AUSTIN – (Realty News Report) – Texas home builders say the show will go on.
The Texas Association of Builders has confirmed its annual Sunbelt Builders Show will take place as scheduled, July 14–17, at the Gaylord Texan hotel in Grapevine, near Dallas.
“TEXAS IS OPEN AND THE SHOW IS A GO!” the association declared in a digital announcement.
The decision comes as coronavirus cases in Texas continue to rise while Gov. Greg Abbott’s order to relax restrictions on business operations and gatherings is in effect. Statewide hospitalizations related to COVID-19 reached a record high over the weekend, according to officials.
Last year’s Sunbelt Builders Show drew about 2,350 attendees from 36 states. Organizers acknowledge attendance may be lower this year but say they have prepared health and safety measures to reduce risks for exhibitors and guests.
“Yes, we are taking the health and safety of our exhibitors, attendees and members very seriously,” said Debbie Davis, director of communications and marketing at the Texas Association of Builders headquarters in Austin. “We are implementing cleanliness, social distancing and health protocols outlined by state and federal authorities. Our industry has been working within these required guidelines for several months now and have become accustomed to these tight restrictions: face masks, hand-washing stations and social distancing.”
The Gaylord Texan, a 1,815-room property that reopened last week after being closed to guests since March, has implemented visible precautions. Employees are expected to wear masks, the hotel is using hospital-grade disinfectant sprayers, and dozens of signs throughout the complex remind guests to maintain six-foot distancing.
Gaylord hotels, operated under the Marriott umbrella, function as large self-contained environments that blend hotel accommodations with convention-center amenities, including expansive atriums, restaurants and resort-style recreation facilities.
Sunbelt Show registrations are currently about 35 percent below typical levels, Davis said, though she expects registrations to pick up as the early-bird deadline approaches. Most attendees—roughly 80 to 90 percent—are Texans who drive to the conference to evaluate new building products and tools and attend sessions on topics like solar power, design trends and avoiding construction defects.
Nationwide, many associations and organizations have canceled their annual conferences or moved them online. The Sunbelt Builders Show is an early exception as other trade shows and industry conferences plan to convene later in the year.
When asked whether the association ever considered canceling the event, Davis said leadership has closely monitored federal and state guidance since March. After Gov. Abbott announced the Open Texas plan, the association felt comfortable moving forward with an in-person Sunbelt Builders Show. Show management has cited the governor’s report as a guide for resuming business activities safely.
The decision to proceed reflects a wider, cautious return of in-person conventions. For example, the National Association of Real Estate Editors has scheduled its 54th annual conference for Sept. 23–26 in Miami, drawing journalists and industry experts. Meanwhile, the National Multifamily Housing Council and France Media announced plans to combine their student housing events into a joint conference in Miami Beach Oct. 6–8.
June 15, 2020 Realty News Report Copyright 2020