Resources for Meeting Professionals on the Ebola Situation

The Convention Industry Council is monitoring this situation closely and are receiving updates from the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, CIC members, U.S. Travel Association and American Hotel and Lodging Association, as well as government agencies to provide you with the very latest travel information regarding the Ebola outbreak.

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Centers for Disease Control, along with the newly appointed Ebola Czar, are working together to manage and stop the spread of the Ebola virus. We will continue to defer to these experts and follow their direction on any travel protocols and precaution.

We are confident in the policies, procedures and protocols that have been established to identify travelers who may have a communicable disease, keeping travelers safe and out of harm’s way.

As of now, we have been assured that travel and the meetings industry remain unaffected. The CDC is not currently recommending a travel ban, nor restriction of meetings or meeting attendance. It is important for those considering traveling or attending meetings to listen to government and health officials and make their decisions based on the facts and not opinion or hyperbole from other sources. It is also important to underscore that the White House and the nation's top health officials have emphasized that the dangers of a serious outbreak in this country remain extraordinarily low.

What we do know:
As of Oct. 22, the Obama administration will require all travelers from countries affected by the Ebola epidemic to arrive at one of five major U.S. airports in order to undergo a health screening, officials announced Tuesday.

The administration previously instituted special Ebola screenings at five airports: Washington Dulles International Airport, O'Hare International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Now, people arriving from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone will be required to travel through one of those ports of entry to ensure they undergo an interview and a temperature check.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has stated that the best way to protect ourselves is not to seal off these countries, but to work to contain the disease there. Airlines for America has prepared a Q&A about airline travel and Ebola, and the World Health Organization has issued a Global Alert and Response for those traveling to affected countries.

The CDC has resources available to answer questions about the disease and protocols:

In addition, the White House has additional information regarding their response to the crisis.

Activity from CIC Member Organizations:
The U.S. Travel Association has prepared a toolkit for members of the travel industry to use in educating its constituencies.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) will host a member-wide webinar on Ebola and emergency preparedness on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2-3 p.m. EST. This webinar will feature health and industry experts who will discuss how to prepare for Ebola and other outbreaks, including the flu, and provide additional important information.

Articles and Other Resources:
Successful Meetings: Poll: Ebola Hasn't Infected Business Travel
ACTE Global Business Travel Survey: Most business travelers only mildly concerned over Ebola

The Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) is a
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