Argentinian nightlife venues to implement Ask for Angela protocol against sexual assault Announcement made public amid Argentinian nightlife joins the International Nightlife Association The International Nightlife Association has been guiding on safety and sexual assault since 2017

(BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA) February 2, 2023 It's a pleasure for the International Nightlife Association (INA) to announce the entry of the Argentinian Nightlife Federation (Federación de Entidades de Discotecas de la República de Argentina FEDRA) into the INA. The incorporation of the Federation also comes with the implementation of the Ask for Angela protocol in nightlife venues in Argentina adhering to FEDRA and implementing safety and quality nightlife seals. This announcement was made by the President of the FEDRA Rodolfo Roque Di Pinto who stated, “The nightlife companies that are a part of our national federation will be able to implement international safety and quality distinctions and be directly linked to the INA. We consider becoming a member of the INA a great opportunity and allows for our venues to exchange experiences and share formulas that allow addressing the problems of the sector and stimulate its prioritization through networking on; the professionalization of tourist leisure, business responsibilities in the face of legal obligations, tariffs and copyrights and artists, innovation and new trends.” The International Nightlife Association has been around for over 10 years and has been excelling and giving prestige to the industry by launching safety and quality seals like the Triple Excellence in Nightlife including safety, acoustic, and service seals since 2015. Ask for Angela was born in the UK in 2016 and was adopted by the INA in 2017 Ask for Angela is a campaign that originated in 2016 in Lincolnshire (England) used by nightlife venues to keep people safe from sexual assault by using a codeword to identify when they are in danger or are in an uncomfortable situation. The "Ask Angela" campaign is named in remembrance of Angela Crompton, a woman who was abused and killed in 2012, and also inspired by the meaning of the name which is "messenger of God" or “angel” (guardian or protector). In 2017, the International Nightlife Association decided to adopt the campaign and included it as one of the current requirements to achieve the International Nightlife Safety Checked seal. The protocol has been evolved since then by the International Nightlife Association introducing all kinds of sexual harassment and assault prevention measures to fight drink spiking and injection spiking among other threats. Additionally, the venues’ demands to implement such protocols are increasing more and more daily. José Luis Benitez, President of the International Nightlife Associaton and spokesperson for the Ibiza Nightlife Association (Ocio de Ibiza) said, “We have been working very hard these last years and we are very proud of it. More clubs and countries are increasingly interested in implementing this protocol. In Ibiza, we train an average of 300 nightlife workers every year and also introduce all kinds of new material. All members of staff are fundamental to fighting this threat, and our sector is very committed to eradicating it from our spaces.” Ask for Angela has since expanded to many different countries such as Spain, Colombia, Belgium, Australia, South Africa, the USA, and now also Argentina Nightclubs in Argentina will implement safety and quality seals FEDRA has also expressed its total adherence to INA’s hallmarks and safety and quality protocols; in particular, the International Nightlife Safety Checked (INSC) seal which includes the Ask for Angela protocol but also the main existing distinction of quality and excellence in the nightlife sector, the Triple Excellence in Nightlife, which will be at the disposal of the Argentinian clubs who want to implement it. FEDRA was established in 1995 with the main goal of putting Argentina’s nightlife industry's ideas in common and joining forces to fight for their rights and make their voices heard. Camilo Ospina Guzmán, Vice President of the International Nightlife Association for LATAM and President of the Colombian Nightlife Association (Asobares) has celebrated the adherence of FEDRA to the International Nightlife Association and its safety and quality protocols stating that "We are proud to have the FEDRA among us, since the bigger we are and the more countries we have a presence in LATAM and the rest of the world, the stronger our industry will be. We introduced the Ask for Angela campaign in Colombia a few years ago through the INA and believe that the more countries that adhere to it, the more unified and worldwide the code will be recognized and applied.”

Spain Nightlife asks for private prosecution in Dani Alves case

Nightlife sector decides not to remain impassive after this serious event while respecting the defendant’s presumption of innocence

The international nightlife industry wants to express its rejection towards these actions

 

(BARCELONA, SPAIN) January 25, 2023

The Association Spain Nightlife, adhered to the International Nightlife Association (INA), has presented a judicial document before the court that is investigating the case of the alleged rape perpetrated by international football player Dani Alves, to become a private prosecutor in the case. The petition is currently awaiting the response of the district attorney and the defense for the judge to accept Spain Nightlife in the case. The INA is also studying to become a private prosecutor due to the worldwide media impact this case is having. Nightlife business owners feel legitimized by this given the serious damage that is being caused to the image of the sector as well as to show their absolute rejection of this type of conduct.

Joaquim Boadas, Secretary General of Spain Nightlife and the International Nightlife Association has stated that "The private prosecution is carried out with the utmost respect for the defendant’s fundamental right of presumption of innocence, which does not take away from the fact that we condemn these behaviors and stand in solidarity with the victim and that we want the incident to be clarified as soon as possible, which is why we intend to be part in the criminal case.”

The legal representative of both organizations has stated that "The nightlife industry cannot remain indifferent before such serious actions, especially when it is fighting and training employers and workers to avoid cases of sexual violence so that behaviors like these never happen in nightlife premises.” In fact, Boadas has continued to explain "Fortunately these events are very rare in nightlife venues" and has defended that "nightlife venues are safe spaces, especially when the vast majority of them incorporate special measures and protocols to avoid cases of sexual assault and harassment and we will continue fighting until we can completely eradicate them."

International safety and quality distinctions to prevent cases of sexual assault

The International Nightlife Association and its member associations such as Spain Nightlife have been implementing international safety and quality seals since 2017 that incorporate special measures to avoid, among others, sexual misconduct in member venues. Thus, the highest international nightlife distinction that currently exists is the Triple Excellence in Nightlife. Said distinction promoted by the International Nightlife Association, incorporates a series of measures and a protocol to prevent sexual assault from occurring in nightlife venues, and not only inside but also outside. The protocol is called "Ask For Angela", and is accompanied by training for its proper use that is given to all venue staff. Ask for Angela is the name of a campaign that was created in England by the Lincolnshire County Council that started in 2016 that is used by bars and other venues to keep people safe from sexual assault by using a codeword to identify when they are in danger or are in an uncomfortable situation and has since been spread worldwide.

The seal also requires that the venue have drink covers available to its customers to avoid drink spiking, the obligation to have security cameras, and metal detectors, among other measures to protect clients’ and workers’ health and well-being.

These distinctions have awoken the interest of international student agencies and have been praised by consulates and other governmental and non-governmental organizations, given the protection and security they provide to young clubbers.

In this regard, precisely Sutton Barcelona, where the events under investigation occurred, is in the process of implementing the Triple Excellence in Nightlife, "Denoting and confirming their firm commitment to the fight against cases of sexual violence", as explained by Joaquim Boadas.

Sutton Barcelona and its impeccable and exemplary response

On the other hand, we want to highlight that Sutton Barcelona and its employees, acted impeccably and exemplarily on the night of the unfortunate event. Sutton’s employees and management cared for the victim from the outset and notified the police and emergency services while reporting the incident.

Thus, the nightclub, in addition to being in the process of implementing international measures and protocols to fight against these cases, has also implemented the protocol to prevent, detect and tend to sexual assaults at concerts and nightlife spaces, promoted by Barcelona City Hall and which bears the name "No Callem" (We won’t keep quiet) based on which they acted impeccably, as pointed out by the General Secretary Joaquim Boadas.

Hï Ibiza, The World’s Best Club 2022

TAO Group, proclaimed Best Nightlife Business Group and the Italian Nightlife Association (SILB) receives the award for Best Collaborative Project in Defense of Nightlife

The Golden Moon Awards Gala also awarded other venues from Colombia, Spain, and Chile and concluded with the performance of DJ Roger Sanchez putting the final touch to the International Nightlife Congress

Roger Sanchez speaker and DJ at the biggest worldwide nightlife event of the year

The congress and gala will conclude with the release of The World’s 100 Best Clubs 2022 list

 

The world-renowned international DJ Roger Sanchez will be a speaker at the 8th International Nightlife Congress to be held this upcoming November 30 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Tenerife, Spain. Sanchez will also be Djing during the 7th Golden Moon Awards where the highly anticipated list of The World's 100 Best Clubs 2022 will be announced once more. As you already know, 260 clubs from 44 different countries have been nominated to enter this year’s list.

 

Besides releasing the list of The World's 100 Best Clubs 2022 and the Golden Moon Award for The World’s Best Club 2022, at the same award ceremony the Golden Moon Award 2022 for Best Nightlife Innovative Project, Best Collaborative Project in Defense of Nightlife, Best Act of Excellence and Protection of Clients’ and Workers’ Safety, Best Residency, Most Sustainable Venue, and Best Nightlife Business Group will be given.

 

Previous to the Golden Moon Awards, for the sixth consecutive edition, the 8th International Nightlife Congress will take place. Both events will be held together with the Spanish Nightlife Congress, Spain’s most important nightlife event. The Congress will start by discussing the "Safety and Quality the Foundation for Nightlife" followed by the panel "Kick-Starting Nightlife Worldwide After a Pandemic", and “Innovation and New Technologies in Nightlife”.

 

The round table discussion "Kick-Starting Nightlife Worldwide After a Pandemic" will have the participation of international DJ Roger Sanchez.

Last days left to vote for The World’s 100 Best Clubs 2022 list

The list will be made public on November 30th

 

We are pleased to remind you that there are only 10 days left to vote for your favorite venue for The World’s 100 Best Clubs 2022 since the voting period will close on November 1, 2022. Don’t miss out and give your favorite venue the opportunity of making a position on the list. The voting platform opened on September 1 and has already received over 250,000 votes.

 

The list to be made public on November 30th at the 7th Golden Moon Awards

As you may know, the International Nightlife Association (INA) is making a comeback with the 8th International Nightlife Congress and 7th Golden Moon Awards Gala in Tenerife, Spain. The event will gather nightlife representatives, staff, officials, and sponsors from around the world, creating a forum to assess the sector’s recovery and challenges to make the nightlife industry stronger than ever before. The chosen venue for said events is the Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife.

As a novelty, this 8th edition of the International Nightlife Congress will be held together with the 3rd Spanish Nightlife Congress and the 2nd Canary Leisure Congress, all organized by the International Nightlife Association, Spain Nightlife, and the Business Circle of the South of Tenerife (CEST).

The congresses will feature presentations and round tables in which representatives of public administrations, business associations, those responsible for large companies, SMEs, and the self-employed in the nightlife sector will be able to contribute different perspectives with the main objective of the search for excellence. In addition, it is proposed as a networking space in which economic actors can generate relationships both within the sector and between this and other economic areas.

During the evening of November 30, the INA will host the 7th Golden Moon Awards Gala where among other awards, the list of The World’s 100 Best Clubs 2022 will be released.

According to Mr. Joaquim Boadas, Secretary General of the INA, “We are proud to re-launch our annual event after the hardships endured these past two years due to the pandemic. The nightlife industry as one of the hardest-hit needs the opportunity to come together and become stronger than ever. We would like to appeal to the leading nightlife businesses worldwide to take part in these events and pave the way for the sector’s future.

 

 

(BARCELONA, SPAIN) September 23, 2022

We are pleased to inform you that after 23 days since the voting process began, The World’s 100 Best Clubs 2022 list has already reached 100,000 votes.

As you know, there are a total of 260 clubs nominees from 44 different countries competing for a place on the distinguished list.

The countries leading the list are Spain with 58 and the United States of America with 44 nominations. Other countries with nominated clubs include Italy with 12 nominations, Canada and Colombia with 11 nominations, and the United Kingdom with 10. Together these countries are leading the way in nominations for The World’s Best Club 2022 list. In all, the 260 establishments have been nominated from a diverse list of countries like France, Croatia, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Greece, the UAE, Argentina, Singapore, China, and Japan, among others.

Voting extended to November 1st

The online public voting period began on September 1 and has been extended until November 1, 2022. Anyone can vote for any of the nominated venues through the following link: https://bit.ly /3Ra0emA which will accept only one vote per person.

The list to be made public on November 30th

The list of "The World's 100 Best Clubs 2022" will be released on November 30th at the 8th International Nightlife Congress and 7th Golden Moon Awards Gala to be held at the Hard Rock Hotel in Tenerife, Spain.

How the vote will be determined

As we have already informed you, the public vote will represent 70% of the final tally. The remaining 30% will be determined by a panel of experts who will weigh a host of factors including the 2022 artistic programming of the clubs, complementary security measures, VIP area, availability and online reservation capacity, and quality of service. Other matters to be taken into account will be the activity on social media, national or international awards, distinctions achieved, acoustic quality, soundproofing, and commitment to the UN's sustainable development goals. The professional jury scoring system will be ranked by points awarded to each of the items that will be valued and added to the sum of the public voting.