Securing standards at IET London: Savoy Place

The venue’s accessibility for conferences, lectures, meetings and product launches, spanning four floors with well-ventilated rooms and additional outside space, has allowed flexibility in redetermining new event capacities without compromising the safety of delegates.

Following detailed risk assessments, the venue is using this time of physical closure to train its staff on social distancing competency and hygiene measures, while continuing to operate and take bookings remotely.

Though venue staff will be well-versed in these new procedures, Savoy Place will ensure that fogging disinfection is carried out specifically by specially trained GCC operatives in all high-risk areas of the venue.

Perspex screens are being installed in reception and standard precautions such as sanitising stations and PPE disposal bins will be implemented.

All visitors will have an allocated arrival time to avoid unnecessary queueing or crowding and will be asked to confirm that they are symptom-free for accountability.

IET Venues’ highly competent technology lends Savoy Place to bespoke digital messaging for each event to reiterate important measures displayed on screens around the venue.

These will also exemplify the new rules for a one-way system around the building to remind delegates how to safely travel throughout Savoy Place.

Each room is set up with its own screen and capabilities for video conferencing, so everybody around the venue can tune into one channel at once, or allow for different sessions in each room.

Instructions will be given to all speakers using lapel microphones to minimise the need for contact with the AV team.

To ensure the success of hybrid events, the AV team has been integrating popular online meeting platforms into their own AV system, so online and live audiences can interact simultaneously with presenters and speakers, as well as with each other.

Multi-layer video switchers and digital sound desks allow the management of audio and video coming from different sources and locations and can merge them together in a multilevel communication layout.

Dedicated hybrid event packages offer optional add-ons like Sli.do, which can be embedded into the streaming to encourage interactivity.

Savoy Place is offering the unique services of IET.tv, using its in-house video and webcasting team with its own independent broadcasting channel, offering both live and post-event uploads to the highest standards.

Hybrid events require top-quality AV and video production so that virtual participants are provided a similar experience to in-person participants.

Knowing every inch of the venue like the back of their hand, the experienced team know every angle and hidden trick to ensure the lighting, sound and delivery of video is of unbeaten quality.

On the plans to reopen, Sean Spencer, Head of IET Venues and Facilities said:

“We understand that event planners and delegates will be rightfully cautious when live events begin to pick up again and we’re doing everything we can to absorb the concern through preparing our venues with stringent hygiene and social distancing measures, without losing the magic of a live event at Savoy Place.

We believe it is not about ‘making the best out of a bad situation’, but about enhancing the experience for delegates with sustainable solutions that are easily adaptable according to the latest government advice.

It is the team’s attitude, experience and unparalleled equipment at Savoy Place that will allow this approach to be executed professionally and securely.

We continue to take bookings for Autumn and 2021, are monitoring government guidance closely so that we can open as soon as advised to do so safely and we are communicating closely with planners to answer any questions they are likely to have.”