March 23, 2022 COVID-19 Update
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On March 23, 2022, the City of Austin lifted the Be Safe at City Facilities order. Masking in most City of Austin facilities will now be optional. Optional mask-wearing includes the Austin Convention Center, the Palmer Events Center, and staff members of the Austin Convention Center Department (ACCD). The exceptions are the airport, clinical settings, and jails.
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The City of Austin issued a mask mandate ordinance (effective Aug. 12, 2021). That order has been lifted. More information can be found about the City of Austin, Travis County COVID-19 Orders Lifted
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Clients who wish to enforce mask-wearing within their leased space may do so but must enforce it on their own. ACCD employees are not able to enforce mask-wearing on behalf of a client and ACCD employees are not required to wear masks even if a client wishes to enforce mask-wearing at their event
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Per the recommendations of Austin and Travis County health officials, the City of Austin is currently at COVID-19 risk-based Stage 2 Guidelines. The ACCD continues to adhere to all City of Austin, Travis County, State of Texas, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations
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We maintain a commitment to implementing industry-leading safety and sanitization measures. The Austin Convention Center and Palmer Events Center are both Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) Star accredited facilities. We are committed to keeping all visits safe and healthy. We welcome you to Austin.
August 12, 2021 COVID-19 Update
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The City of Austin has issued a mask mandate ordinance (effective Aug. 12, 2021). Masks are to be worn regardless of vaccination status in or on City property, and on property the City owns, manages or controls. This includes the Austin Convention Center and the Palmer Events Center
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Per the recommendations of Austin and Travis County health officials, the City of Austin has entered COVID-19 risk-based Stage 5 Guidelines. The Austin Convention Center Department (ACCD) continues to adhere to all City of Austin, Travis County, State of Texas, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations
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We maintain a commitment to implementing industry-leading safety and sanitization measures. The Austin Convention Center and Palmer Events Center are both Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) Star accredited facilities. We are committed to keeping everyone’s visit safe and healthy!
Tatro Selected as New Director to Lead Austin Convention Center Department
July 7, 2021 - Trisha Tatro has been announced and selected as the new Director of the Austin Convention Center Department (ACCD) by Rodney Gonzales, the Austin Assistant City Manager, on June 30, 2021.
Tatro has served as Interim Director since Feb. 2020, when Mark Tester departed to head the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. She has been Assistant Director since 2018 and a member of the Austin Convention Center Department’s executive team. Her duties as Assistant Director include administration over Facility Operations, Sustainability, Capital Improvement Projects, Event Utilities, Building Maintenance and Parking Operation departments, both at the Austin Convention Center (ACC) and the Palmer Events Center (PEC).
For more on Tatro’s hiring, read the official press release: www.austinconventioncenter.com/press-releases/tatro-selected-as-new-director-to-lead-austin-convention-center-department/
Mask Guideline and Social Distancing Update for June and July
May 28, 2021 - The Austin Convention Center Department (ACCD) is excited to welcome guests back to the Palmer Events Center and the Austin Convention Center buildings. ACCD is adhering to all City of Austin, Travis County, State of Texas, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations.
Although ACCD recommends that you wear a mask during your visit, face coverings are optional for attendees, staff, and clients. Enforcement is now the responsibility of the event client. Starting in June (2021), the social distancing requirement is three feet, and from July and beyond, there is no social distancing obligation.
Health screenings and temperature checks upon entry are not required but are available as optional services per client request. We look forward to seeing you in Austin!
- Paul Barnes, Austin Convention Center Department, Deputy Director – Chief Operations Officer
For more information and to view the Client Resources and Safety Action Plan and catering guide, visit the link below.
https://www.austinconventioncenter.com/covid-19-response/
Austin Convention Center Open to Host Events – Guidelines for Doing What We Do Best
March 11, 2021 - The Austin Convention Center Department has been given authorization by local health authorities to operate at 25%, and are expecting percentages to rise as the number of vaccinations increase. Events can start in April for the Palmer Events Center and in May for the Austin Convention Center.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or face coverings are required by all individuals at all times while inside ACCD buildings. The City of Austin continues to prioritize employee and public safety and will maintain all COVID-19 safety protocols, including requiring everyone—employees and public—in a city facility to wear a face mask. The City continues requiring physical distancing and all other hygiene protocols.
The Austin Convention Center and Palmer Events Center are operated by the Austin Convention Center Department, a division of the City of Austin. The department will continue to operate under the guidance of the City of Austin, Austin Public Health (APH), and other local health authorities.
- Paul Barnes, Austin Convention Center Department, Deputy Director – Chief Operations Officer
For more information and to view Austin Convention Center Department guidelines, Client Resources and Safety Action Plan and catering guide, visit the link below.
Austin Convention Center COVID-19 Response
Non-Vaccination Sites: Austin Convention Center and Palmer Events Center
January 29, 2021 - The Austin Convention Center and the Palmer Events Center are not currently operating as facilities for COVID-19 vaccine providers. Click below for more information from Austin Public Health to pre-register for vaccination and maps and listings of area vaccine providers.
Austin Convention Center Notified of Possible Alternate Care Site Activation
January 13, 2021 - The Austin Convention Center was notified that the process to activate, serve, and operate as a temporary Alternate Care Site is underway. The City of Austin’s Alternate Care Site is a hospital overflow facility, located at the Austin Convention Center. Since July 2020, the Austin Convention Center was set up, but remained staged and not activated. This was a measure to support hospitals that may experience overflow, if the City of Austin’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM), in conjunction with the Travis County Health Authority, deemed necessary.
Austin Convention Center Achieves GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation
November 30, 2020 - The Austin Convention Center has achieved Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities. Under the guidance of GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, the Austin Convention Center Department has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention for the facility.
As the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation, GBAC STAR™ helps organizations establish protocols and procedures, offers expert-led training and assesses a facility’s readiness for biorisk situations. The program will verify that the Austin Convention Center Department is implementing best practices to prepare the staff and buildings for future meetings and events.
Austin Convention Center Press Release
Austin Convention Center Activated as Hurricane Laura Evacuee Shelter
August 27, 2020 - The Austin Convention Center has been activated as a COVID-19 negative, Hurricane Laura Evacuee Shelter. As part of the Capital Area Shelter Hub Plan and the City of Austin Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Halls 1 and 2 at the Austin Convention Center are being used as a shelter, for displaced evacuees.
This does not affect the staging or availability of the Austin Convention Center as an Alternate Care Site. Located in Hall 4, the care site remains on standby as a hospital overflow facility.
Palmer Events Center to Serve as Hurricane Medical Shelter for Evacuees
August 26, 2020 - The Palmer Events Center in Austin, Texas, has been prepped and activated as a 50 bed, Hurricane Medical Shelter for evacuees who are COVID-19 negative, and require non-emergency medical care. This is to assist and support displaced residents from the Texas Gulf Coast due to Hurricane Laura. At the request of the State of Texas, the Palmer Events Center will serve as a medical shelter as part of the Capital Area Shelter Hub Plan.