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Health and safety update: Get ready for a safe GeoNashville

Events, News | September 28, 2021 | By:

Photograph courtesy Tabitha Kaylee Hawk

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) and the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) are pleased to re-confirm that GeoNashville will take place in person, as planned, on Nov. 4–5, 2021.

IFAI/GMA’s leadership and conference management team has and will continue to stay in close communication with the Music City Center (MCC), local government and health authorities, and other local venues as necessary, to make the very best decisions as it pertains to health and safety measures for the in-person event.  

We have also worked closely with attendees, exhibitors and the industry at large to gauge their commitment to IFAI events, including their interest and willingness to travel—health and safety measures they feel most comfortable with—in order to establish best practices. IFAI has received attendee research from Freeman Research Group. We will continue to engage with all stakeholders up until the show and make adjustments if necessary.

Health and safety at the venue

GeoNashville’s venue, Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn., was one of the first convention centers to receive the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accreditation on outbreak prevention, response and recovery. As a division of the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA), GBAC STAR is an industry accreditation that provides third-party validation to ensure the implementation of rigorous protocols in response to biorisk situations. Focused on ensuring a clean, safe and healthy environment, the program establishes requirements to assist venues by providing best practices, protocols and procedures to control risks associated with the COVID-19 virus.

Current safety measures and recommendations in place 

Keep in mind, this is a fluid situation, this information may be updated at any time leading up to the event.


• Hand sanitizer stations throughout classrooms, concourses and the exhibit halls.

• Frequent sanitizing, and hand washing, are encouraged.

• 6-foot (2-m) physical distancing in registration lines and other queues will be maintained.

• Physical distancing at banquet tables/education rooms where feasible (i.e., 4 or 6 chairs per banquet table, 3–6 feet [1–2 m] between chairs in classrooms). Physical distancing will be encouraged.

• We will offer color-coded stickers to place on badges and signage, indicating contact comfort levels (i.e., red=please keep distance; yellow=no physical contact; green=handshakes, hugs, etc. welcome).

• There will be plexibarriers at registration. Exhibitors are free to implement similar measures in their own spaces, if they so choose.

• Food and beverage options may be limited and served in accordance with convention center policies to limit high touchpoints.

• We will follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance on masks including abundant explanatory signage throughout the building. Masking will be optional for vaccinated attendees; we urge unvaccinated attendees to please wear masks.

• Masks will be required for Convention Center banquet staff and other staff that operate within our contracted space.

• We recommend those planning to attend/exhibit at the GeoNashville please be fully vaccinated. While we respect everyone’s personal choice in this matter, and we will not ask for proof of vaccination, for your safety and the safety of all, please consider vaccination.

• We ask that if you aren’t feeling well to please remain home.

We will continue to publish updates to the health and safety measures planned for the event via email and on the GeoNashville website. Please continue to check back for more updates.  

For questions or comments about health and safety at GeoNashville, please contact us at events@ifai.com.

To register for GeoNashville 2021, click here.

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