The Yakima Convention Center is excited to welcome you back! To ensure the safety of our guests and staff, we have implemented important steps and measures. We will need cooperation from everyone to be successful in maintaining a clean and safe environment.
Per Governor Inslee’s reopening guidelines for Convention Centers, the Yakima Convention Center is allowed to open during Phase 2 at a capacity of 200 people or 25% per meeting room. Floor plans to reduce occupancy can be customized to fit your needs. Please contact us for more information.
Face masks are required for all guests and staff indoors at all times, except during meal service. Masks will be on hand if the attendee does not have one. Masks must cover both the nose and mouth. There will be proper signage on-site as well as on our website. Regulation of the masks policy will be the responsibility of the event owner.
Face masks must be worn outside while on property during a meeting/conference activity when social distancing of six feet or more is not possible.
Social distancing of six or more feet is important to maintain. The Yakima Convention Center will help maintain social distancing by staggering meetings to prevent number of attendees in lobbies during break times.
Furniture in the lobby will be separated to maintain proper distancing.
To keep contact at a minimum, we ask meeting planners to do pre-registration and distribute any materials to attendees prior to attending the meeting on-site.
HVAC improvements include increased cleaning cycles and filter replacement to increase the air quality in the building.
All restroom fixtures and lighting are touchless to avoid as much contact as possible.
Electrostatic sprayers will be used to thoroughly disinfect between meetings as well as frequent cleaning and sanitation of high touch areas.
Water Fountains will be out of use until Yakima County has advanced further per State guidelines. Hands free water stations for filling and refilling of attendee’s own water bottles are provided.
Hand sanitizer stations are in place throughout the center for guests and staff to use.
A COVID-19 compliance staff member will be present during every event to ensure appropriate physical distancing and facial covering requirements are met.
There will be employee training protocols, including proper use of PPE and daily staff wellness checks.
Centerplate, our full service catering company, will work with the meeting planner to provide contained, on the go or plated meal options. View the Catering Reopening Plan.
Lastly, the Yakima Convention Center is pursuing Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s (GBAC) certification to provide guests confidence that the center is clean and ready for business. GBAC is an independent third-party verification system to make sure that the Yakima Convention Center’s cleaning protocols meet the highest standards.
As we continue to monitor the guidelines, through national, state and local health authorities, our staff will continue to create different ways for attendees and guests to meet in a safe and accommodating environment.
Because events are so important to all of us, be aware that we are doing what we can to bring us all back together very soon.
*November 12th, 2020. Items may change as conditions warrant.