As of December 1st, 2020, a free Covid-19-antigen-rapid testing offer from the City of Vienna will be available for you at the Austria Center Vienna. We have all information about the rapid tests available here in time, until then, please inform yourself at the Website of the City of Vienna .

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Getting here

Austria Center Vienna

Covid19-antigen-rapid testing at the Austria Center Vienna

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Stadt Wien Gesundheitsdienst MA15

Fast and easy testing

The entire spectrum of topics in the broad field of Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology will be addressed. Additionally, the exhibition ResearchPharm® will provide a cross-disciplinary platform for pharmaceutical scientists working in all fields of drug development. Young and experienced scientists from academia and industry are going to present their latest research achievements.

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PBP World Meeting

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International Association for Pharmaceutical Technology

12th World Meeting on Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology 2020

The international biennial world meeting with innovators and experts in the field of aesthetic surgery and medicine is especially designed for those who like to exchange ideas with brilliant scientists and who want to use the latest trends to build a successful practice. In addition to the surgical disciplines, the World Congress includes the latest achievements in the field of non-invasive treatments.

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ISAPS World Congress

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ISAPS

Congress of the International Society of Aestethic Plastic Surgery 2020

Through successful case studies, debate and innovative networking sessions, the forums attendees learn how to utilize latest technology to keep growing their business whilst developing strong partnerships.

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IHTF 2021

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Arena International Events Group

International Hotel Technology Forum

Austria’s event industry has been extremely hard hit by the pandemic. Since March, around 50 events at the Austria Center Vienna have either been postponed or cancelled, meaning this year has been a virtual washout for the congress tourism industry, which is such an important element of the capital’s economy. But now a financial support package for organisers could help to convince them to stage events in Vienna in 2021, despite the ongoing uncertainties.


Scheurich, David

Department Head Communication; Press Officer

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Foto: Veranstaltung aus dem Jahr 2019 im Austria Center Vienna

Veranstaltung aus 2019 im Austria Center Vienna

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Press Release: Austria Center Vienna welcomes financial support package for organisers

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Press release_Austria Center Vienna welcomes support package for organisers

Veranstaltung aus dem Jahr 2019 im Austria Center Vienna

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<p>“2020 has been a complete catastrophe for Vienna and the international congress industry. So organisers are very uncertain as regards planning for 2021. Which is why we need to put specific measures in place now that will restore confidence, while also significantly enhancing planning security during these difficult times,” explained Susanne Baumann-Söllner, Managing Director of the Austria Center Vienna.</p>
<h2>State support package for organisers – a plus point for Vienna</h2>
<p>The EUR 300 million financial support package recently agreed in the Austrian parliament is designed to deliver greater planning security in future. If an event is subject to restrictions or is cancelled, the organiser’s liability will be limited by the Federal government. “Large-scale events involve lead times of several months, so any short-notice changes can result in significant losses for an event, or prove to be a bridge too far,” Baumann-Söllner noted. “We welcome the support package that has just been announced as it will reimburse organisers for unavoidable expenditure due to last-minute changes. This model could give Vienna the lift that it so badly needs and quickly lead other international congress destinations to follow suit.”</p>
<h2>Conditions for congresses</h2>
<p>Other measures besides the financial support package are required to provide the necessary planning certainty for international conferences: “The current cap on participant numbers of 1,500 for indoor events deals a knockout blow to the majority of our events,” Baumann-Söllner said. She believes that the maximum number of participants needs to be increased significantly from spring onwards at the very latest, depending on the trend in Covid-19 case numbers. And the congress industry is dependent like virtually no other on developments elsewhere in Europe and overseas. “We want to do our bit to make it possible for events to take place in 2021 with the highest safety standards and the largest possible number of participants. With this goal in mind, in September we launched a rapid test pilot project on our own initiative, which allows participants to get tested and receive their results within 10 minutes. The use of rapid testing and the upcoming financial support package are important steps towards ensuring that Vienna can gradually get off to a new start as a congress destination in 2021.”</p>
<h2>About IAKW-AG</h2>
<p>Internationales Amtssitz- und Konferenzzentrum Wien, Aktiengesellschaft (IAKW-AG) is responsible for maintaining the Vienna International Centre (VIC) and operating the Austria Center Vienna. The Austria Center Vienna is Austria’s largest conference centre, with 24 halls, 180 meeting rooms, and some 26,000 m² of exhibition space, and is one of the top players on the international conference circuit.</p>


Austria Center Vienna welcomes financial support package for organisers: important step towards increased planning security in 2021

On 16 and 17 September the Austria Center Vienna conducted around 2,000 rapid tests in a pilot project in partnership with the Vienna University of Economics and Business, Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund and medical products wholesaler Alpstar. The resulting interest from event organisers, hotels, hospitals, national and international business and politicians was overwhelming. Across all industries there are high hopes for the new antigen tests. The Austria Center Vienna will make the key insights from the pilot project publicly available, in the interests of creating a repository of information which can be used as a foundation for future events. 

Test 3 Austria Center Vienna

Test 3 COVID19

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Susanne Baumann-Söllner Austria Center Vienna

Susanne Baumann-Söllner COVID19

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Press release 

Press release: Austria Center Vienna takes stock of Covid-19 pilot project

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Austria Center Vienna takes stock of covid19 pilot project

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<p>“We wanted to use the pilot project to show that rapid tests can significantly improve the safety of events, and that their use is practicable from an organisational point of view. The overwhelming feedback and interest from all industries shows us just how much hope is being placed in the new testing system. We are very pleased to have provided this initial impetus with the support of our project partners and would like to make our insights available to all interested parties,” explained Susanne Baumann-Söllner, Managing Director of the Austria Center Vienna. Out of the 2,000 rapid tests that were handed in, five were positive. The diagnoses were subsequently confirmed in PCR tests conducted immediately after.</p>
<h2>Rapid testing at large-scale events: viable from both an economic and organisational perspective</h2>
<p>The central finding from the pilot project was that rapid tests are indeed practicable in real-world conditions and represent a meaningful addition to existing hygiene and safety measures. In preparation for the project, a scalable system of test lanes was developed specifically for the rapid test (see test lanes graphic).</p>
<h2>Key figures: 30 seconds per swab, one medic per lane, results in max. ten minutes</h2>
<p>The pilot project delivered valuable insights into the amount of time testing takes ahead of an event, as well as the number of staff needed: as a basic rule of thumb, the number of test lanes needed and time slots for participants is calculated on the basis of the 30 seconds it takes to complete each swab. Each test lane requires one medical expert to take the throat swab and two to three assistants to prepare the solution and support the test subjects. In addition, a team of paramedics is on hand at the end of the test lane to manage any positive cases. Conducting the test took an average of six to ten minutes from swabbing to receiving the test result – significantly less than the 15 minutes originally planned in.</p>
<h2>Five positive results – daily testing at multi-day events required</h2>
<p>A total of around 2,000 rapid tests were conducted at the event, with test subjects including students, staff members, employees of partner companies and journalists. In total, five people tested positive. After being isolated immediately, an additional PCR test was carried out before the individuals concerned were sent to quarantine at home.<br />
On the second day of the event, one person tested positive, having presented a negative result on the first day. This particular case once again confirms that an antigen test only ever provides a snapshot of an individual’s viral load. This suggests that rapid tests should be carried out on a daily basis at multi-day events. In addition, a negative test result should never be mistaken for total protection against Covid-19 – but it is an effective tool that significantly reduces the chances of infection at events.</p>
<h2>About IAKW-AG</h2>
<p>Internationales Amtssitz- und Konferenzzentrum Wien, Aktiengesellschaft (IAKW-AG) is responsible for maintaining the Vienna International Centre (VIC) and operating the Austria Center Vienna. The Austria Center Vienna is Austria’s largest conference centre, with 24 halls, 180 meeting rooms, and some 26,000 m² of exhibition space, and is one of the top players on the international conference circuit.</p>
<div id="attachment_27211" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27211" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27212 size-large" src="https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Teststrassen_c-IAKW-AG_Ludwig-Schedl-1024x682.jpg" alt="Bild: COVID19 Teststrassen vor dem Austria Center Vienna" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Teststrassen_c-IAKW-AG_Ludwig-Schedl-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Teststrassen_c-IAKW-AG_Ludwig-Schedl-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Teststrassen_c-IAKW-AG_Ludwig-Schedl-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Teststrassen_c-IAKW-AG_Ludwig-Schedl-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Teststrassen_c-IAKW-AG_Ludwig-Schedl-2048x1364.jpg 2048w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Teststrassen_c-IAKW-AG_Ludwig-Schedl-1440x959.jpg 1440w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Teststrassen_c-IAKW-AG_Ludwig-Schedl-720x480.jpg 720w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Teststrassen_c-IAKW-AG_Ludwig-Schedl-512x341.jpg 512w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Teststrassen_c-IAKW-AG_Ludwig-Schedl-360x240.jpg 360w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Teststrassen_c-IAKW-AG_Ludwig-Schedl-256x171.jpg 256w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Teststrassen_c-IAKW-AG_Ludwig-Schedl-128x85.jpg 128w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Teststrassen_c-IAKW-AG_Ludwig-Schedl-64x43.jpg 64w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Teststrassen_c-IAKW-AG_Ludwig-Schedl-32x21.jpg 32w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Teststrassen_c-IAKW-AG_Ludwig-Schedl-24x16.jpg 24w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-27211" class="wp-caption-text">©IAKW-AG, Ludwig Schedl</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Key insights at a glance</h2>
<h2><strong>1. Predictable lead times: 30 seconds per person</strong></h2>
<p>Relatively generous lead times were defined for the initial project: three time slots of 30 minutes each were planned for a maximum of 1,000 people, so the basis for the calculation was almost exactly one minute per test per lane. It turned out that the swabs can be taken much more quickly – particularly at the start of the first day when the queues were quickly processed. The Arbeiter Samariter Bund medics confirmed that 30 seconds per test subject was a reliable pointer (median value depending on target group, need to explain the procedure, etc.). This means that each test lane was able to process an average of 120 people each hour. Depending on the number of participants at an event, the specific lead time can be calculated using the number of test lanes and time slots as factors (example based on 2,000 participants: 17 test lanes with a 60-minute lead time or with two time slots of 30 minutes each, or three time slots of 20 minutes each. Longer lead times must be calculated if there are fewer test lanes). Depending on the information provided in advance (e.g. using video clips) and queueing discipline (outstanding during the test project), an average lead time of just 20 seconds can be achieved under ideal conditions.</p>
<h2><strong>2. Time taken to get through the test lane: six to ten minutes</strong></h2>
<p>Conducting the test took an average of six to ten minutes from swabbing to receiving a test result. Ideally, the test lane should be broken down into sections so that the test subjects can move along it every 30 seconds while observing distancing requirements.</p>
<h2><strong>3. Staffing requirements per test lane: one paramedic and at least two assistants</strong></h2>
<p>Each test lane requires one paramedic to take the throat swab and two to three assistants to support the testing process. This set-up was confirmed during the pilot project. An additional team of trained medical workers and at least one ambulance is required at the end of the test lanes to isolate any positive cases immediately and provide care if required. On top of this, costs such as security personnel, build-up and breakdown, cleaning, furniture and protective equipment for assistants (sanitiser and disinfectants, wipes, masks, gloves, potentially also protective suits) also need to be taken into account.</p>
<h2><strong>4. Proportion of positive cases: 0.25% of participants in the pilot project</strong></h2>
<p>Close to 2,000 tests were conducted (students, staff, customers, journalists etc.). There were five positive results, so the proportion of positive cases was around 0.25%.</p>
<h2>5. Standardised procedure for dealing with positive cases</h2>
<p>The following procedure proved to be effective: if the test returned a positive result, the subject was immediately isolated (with a privacy screen) and an additional PCR test was conducted directly on site by a paramedic. The individual was then reported as a suspected case and taken from the premises by the ambulance service to quarantine at home. If they travelled to the event in their own car, they were permitted to make their own way home. The PCR samples taken from the suspected cases were anonymised and taken to the lab together for analysis.</p>
<h2>6. Validity period: daily testing required at multi-day events</h2>
<p>On the second day, a positive result was returned from an asymptomatic test subject who had tested negative the previous day. This confirms that tests are a snapshot and that antigen testing must be carried out on a daily basis at multi-day events to maximise the chances of reliably identifying carriers at a given time.</p>
<h2><strong>7. Tests well received by participants</strong></h2>
<p>Although the rapid tests were only announced a few days before the Vienna University of Economics and Business’s introductory lectures were due to take place owing to the fact that the product used had only just come onto the market (a short explanatory video on the procedure was sent out as an accompanying measure) – the process resonated very well with all test subjects. The lecture was also streamed in another hall for individuals who were unwilling or unable to take the test. As nobody refused the test, the streaming hall remained empty. In total, 50-60% of the students invited to take part in this optional event elected to do so, in spite of the possible waiting times and the fact that they could stream it at home.</p>


Austria Center Vienna takes stock of Covid-19 pilot project: rapid tests can significantly improve the safety of events

Take a coronavirus swab just before the event starts and get the results back within 15 minutes? What seemed utterly unrealistic only a few months ago is now possible – thanks to the pace of developments in rapid testing. Earlier today, the Austria Center Vienna become the first venue in Europe to trial a major pilot project, in collaboration with the Vienna University of Economics and Business. Over the course of today and tomorrow, a total of 2,000 people attending lectures to kick off the academic year will be tested using a new antigen rapid testing technique. The insights gained could soon be put to work for the benefit of the whole event industry. *

Press release - First 15-minute rapid test for large-scale events trialled at the Austria Center Vienna

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Managing Director Baumann-Söllner Austria Center Vienna

Baumann-Söllner COVID19

Negative Test 1 Austria Center Vienna

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<p>The congress and event industry has been particularly hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic – over the past few months at the Austria Center Vienna alone, around 50 events have either been postponed or cancelled. The direct impacts on Vienna as a congress destination have been catastrophic, as in a normal year the international events held at the Austria Center Vienna have an induced economic impact of between EUR 400 and 500 million. “Through the rapid test pilot project we want to do our bit to ensure that events which meet the highest possible safety standards can be held in Vienna in future. We are very grateful to the students of the Vienna University of Economics and Business for their support in this venture,” said Managing Director Susanne Baumann-Söllner “It is extremely important for us to give the new intake a face-to-face start to university life, while also providing a safe environment for students and faculty members. Which is why we were more than happy to make the most of the opportunities opened up by these rapid tests,” explained Vienna University of Economics and Business Rector Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger.</p>
<div id="attachment_27189" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27189" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27189 size-large" src="https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Baumann-Soellner_2880x1920-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Baumann-Soellner_2880x1920-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Baumann-Soellner_2880x1920-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Baumann-Soellner_2880x1920-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Baumann-Soellner_2880x1920-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Baumann-Soellner_2880x1920-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Baumann-Soellner_2880x1920-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Baumann-Soellner_2880x1920-720x480.jpg 720w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Baumann-Soellner_2880x1920-512x341.jpg 512w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Baumann-Soellner_2880x1920-360x240.jpg 360w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Baumann-Soellner_2880x1920-256x171.jpg 256w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Baumann-Soellner_2880x1920-128x85.jpg 128w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Baumann-Soellner_2880x1920-64x43.jpg 64w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Baumann-Soellner_2880x1920-32x21.jpg 32w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Baumann-Soellner_2880x1920-24x16.jpg 24w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-27189" class="wp-caption-text">Managing Director Susanne Baumann-Söllner infront of the test lanes at the Austria Center Vienna @IAKW-AG</p></div>
<h2>Test results in just a few minutes with no lab analysis needed</h2>
<p>Until now, testing all participants at large-scale events has posed a number of major challenges: the largest of these is the time factor, as at least a few hours pass between the time the swabs or gargle samples are delivered and the results come back from the lab. The Austrian pharmaceutical products wholesaler Alpstar has now brought the NADAL® COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test from German manufacturer nal von minden to the Austrian market, a system which delivers clear results in a matter of minutes. Highly accurate and sensitive, it also stands out for its outstanding ease of operation. In the pilot project, throat swabs are taken by medics from the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund before the test is performed in a similar way to a pregnancy test, with a number of droplets containing the sample applied to a test cassette before the results are displayed on a chemical strip.</p>
<h2>Test lanes for students before lectures</h2>
<p>Traditionally, the first lecture for the popular business administration course at the Vienna University of Economics and Business is held in Hall A at the Austria Center Vienna. “We want to give first-semester students the chance to experience the flair of university learning at a large-scale kick off event once again this year, but also in compliance with strict hygiene standards,” Hanappi-Egger said. For the introductory business administration lecture, the students are split into two groups with around 1,000 participants in each. “To ensure that testing takes as little time as possible, we have set up numerous lanes on the covered main square outside the venue. Once the swab has been taken by a medical professional, students can complete most of the remaining steps in just a few minutes on their own and enter the building right away if they produce a negative result,” said Baumann-Söllner. Tests are completely anonymous. The congress center is covering the majority of the costs of the pilot project with support from the university.</p>
<div id="attachment_27196" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27196" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27196 size-large" src="https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Teststrassen_2880x1920-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Teststrassen_2880x1920-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Teststrassen_2880x1920-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Teststrassen_2880x1920-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Teststrassen_2880x1920-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Teststrassen_2880x1920-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Teststrassen_2880x1920-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Teststrassen_2880x1920-720x480.jpg 720w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Teststrassen_2880x1920-512x341.jpg 512w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Teststrassen_2880x1920-360x240.jpg 360w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Teststrassen_2880x1920-256x171.jpg 256w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Teststrassen_2880x1920-128x85.jpg 128w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Teststrassen_2880x1920-64x43.jpg 64w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Teststrassen_2880x1920-32x21.jpg 32w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Teststrassen_2880x1920-24x16.jpg 24w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-27196" class="wp-caption-text">COVID19 test lanes at the Austria Center Vienna ©IAKW-AG</p></div>
<h2>Important insights for the event industry and universities</h2>
<p>As the pilot project takes the Austria Center Vienna into uncharted territory internationally, the eyes of the global industry are on Vienna. It is hoped that the project will deliver practical insights into important issues such as basic organisational matters, the amount of participants’ time it takes and the costs for rapid tests at large-scale events. “At present, we can see that the industry is tentatively getting back on its feet, albeit at a highly regional level. So that large-scale international events can return to Vienna in the medium term, organisers need to have a high level of trust in the measures that have been put in place. No hygiene plan or testing procedure can provide full protection from Covid-19. But we all firmly believe that rapid tests represent a major step in the right direction and could quickly go on to become the new standard. We want this pilot project to show the industry what new options are available and provide targeted support for organisers,” Baumann-Söllner concluded. The tests, and above all the results, are also very important for the university sector: “Our sample of more than 1,000 students per lecture is so large that it will deliver actionable insights from a risk assessment point of view for ongoing operations at the university in the next semester,” Hanappi-Egger added.</p>
<div id="attachment_27286" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27286" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27286 size-large" src="https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Gruppenbild_2880x1920-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Gruppenbild_2880x1920-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Gruppenbild_2880x1920-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Gruppenbild_2880x1920-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Gruppenbild_2880x1920-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Gruppenbild_2880x1920-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Gruppenbild_2880x1920-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Gruppenbild_2880x1920-720x480.jpg 720w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Gruppenbild_2880x1920-512x341.jpg 512w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Gruppenbild_2880x1920-360x240.jpg 360w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Gruppenbild_2880x1920-256x171.jpg 256w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Gruppenbild_2880x1920-128x85.jpg 128w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Gruppenbild_2880x1920-64x43.jpg 64w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Gruppenbild_2880x1920-32x21.jpg 32w, https://www-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Austria_Center_Vienna_Schnelltest_Gruppenbild_2880x1920-24x16.jpg 24w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-27286" class="wp-caption-text">f.l.t.r.: Norbert Kettner, Managing Director Vienna Tourist Board; Susanne Baumann-Söllner, Managing Director Austria Center Vienna; Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger, Rector Vienna University of Economics and Business; Wolfgang Dihanits, Managing Director ASB; Thomas Lachmann, Managing Director Alpstar GmbH</p></div>
<h2>About IAKW-AG</h2>
<p>Internationales Amtssitz- und Konferenzzentrum Wien, Aktiengesellschaft (IAKW-AG) is responsible for maintaining the Vienna International Centre (VIC) and operating the Austria Center Vienna. The Austria Center Vienna is Austria’s largest conference centre, with 24 halls, 180 meeting rooms, and some 26,000 m² of exhibition space, and is one of the top players on the international conference circuit.</p>
<p>* Updated version from September 21, 2020. For original broadcast see download</p>


First 15-minute rapid test for large-scale events trialled at the Austria Center Vienna: Covid-19 pilot project involves students from the Vienna University of Economics and Business

Austria’s largest congress centre posted another strong set of results in 2019, despite ongoing modernisation work. This year, the coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on the congress industry and Vienna as a destination for tourism, with the majority of large-scale international events either cancelled or postponed. Unlike trade shows and fairs that are open to the public, there is still a lack of certainty as far as planning for congresses this autumn is concerned. In response to the current situation, the Austria Center Vienna is offering special meeting packages with custom hygiene plans.

Hygiene ACV Hall

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Hygiene ACV Room

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Austria Center Vienna reports strong year for events in 2019

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<p>“2019 was a successful year in every respect. Despite launching our major modernisation project, we were still able to build on the results posted a year earlier. And this year, bookings pointed towards yet another set of record results. But the cancellations and postponements caused by the coronavirus pandemic instead make it painfully clear just how important the congress sector is for Vienna as a destination for tourism,” explained Austria Center Vienna Managing Director Susanne Baumann-Söllner.</p>
<h2>International guests help secure more than 3,000 jobs in Austria in 2019</h2>
<p>With 91,501 international visitors during the year, there was a 12% decline on the record total set in 2018 (115,938) due to modernisation work carried out at the centre. “We took a conscious decision to keep the centre open while construction work went on, splitting up the year into event phases and building phases in the process,” Baumann-Söllner explained. At EUR 540, the average daily spend for a congress attendee is around twice as much as that of the average visitor to Vienna. The number of participants in 2019 was comparable with the 2016 total despite the construction work, with the positive economic impact translating into induced GDP of more than EUR 450m and over 3,000 year-round jobs. An analysis of revenue from events and partners’ commissions painted a similar picture: at EUR 13.2m, the total was down 10.5% on the record-breaking previous year (2018: EUR 14.8m).</p>
<h2>Threat of complete washout for the congress industry in 2020</h2>
<p>The coronavirus pandemic has hit the international congress industry very hard. “The postponements and cancellations over the past three months have also had a serious impact on the city’s hotel industry, restaurants and a great many partner enterprises in Vienna,” Baumann-Söllner confirmed. For a number of weeks, there has been a clear positive trend – both in terms of measures set at a national level as well as vital border openings. However, this year the industry will have to brace itself for a complete absence of large-scale events until autumn at the earliest. “We will only be able to fully determine the scale of the losses for Vienna as a business and research location in up to two years’ time,” Baumann-Söllner added.</p>
<h2>Ability to plan for autumn essential for congress location</h2>
<p>The situation for this autumn is still unclear for the congress industry. While it has been possible to host trade fairs and non-trade events in Austria without any limits on participant numbers since mid-June, providing they comply with specific hygiene regulations, the latest amendment does not apply to congresses – in contrast to numerous media reports. “As things currently stand, we still have two large-scale congresses planned for October and November. In light of the positive overall trend, I am confident that we will be hosting congresses with more than 1,000 participants once again from September. That said, the industry requires greater planning certainty right now,” Baumann-Söllner noted.</p>
<h2>Special packages for meetings, seminars and small-scale gatherings</h2>
<p>Seminars and meetings returned in mid-June. To make this possible, the venue drew up its own hygiene plan over the past few months: scalable classroom-style seating guarantees that a minimum distance of more than a metre is assured, whether it is for a room used by 50 participants or a hall for almost 1,000 people. The plan covers aspects such as ventilation, disinfection, signage, preventing large numbers of people from congregating, and clearly organised catering solutions. “The whole industry needs to come up with new concepts and develop attractive packages during this difficult time. Alongside hygiene measures, we have been focusing on expanding our digital offering, since hybrid congresses – a mix of on-site participation and attending remotely from home – are the future,” Baumann-Söllner concluded.</p>
<h2>About IAKW-AG</h2>
<p>Internationales Amtssitz- und Konferenzzentrum Wien, Aktiengesellschaft (IAKW-AG) is responsible for maintaining the Vienna International Centre (VIC) and operating the Austria Center Vienna. The Austria Center Vienna is Austria’s largest conference centre, with 24 halls, 180 meeting rooms, and some 26,000 m² of exhibition space, and is one of the top players on the international conference circuit.</p>


Austria Center Vienna reports strong year for events in 2019 – autumn season to determine whether 2020 is a total washout

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