Events return after restrictions lifted
MONTEREY >> The Monterey Conference Center is back to hosting conferences since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted this week, with its first being the annual meeting and trade show of the Western Agricultural Processors Association.
“After over a year of meeting virtually, many of our customers are ready for the excitement and networking that come with in-person events,” said Conference Center Manager Doug Phillips in a press release. “At the same time, we spent the past year developing hybrid capabilities for our facility.”
The Western Agricultural Processors Association represents tree nut hullers and processors, and provides representation on legislative and regulatory issues for the industry, including food safety, water and air quality, transportation, labor and more.
“The full reopening of California is allowing Monterey to welcome groups back to our Conference Center,” said City Manager Hans Uslar in the release. “We are excited that the facility can once again be
a vibrant hub of activity in our downtown.”
The facility will continue to have strict sanitizing protocols in place and the event will follow all guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local health departments.
In January 2021, the Monterey Conference Center earned accreditation as a Global Biorisk Advisory Council STAR facility.
The distinction is the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation for facilities, awarded to facilities with proper cleaning protocols and disinfection techniques, among other standards.
“The Monterey Conference Center is one of the main economic engines in our community, bringing business professionals to stay, dine and shop in our downtown and the waterfront,” said Uslar. “We will stay competitive by offering hybrid solutions, a safe inperson conference experience and our surrounding natural beauty.”
While the COVID-19 pandemic restricted mass indoor gatherings, the Monterey Conference Center established hybrid and digital meeting packages, hosted vaccine clinics and served as a wildfire evacuation center. Earlier this month, the facility hosted its first successful hybrid event with a meeting of the Monterey Bay Defense Alliance, which welcomed guests in government, business and military both in-person and online. Rep. Jimmy Panetta was the keynote speaker in an event that discussed the contributions of military installations to the Monterey County economy.
For more information about the Monterey Conference Center, visit montereyconferencecenter.com.