AAPEX, slated for this November, has worked with host facilities to ensure that physical distancing and other measures are in place for 2020.

AAPEX has posted a new video discussing health, safety and cleaning protocols in place at the host facility Venetian Hotel and Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas.

AAPEX is scheduled for Las Vegas, Nev., November 3 to 5.

The video interviews with hotel and convention personnel detailed the protocols introduced as part of the Venetian Clean initiative, including PPE practices of staff, temperature checks at entrances, rider limits for elevator usage and others.

“We have implemented over 800 new protocols under the umbrella of our Venetian Clean,” said Jaimie Miranda, VP Hotel Operations.

“We thought long and hard about what we needed to address,” said Miranda. “But it has been a moving target as the situation has continued to evolve. Our governor has recently required mask wearing in all public spaces. When we first opened, we were encouraging guests to wear masks but we were not requiring them. Now with the governor’s directive we are requiring masks.”

“We have implemented several new protocols to ensure that all activities of Venetian Clean at our congress centre and Sands Expo Center,” said Lisa Weatherall, director of show cleaning and meeting services, Sands Expo. “When you arrive at the property, the first thing you will experience is a thermal scanning procedure at our main entrance to the Sands Expo Center as well as our transportation area. You will also see hand sanitizer units permanently placed throughout the entire public area. Many units are also available to be placed in the exhibit halls.  Transparent barriers have also been installed in the Sands Expo to provide physical distancing in key guest contact areas.

“We encourage these barriers to be incorporated into the booth design by all exhibitors.”

There are also special booth cleaning services introduced for exhibitors.

Protocols in place also cover events and meals—all service will be plated by an attendant for example—but it was acknowledged that it has been an evolving situation.

“We are going to be handing out masks to everybody and we are going to be asking the people wear them,” said Bill Handy, CEO and president Auto Care Association. There’s going to be signage throughout the how reminding people to maintain to maintain their social distancing guidelines. And as we move to the Venetian hallway, the meeting space, and the expo hall itself, there’s going to be a lot less density on the floor itself. We are going to make significant traffic flow adjustments in order to decrease the amount of contact that people will have.

Paul McCarthy, president and COO, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association said that additional measures will focus on reducing touchpoints.

“You’ll see plexiglass at info and registration booths. You’ll see social distance markers for lines. There’s also an attempt to just have fewer touchpoints overall. So, there will be a lot more badges sent out by mail to avoid registration altogether. We’ll also have the Caesar’s space. This was a good year for the expansion. It gives us more space for the show, but also for registration. We’ll have registration booths at Caesar’s as well as at the Sands. So, we’re doing what we can do to cut down on the traffic.”

AAPEX represents the over $1 trillion global automotive aftermarket industry, and is co-owned by the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the light vehicle aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA).

Visit www.aapexshow.com