Displaying items by tag: covid
Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza to host 1,500 people and have an enclosed dance area at pilot event
The Balearic Government and the Asociación Ocio de Ibiza (AOI), adhered to the International Nightlife Association have agreed on the conditions to hold a pilot event at Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza. The event on 25 June will be the hotel’s renowned Children of the 80's party and is part of a test to stimulate the leisure and entertainment sector on the island.
The conditions require a maximum capacity of 2,000 people, although to ensure the smooth running of the event, it has been decided to reduce the capacity to 1,500 and the wearing of masks will be compulsory at all times. The venue will have an enclosed dance area for 500 people and drinks must always be consumed at a table. The event will start at 7 p.m. and end at midnight.
In gratitude for their work in the hardest phase of the pandemic, Ocio de Ibiza – the association that represents Ibiza’s main nightclubs, beach clubs, and party brands - will invite the island’s frontline workers from various industries to attend the event. The invitation will be nominal, personal and, non-transferable.
"They deserve it. It's for them. We owe them a lot," stresses the Manager of the Ibiza Leisure Association and President of the International Nightlife Association, José Luis Benítez, who adds that entry to the event will be totally free.
“There is huge interest in this event and so the capacity will be completely fulfilled by the island’s essential workers. We’re sure that the public will understand. We have sent invitations to the majority of workplaces, such as the hospital and members of State Security Forces and Corps, among others. If there are places available, we will launch a website where more essential workers from other companies can sign up for. We know that there have been many groups that have been on the front line during the pandemic. I can only say to the general public that Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza will hold more events when they are authorized this season", explains Benítez.
Operational and hygiene measures for the event
When registering to attend the event, all attendees must include their personal details and state whether they have been vaccinated (with one or two doses), or have recovered from coronavirus. They will also be required to have a negative PCR test performed 72 hours before the event. Those who do not meet any of these three requirements must undergo an antigen test hours before the start of the event at a designated location in the vicinity of the venue. A team from Emergency Staff, a company specializing in health and safety in recreational environments, will carry out the tests. Once the registration has been formalized, a ticket with a QR code will be generated which will be used to access the event.
Access to the site will be staggered to avoid crowding. The entrance ticket will indicate the time they can access the event. Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza will have sufficient security personnel to ensure compliance with security protocols and, at the same time, to avoid large groups forming.
Although the risk of contagion is lower in open spaces, all hygiene measures agreed with the Balearic Government will be implemented, such as temperature checks, the installation of hydroalcoholic gel dispensers, as well as the obligation to wear a mask that can only be removed for drinking. In this sense, a specific area will be set up so that the public can buy drinks at the bar without crowding and access a designated area with tables where they can drink.
A dance area will also be set up with a capacity for 500 people, and with different access and exit points where drinking will not be allowed. This area will also be directly controlled by security guards. Masks will be available at the bar for customers who request them, and the toilets will be continuously cleaned. Likewise, the collaboration of law enforcement has been requested to avoid crowds both at the beginning and at the end of the event outside the venue.
"The test event aims to show that leisure activity and events can resume with the application of preventive measures. It is a priority to demonstrate that a regulated events venue offers more health and safety guarantees than illegal parties without any measures in place. We must prepare for the return of events in order to stop uncontrolled and unregulated leisure activity", says the Manager of the Ibiza Leisure Association.
Similarly, Joaquim Boadas, Secretary General of the International Nightlife Association and Spain Nightlife has stated, “The different pilot events that have been carried out these past months such as the one in Sala Apolo Barcelona, Liverpool, and Amsterdam, have proven that nightlife and the prevention of the spread of viruses can coexist with the proper measures in place. It’s about time that we start reopening an industry that has been closed or highly restricted for the past year, even with the economic shortfall the industry is facing, business owners and worker’s are determined to chip in for reopening to run as smoothly and as a safe as possible”.
Iván Brión, Global Operations Director of Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza, equally hails the pilot as a first step towards the reopening of the sector. "We are very happy to be able to be a part of this test promoted by the Balearic Government and Ocio de Ibiza. We are confident that this trial will serve to reactivate the island's leisure sector. We have made a great effort to have everything ready for this date so that everyone who attends will have a great experience. This event is a tribute to the essential workers to whom we have a lot to thank and for this reason, we have chosen to celebrate one of the most loved events - Children of the 80's", explains Brión.
Children of the 80's will be the chosen party for this rehearsal
Children of the 80's is the brand that has revolutionized the music scene in Ibiza and Tenerife with its events full of nostalgia, retro fashion, old school music, and live performances by artists who are a symbol of the 80s era.
Since its birth in Ibiza in 2015 by The Night League, the event’s popularity has grown very quickly over the years and is now established as one of the best-known events on the island. Children of the 80’s offers an alternative musical experience that appeals to a range of audiences, thus uniting different generations in front of one stage. The daytime event goes on until midnight and is open-air, which are further characteristics that have made it so special and different.
Names such as Village People, Boney M, Ultra Naté, GALA, Samantha Fox, Sabrina Salerno, Sugar Hill Gang, Barbara Tucker, VengaBoys, Alice DJ, to name but a few artists, have already played on the stages of Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza and Tenerife in recent years. The headline artists are always accompanied by an army of dancers and performers that keep the audience entertained with every track played at each Children of the 80's event.
Quique Tejada, Toni Peret, and José María Castells, members of the DJ trio Dream Team Reload, as well as Petit & Vázquez, creators of the popular party La Movida Ibiza, and saxophonist Lugotti, will be in charge of revving up the audience with uplifting tracks. The special guest artist is a surprise and will be revealed in the days in the lead-up to the event.INA defends nightlife venues as safe spaces
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The INA defends nightlife venues as safe spaces Ibiza drives a pilot test in June to push reopening this summer |
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BARCELONA, SPAIN 05/27/2021 These past months have paved the way for numerous successful pilot tests conducted in nightlife spaces with prior covid testing. Recently, the UK government has shared the positive data of the pilot event that took place in Liverpool (under the UK’s Event Research Programme) where there was no social distancing or masks enforced. Among the primary findings were that when screening and efficient ventilation is introduced, the risk of transmission of covid is greatly reduced. Precisely, among the 60,000 attendees in 9 large-scale events, only 15 tested positive, hence the evidence from the Events Research Programme will be used by the government to shape its policy for the return of crowds to venues including theatres, cinemas, and nightclubs. Some other nightlife events have taken place in cities such as Amsterdam, where 1,300 people attended a music event at the Ziggo Dome designed to examine the risks of reopening venues and plan for the easing of lockdown restrictions. Also in Spain, INA’s Gold Member Venue Sala Apolo Barcelona held a successful pilot event and there was also a successful concert in Palau Sant Jordi Barcelona with 5,000 people and the obligation of previous test, an FFP2 mask but no social distancing this past March. Recently, in Sitges, bars and nightclubs opened up to over 400 volunteers with previous screening and have proven to run smoothly though the results have not been shared yet. It's safe to say that the spike in illegal parties is due to the lack of legal nightlife offer and the need for social interaction between “socially starved” clubbers especially after having to endure the consequences of being in quarantine and having to comply with strict curfews. Restrictions are being reduced worldwide but nightlife is still being highly limited, causing chaos in the streets and disorderly conduct not being able to be contained by law enforcement. Due to this and the numerous pilot tests that have been conducted proving that nightlife activities can run with prior screening, the time to regain nightlife’s new normal is now. Ocio de Ibiza drives a pilot test in June to push reopening Ibiza’s Nightlife Association (Ocio de Ibiza) which is adhered to the INA has asked the Balearic Government to establish a very clear roadmap in the process of reopening of the industry on the island which includes a specific schedule of openings, opening and closing times, and preventive measures to be applied by all day and nightlife establishments. The Association’s statement has expressed to the Government the concern of employers and workers in the industry for the lack of definition of the Administration when establishing a roadmap for the opening of nightlife facilities. The Association put the initiatives that are carried out in other parts of Spain and the world through pilot tests on the table to organize the future reopening of the premises, experiences that for the most part have been organized with the support of local health authorities. In this sense, the Association intends and has the green light to carry out a pilot reopening test to assess how to return to activity safely and having "very clear" the conditions that the premises must meet. Ocio de Ibiza reaffirms their intention and the good relationship and communication they have with the administration, convinced that only by joining forces will it be possible for Ibiza to be a safe, attractive, desired and, sought-after destination. The Association admits that unfortunately, the goal of opening nightclubs in June has faded, but maintains its confidence that all establishments will be able to reopen this summer. To this end, that the Association has proposed that the pilot test - to be held in two different nightclubs yet to be determined - to assess the gradual reopening of the sector could be held between 15 and 30 June. This experiment would be developed in collaboration with health authorities to create a safe environment. Ocio de Ibiza continues to rely on the goal set by the central government and the European Union (EU) to reach the summer with 70% of the Spanish population vaccinated. The arrival of more dose remittances to the islands, coupled with the acceleration of mass vaccination of the population and the maintenance of controls at the airport and ports will be key factors in advancing the elimination of restrictions, according to the island's manager. Ocio de Ibiza insists that employers and workers in the sector need to start planning their immediate future. The INA demands governments to reopen venues with previous screening or vaccination passport The results of the pilot tests that have already been conducted and their highly successful results prove the need for reopening nightlife spaces is essential to face the sanitary crisis head-on. Bringing possible solutions forward would be a better solution than just shutting down venues as a whole and allow for illegal gatherings to take place without nightlife offer around. The nightlife industry can be a solution to the current pandemic since it could be a primary detection source together with the governing authorities and act as a firewall to contain the spread of the virus. Joaquim Boadas, General Secretary of the INA has stated, “Some countries are already working with different nightlife associations and entrepreneurs to find a way to reopen venues, though the starting plan is far from what nightlife venues are wishing for. After being closed or highly limited for more than a year, closing dance floors, not being able to serve alcohol, and limiting closing hours is not a viable option”. |
The future of nightlife: The industry and COVID can coexist
The future of nightlife: The Industry and COVID can coexist
Governments taking interest in reopening nightlife on the riseExactly one year ago, nightlife venues worldwide were forced to close their doors in the wake of the rapid spread of coronavirus. Not only were venues affected but some of the most important music festivals such as Coachella, Ultra Music Festival, Tomorrowland Winter and Snowbombing had also announced its postponement in order to curb the outbreak.
The economic loss that the industry is facing and its consequences directly related to other industries such a tourism have caused great harm and the proper aid that has been solicited to every government has not been fulfilled, leaving many businesses in bankruptcy and with serious economic repercussions, as well as the workers of the industry that for the most part have been left abandoned. The effects of these shutdowns are starting to get the attention of governments since many are suffering one of the biggest crises in the past century, making them more open to start reactivating the economy. It’s safe to say that the nighttime economy generates great economic impact for cities and countries worldwide.
What 2020 has brought us was a perfect lack of knowledge and vulnerability about a virus that has become a pandemic, in the middle of the 21st century. However, these trying times have called for more union than ever and has opened the doors to institutions, organizations, and companies, both private and public to join forces and “seek common ground”.
What’s safe to say is that clubbers have not been able to go out in over a year, making them “socially starved” specially after having to endure the consequences of being in quarantine and having to comply with strict curfews.
SieXsein Technology and the International Nightlife Association
SieXsein Global was born from the international union of a team of experts with a long history in fields such as health, environment, technology and industrial. The main goal and expertise is to generate protected spaces, with an application that yields effectiveness rates up to 99,99% in the control of encapsulated viruses (such as COVID-19). The combination of 4 basic principles in the development team; virus prevention, containment, mitigation, and monitoring, offers a 99,9% success rate to any organization or community that wants to implement the technology.
As the International Nightlife Association we are currently negotiating together with SieXsein Global and governments worldwide for the advancement and reopening of nightlife venues worldwide which is receiving great feedback due to the uniqueness of the system being proposed.
Carmen Alvarez, CEO of SieXsein Global had stated, “We are the only company that has succeeded in combining and offering the latest and most ground-breaking technologies against COVID-19 in a single solution, both in Spain and internationally”.
On the other hand, Joaquim Boadas, Secretary General of the International Nightlife Association has mentioned,”Waiting for the herd immunity is not an option, since most nightlife businesses will be inexsistent by then. That’s why we insist on government collaboration in order to prove that with the proper measures, venues can open in a safe manner”.
Pilot testing, a necessary tool for the future of the industry
The nightlife industry can be a solution to the current pandemic since it could be a primary detection source together with the governing authorities and act as a firewall to contain the spread of the virus. Having COVID testing to access nightlife venues can also get a big portion of the population to get tested when they wouldn’t otherwise. We support any tests being conducted in venues and to find the best solutions to reactivate and industry that has been completely shut for the past year.
The media has been echoing numerous tests that have been conducted already in places such as Amsterdam, where 1,300 people attended a music event at the Ziggo Dome designed to examine the risks of reopening venues and plan for the easing of lockdown restrictions.Also our Gold Member Venue Sala Apolo, in Barcelona and its non-infection of participants in the pilot test conducted this past December.
Furthermore, this week the Catalan government and festival organizers have announced a pilot concert in Barcelona's Palau Sant Jordi for March 27. The attendees will have to take a rapid test and a screening in one of three spaces, either the Sala Apolo, Luz de Gas or Razzmatazz concert halls. Those testing negative will be able to take part in the event with a FFP2 face mask, but no social distancing will be required.
The area will, however, be divided into four spaces each hosting 1,800 people and there will be efforts made to avoid crowding at the entrance and exits. It will host an audience of 5,000 people (standing), with antigen tests for all attendees but no social distancing.
Barcelona nightlife venues pilot technology to put the brakes on COVID-19
Nightlife venues in Barcelona put pilot testing forward with a system to make indoor venues 100% covid free |
The suggested formula is more efficient than vaccination and would allow for reopening activities at 100% capacity even without the need for social distancing or masks |
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BARCELONA, SPAIN 02/24/2021 Due to the uncertain and questionable future that nightlife venues are facing worldwide, the International Nightlife Association (INA) hasn’t stopped fighting in search of the proper solutions to get venues to return to normal operation. For this, the INA has recently reached an agreement with SieXsein Europe, a company specialized in biosafety that has provided the formula that proves that it is perfectly feasible to guarantee indoor spaces 100% free of covid-19 and all its mutations. Thus, in the Spanish region of Catalonia, members of the Catalan Restaurant and Nightlife Association adhered to Spain Nightlife, an association member of the INA have put forward this technology before the governments and the willingness for venues to implement this technology to get nightlife back up and running as soon as possible. Barcelona’s venues and some of the Costa Brava area have come forward and proposed to run pilot tests in numerous indoor venues, to prove that nightlife, under strict health and safety requirements, is safe. The suggested formula is a sign of hope towards the new normal for nightlife and restaurants This unique formula applicable to anywhere around the world would allow for the reopening of restaurant and nightlife activities, even without the need for social distance or wearing a mask. Said formula, which would also contribute to an improvement of public health in general, consists of prior testing with rapid and accurate results, tracing through Big Data technology, management of the results with a personal and non-transferable QR code essential to access the premises through the Liberty Pass APP, accompanied by the installation of devices that eliminate 100% of the covid-19 virus and all its mutations in interior spaces both in air, droplets and all kinds of surfaces in just milliseconds. These devices are certified by ENAC (Spanish National Accreditation Entity) and already work in many countries in Asia and in important health wards such as ICUs. Joaquim Boadas, General Secretary of the INA and Spain Nightlife has stated the following, “Nightlife and restaurant venues can be perfectly adapted to the current crisis and are capable of functioning without putting clients and workers risk at stake. Many venues have been closed for a year now and many are in a critical state and at risk of disappearing permanently, an industry that is so important for tourism around the world and in dire need of reactivating the global economy. For this reason, we ask for governments to sit down with our industry and work on the reopening of the industry and the recovery of tourism and the economy by conducting pilot testing in venues and allowing for the industry to prove it can coexist with the pandemic”. On behalf of Carmen Alvarez, the CEO of SieXsein Europe has said the following, “At SieXsein we have been working since the start of the pandemic to find the formula that is best to reactivate and reopen the industries that have been most hit by the pandemic. I have been very fond of the nightlife and restaurant industry and consider that it has been left completely abandoned during this crisis and it’s a personal mission for me to reach the new normal as soon as possible and reactivate the restaurant and nightlife economy and tourism worldwide. Reaching this agreement with the nightlife industry will allow for the best solutions in biotechnology to be applied all around the world and recuperate the economy and general well being of people”. The INA demands governments conduct more pilot testing in venues The results of the PRIMA-CoV trial conducted in our Gold Member Venue Sala Apolo, in Barcelona and its non-infection of participants prove the need of conducting pilot testing is essential to face the sanitary crisis head-on. By detecting the problems the virus brings and bringing possible solutions forward would be a better solution than just shutting down venues as a whole and allow for illegal gatherings to take place. The nightlife industry can be a solution to the current pandemic since it could be a primary detection source together with the governing authorities and act as a firewall to contain the spread of the virus. Having COVID testing to access nightlife venues can also get a big portion of the population to get tested when they wouldn’t otherwise, the detection of positive COVID results can then be notified to governing officials and issued the proper quarantine (depending on each countries laws). |
The INA warns about the spike in illegal NYE parties
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The INA warns about the worldwide spike in illegal NYE parties due to lack of legal offer |
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The recent pilot test conducted at our Gold Member venue Sala Apolo Barcelona deems that nightlife is safe under specific measures |
While nightlife business owners and clubbers should be getting ready for the most important night of the year, New Year’s Eve, most nightlife venue’s doors are currently shut and unable to operate due to COVID restrictions. The worldwide scarcity in nightlife offer has caused an important spike in illegal parties for New Year’s Eve, with little to no health or safety measures.
Nightlife plays an important role in modern society and is one of the main players in the entertainment industry, allowing for new experiences with art, music, performance, fashion, and food. Nightlife is key to making cities vibrant and full of light at night since there's "always something going on" creating a sense of safety when daylight businesses are closed. In the past decade, due to its increasing demand, nightlife has evolved all around the world creating unique experiences for guests to escape their everyday lives and express themselves. Studies have shown that dancing is a very important part of socializing and has been proven to psychologically make people feel more connected reducing anxiety and stress and obtaining a sense of well-being. This only adds to the fact that clubbers are "starved" and in need of a place to escape the harsh moments that the coronavirus pandemic has caused since March of this year.
Illegal Nightlife offer vs. Legal Nightlife offer
From the International Nightlife Association, we would like to warn governing authorities about the great risk that comes with not having a regulated nightlife offer, inviting people who are socially starved to organize events and gather in spaces with no regulations or health and safety measures at all. These past weeks, the INA has detected events being promoted through private and public social media accounts, private forums, dating apps, privately encrypted messaging apps, event apps, and others. It’s important to remind that Apple recently removed an American app from the App Store that promoted private parties during the pandemic.
The INA has also detected that classified advertisement websites have posts that offer spaces to organize your own party with keywords such as “remote”, “no neighbors”, and “unlimited drinks” which generates a great risk for attendees not only due to the pandemic but for general safety and wellbeing. The events count with a high level of secrecy and confidentiality like revealing the location at last minute, using only encrypted messaging to communicate, secret passwords to know where the event takes place or upon entry, and even placing a sticker on the phone’s camera so the event can’t be recorded.
These illegal parties that have already been taking place since the start of the pandemic, have been charging large amounts of money for tickets, drinks, and the services offered at the party. This is not only causing a greater delay for regulated nightlife venues to reopen but also creating unfair competition for most nightlife venues that have shut down and haven't received any aid from most governing officials. This is also unfair competition for venues that have been allowed to reopen since each government has applied strict measures, measures that have to be fully paid for by nightlife business owners who also have to pay rent, workers, security personnel, insurances, licenses, just to name a few. All of the aforementioned are not paid for or even contemplated in illegal parties also putting the attendees at high risk.
As the Night Time Industries Association’s CEO Michael Kill stated, "Following discussions with many of the legitimate events promoters, industry leaders and general public across the country, as well as concerns levied both by regional police and local authorities on the impact of restrictions on New Year's Eve celebrations, we have estimated that we will see over 5,000 illegal parties across the UK."
"It has also been muted that many of these organizers will target warehouses from lost businesses during the pandemic, and are willing to take these risks and forgive the £10,000 fine within the admission charge to cover their bets.”
Carl Cox Condemns Illegal Raves Amidst Pandemic in Mix Mag Interview
World-renowned DJ Carl Cox, expressed his dismay regarding illegal parties and raves a few days back in an interview with Mix Mag, stating, “It’s irresponsible to be out there at the moment based on how everyone is trying to do the right thing to get past this. Having a party in a pandemic, it doesn’t make any sense whatsoever…If you are really into it, you’ll wait. If you are not into it and you just want to react or act out, it’s going to be the very thing that makes it worse.”
No SARS-CoV-2 infections in a live concert conducted in Barcelona (Spain) brings hope to the industry
While nightlife worldwide is mostly shutdown, Primavera Sound, the Fight AIDS and Infectious Diseases Foundation, and the University Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol in Badalona (Barcelona, Spain) has published the results of the PRIMA-CoV study with the satisfaction of having carried out a rigorous clinical trial that can be very useful and gives hope to many industries when it comes to the future celebration of events in indoor venues since none of the participants in the trial have been infected with the coronavirus.
These are the details of the results of the PRIMA-CoV study:
The PRIMA-CoV study is a randomized 1:1 clinical trial testing the hypothesis that a live concert performed under safe conditions would not be associated with an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections. The study was approved by the ethics committee of the University Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol in Badalona (Barcelona).
The performance took place on December 12TH in our Gold Member Venue Sala Apolo, in Barcelona (Spain). All participants signed informed consent, had 18-59 years, no comorbidities, were not living with elderly household contacts, and had not been diagnosed with COVID during the last 14 days. All of them had a same-day entry screening with a negative SARS-CoV-2 antigen test performed in nasopharyngeal swabs by health-care personnel.
A series of safety measures were implemented inside the venue as well. There was a delimited outdoor place for smoking inside the building with strict control of the number of people in the venue. The bar area (with a capacity of 1600 attendees) was located in a supplementary room and drinks were served only in that area. Alcoholic beverages were allowed. Participants were asked to remove the face mask only when drinking.
A certified N95 cloth mask was given to every participant at the venue entrance. Mask wearing was mandatory during the entire event, but no physical distancing was required in the concert room (with a capacity of 900 people), where singing and dancing was permitted as well.
All airflows and room ventilation were optimized in the two indoor rooms and air exchange was monitored along with the entire event.
The concert included 4 performances: 2 Dj sessions and 2 live music with groups, for 5 hours overall. The average time the participants spent inside the concert was 2 hours and 40 minutes. The flowing movement of all the participants inside the venue was previously defined and marked, clearly delimited, and observed by the security crew during the event. Measures were implemented to avoid queues in toilettes and in the concert entrance and the way out.
All 1047 participants screened before the concert had a negative antigen result. Subjects were randomly assigned 1:1 to go inside the concert (active arm) or not (control group). All of them had to come back after 8 days to repeat a second SARS-CoV-2 rt-PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs to identify possible SARS-CoV-2 infections. 500 subjects was the maximum number allowed by healthcare authorities to be inside the venue. Of them, 463 entered into the concert and 496 remained in the control group with no access to the concert venue and completed the follow-up visit.
INA to host 7th International Nightlife Congress and 6th Golden Moon Awards Virtually from Marina Beach Club in Valencia, Spain
As you all know, the International Nightlife Association annually organizes the International Nightlife Congress and Golden Moon Awards, in order to create a forum to exchange ideas and offer the proper tools to nightlife business owners and collaborators and, at the same time, recognize different players of the industry. Due to the wake of the pandemic, it's no surprise that holding in-person events is very difficult at the moment due to many restrictions on traveling but, despite all, the INA could not give up on the celebration of its yearly events. As a result, this year the INA is going to hold its annual event likewise although virtually. What refers to the 7th edition of the International Nightlife Congress, it will be hosted virtually from Marina Beach Club in Valencia, Spain through a tailored streaming platform, including different live sessions at different times of the day in order to engage panelists from different continents and so that everyone from around the world could tune in and interact.
In said congress sessions, there will be different panels with renowned players in the industry to discuss topics of interest at the moment such as:
- Legal strategies adopted in different countries to appeal against venue restrictions
- Collaborative models for reopening nightlife spaces safely.
- Virtual Reality, streaming, and nightlife. A useful tool for the future?
- Strategies to get clients back on the dancefloor after reopening
These sessions will allow for anyone to tune in and will also encourage participants to ask live questions during the panel that will be answered towards the end of each conversation thanks to a moderator. Finally, the event will conclude with the 6th Golden Moon Awards, where different players in nightlife are recognized for their achievements and role in the industry. The only difference will be that this year we won't be releasing a new list of "The World's 100 Best Clubs" but the jury is studying to extend 2019's list for one more year in order to honor all of those clubs suffering the consequences of the pandemic, In any case, the Golden Moon Awards 2020 will "relive" last year's list. The award categories tailored specifically to this year's 6th Golden Moon Awards include:
- Most supportive government during the pandemic
- Most innovative tool for nightlife during the pandemic
- Best collaborative project in defense of nightlife in times of the pandemic
- Best act of excellence and protection of client's and worker's health
- Best solidary act in defense of nightlife throughout the pandemic
- Best movement in defense of nightlife in the middle of the pandemic
Please stay tuned for more information!
Uruguayan nightlife joins the International Nightlife Association
The International Nightlife Association has presence in 19 countries already
Nightlife venues in Uruguay will implement international safety and quality seals
It's a pleasure for us to announce the entry of the Uruguayan Nightlife Association (Asociación Civil de Discotecas y Espectáculos Musicals del Uruguay) into the International Nightlife Association. With this new entry, the International Nightlife Association has presence in 19 countries already, with members in Italy, Spain, India, U.S.A, Colombia, Ecuador, Israel, China, Singapore, Philippines, Croatia, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Mexico, Dominican Republic, United Arab Emirates and now also in Uruguay.
The International Nightlife Association is a member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and is the only worldwide nightlife association with the main goal of uniting the nightlife industry. All this while excelling and giving prestige to the industry by launching quality seals like the Triple Excellence in Nightlife, GastroMoon, or the Sanitized Venue seal we have recently launched in order to distinguish those clubs that have invested in protective measures to fight against COVID 19. The International Nightlife Association also annually launches the list of "The World's 100 Best Clubs" and defends only on-licensed clubs that comply with laws and regulations.
Uruguayan Nightlife Association
The Uruguayan Nightlife Association was established this year with the main goal of putting the nightlife industry's ideas in common and joining forces in other to fight for their rights and make their voices heard. Among their members are the leading venues of Montevideo and Punta del Este. Montevideo with the mega-development Plaza Mateo, the legendary Lotus, and the main and most prominent stores of the capital. In Punta del Este are the two largest event producers that hold their mega parties during the summer season, in addition to the Sofia nightclub.
The President of the Uruguayan Nightlife Association; Ricardo Barbé has stated, “At this moment the industry has been paralyzed since March 13. The government of Mr. Luis Lacalle Pou has been doing an excellent job in managing the pandemic, and as of July 14, we only have a little over 50 cases. Our hopes lie in achieving 28 days without any cases nationwide to be able to open normally and at full capacity. As a society, we must achieve a COVID free country to be able to resume the festivities in a responsible way"
When it comes to the Secretary, Andres Mañosa, he has mentioned that "We understand that once we get to case 0, we should prioritize outdoor activities and we must distance ourselves to rejoin. Among our main concerns are the fight against illegal parties and although it is the largest entertainment crisis we have ever experienced, Uruguay's strong social security system makes this path of uncertainty more bearable and we trust that the time to celebrate will come soon.
On the other hand, Camilo Ospina Guzmán, Vice President of the International Nightlife Association for LATAM and President of the Colombian Nightlife Association (Asobares) has stated: "We are proud to have the Uruguayan Nightlife Association among us, since the bigger we are and the more countries we have a presence in LATAM and in the rest of the world, the stronger our industry will be. Taking into account the difficult times our sector is living it will be necessary to stay more united and stronger than ever before so it's my honor to welcome you aboard ".
Nightclubs in Uruguay will implement international safety and quality seals
With the goal of excelling nightlife in Uruguay, the International Nightlife Association will offer to all of the member clubs of the Uruguayan association to implement the most important existing nightlife distinction, the Triple Excellence in Nightlife and also the last distinction developed by the International Nightlife Association in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the Sanitized Venue seal.
According to Ricardo Barbé, president of the Uruguayan Nightlife Association, "this alliance will allow for us to take a step forward in quality, excellence, and safety in nightlife, three factors that will transmit more trust to future visitors since for us, nightlife is on the main tourist attractions in our country.
