The downing of the Air Malaysian airliner (MH17) on Thursday 17 July between Amsterdam and Kula Lumpur en route to Melborne may enter a new era of event conduct in the years to come.
The Australian prime minister said it for all of us, “This is not an accident – this is a deliberate act of terror and is a criminal act of mammoth proportions”. And so ended the conference plans of over 50% of the passengers, who were senior AIDS workers eagerly on their way to a high-powered AIDS conference in Melbourne which had been planned for an extended period of time.
There is no reference in any event management manual that the MICE Academy is aware of which explains what to do in a tragedy of this magnitude. Although the AIDS conference delegations usually comprise of many thousands – one could argue that the absence of a mere 150 delegates should not have an impact on the proceedings.
On the contrary, there is little doubt that the total conference atmosphere is likely to be affected by the loss of key colleagues and indeed friends.
Many questions are going through the organiser’s minds: Do we cancel? Do we have a memorial service? Do we curtail the various party functions?
Clearly cancellation is not possible. The investment, time and commitment with important issues to progress the work of AIDS throughout the world cannot be postponed to be repeated at some future time.
It is likely that a brief minute silence at the commencement of the opening ceremony would take place. Plus a few words from the conference chairman as to what their absent colleagues would wish the delegation to do as far as the conference proceeding is concerned.
Equally possible is the manner in which the many functions – which are part of a massive conference of this nature – will be altered to be more subdued affairs with any light-hearted entertainment somewhat curtailed.
From a purely academic viewpoint, 150 payments for various conference inclusions as well as non- appearance of presenters or panel-members with country representations creates an interesting question as to the conference insurance aspect. The MICE Academy will attempt to monitor the compensation issues as the many months go by and serious investigations draw ultimate conclusions
