Why Are We Participating in the Trade Fair Despite the Coronavirus?

The health risks of attending a large social gathering such as Paris Retail Week is not lost on us. It’s important for our team that you feel safe when you step inside the trade show doors.

Scheduled for Tuesday, 15 September to Thursday, 17 September 2020, the trade show will be hosting 40,000 attendees and 800 exhibitors. The biggest event of its kind in France, you’ll get the chance to encounter good business opportunities, attend content-rich conferences, and celebrate the innovative solutions and products that keep the industry thriving.

Now, more than ever, retailers are looking for ways to address the newfound challenges brought about by the coronavirus and subsequent lifestyle changes we’ve had to make to control the spread. Retail businesses with onsite operations have been among the hardest hit by lockdown measures. At this point in time, businesses are looking to technology and all kinds of innovative ideas for a way through. 

Paris Retail Week is the place to go for exactly that.

Restrictions and requirements in Metropolitan France allow gatherings, all of which are subject to specific health precautions. Strict health rules apply for events, such as this one held in the Paris expo Porte de Versailles, Europe’s largest exhibition complex, with an upper limit of 5,000 people per venue.*

According to the event organizers, the following measures are to be followed:

I. Barrier Measures

1. Masks will be required for everyone at the show
2. Plexiglass barriers will be installed at certain points of contact between participants and show staff
3. Contactless payment will be available for onsite services
4. Badges and tickets will be digitally scanned

II. Hygiene

1. Hand sanitization will be required at the entrance
2. Hand sanitizer will be available

III. Cleaning 

1. All surfaces come into contact with hands will be thoroughly cleaned
2. High traffic surfaces will be thoroughly cleaned
3. Additional cleaning of lavatories
4. Waste collection frequency increased, and dedicated bins provided

IV.  Physical distance

1. Entrance and exit flows will be separated with dedicated signage
2. Distance measures implemented, via furniture placements, in conferences sessions, VIP areas, and press rooms

These measures are in place as of 10 June 2020.

With regards to travel restrictions, the following rules apply:

1. Travel to France from other EU and Schengen countries is currently allowed. Entry restrictions have also been lifted for low-risk countries. The list of countries permitted entry will be reviewed regularly based on the prevalence of COVID-19 in listed countries, and could change at short notice.
2. If you’re traveling to France from a country with a high COVID-19 risk, you’ll be subject to mandatory COVID-19 testing upon arrival at the airport. You may be denied entry. For more information see the Schengen visa information website here. You may also check with local authorities and your airline for the latest information. 
3. Upon arrival in France, a voluntary 14-day quarantine period will apply for travelers arriving from outside the EU-Schengen area and the UK. Some exemptions exist. See the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs here for more details. Information on entry restrictions is available from Re-open EU.
4. If you’re arriving or transiting France from outside the wider European Area, you must carry an international government certificate. If you’re traveling from a country that requires an international travel certificate, you’ll need to provide a negative Covid-19 PCR test conducted within less than 72 hours before departure or you’ll need to undertake an RT-PCR test on arrival.
5. There is no restriction, at this stage, on foreigners leaving France. There are commercial flights available.

Be rest assured that our team has done one safety check after another to ensure that during the trade show, we exchange nothing but business cards and ideas.