “high risk areas,” including counters, door handles, and customer waiting areas are cleaned and sanitized hourly throughout the business day and after each transaction.  In addition, the UPS Business Center has installed transparent plastic barriers at our customer service counters and self-serve computer internet stations.  The UPS Business Center Associates will sanitize the self-serve internet workstations after each use.  Hand sanitizer will be provided at each workstation.  

The UPS Business Center has posted safety messaging throughout the store and provide contactless ways to request package drop off/pick up.  For contactless drop off, customers will affix their shipping label to the package and place in the drop off box outside.

All carts and dollies used to move package will be sanitized after each use.

For your safety and protection, the Box Office has transparent plastic barriers and hand sanitizing supplies at our customer service counters.  “High Risk Areas,” including counters, door handles, and waiting areas are cleaned and sanitized hourly throughout the business day and after each transaction.

The Box Office does not have “contact-less” credit card machines; however, Convention Center employees will sanitize the machine after each transaction..