Last updated June 24th, 2020.
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically impacted the ways that zoos, aquariums, family entertainment centers and attractions worldwide do business–in almost all cases, grinding it to a complete halt.
Our team at DEK Leadership has been reaching out to sites across the country to learn what the industry is doing to prepare for reopening. We’ve gathered some helpful resources for you here:
COVID-19 Resources
DEK Leadership Blog
The DEK Leadership blog is the most up-to-date source for exclusive insights from our partners around the country. Read our thoughts on safety and guest service here.
Blooloop
Blooloop is a online networking and news resource for professionals in the attractions industry. Their newsletter is a wonderful resource for the latest thoughts and news from attraction sites and leaders around the world.
Here are some Blooloop features we found particularly helpful:
Tips for opening safely post-COVID-19 with the St. Louis Union Station entertainment destination
Lessons in disruption: what can we learn from COVID-19 to make us stronger in the future?
Reopening Guidelines
Looking for some ideas on how to communicate new reopening policies to your guests? Read what Bed, Bath and Beyond and Sweetgreen are doing, with more to follow.
Gateway Ticketing Services
Gateway Ticketing Systems is continuing their Webinar Wednesdays with weekly, in-depth looks at how industry professionals can manage the coronavirus pandemic. More than 400 professionals tune in each week. Review their past webinars and register for their upcoming session here.
IAAPA Asia-Pacific
Attraction operators from the Asia-Pacific region have created a list of initiatives to consider during the varying stages of reopening and operating an attraction in light of the impact of COVID-19.
Museum Hue
In partnership with the American Alliance of Museums, Museum Hue will host a town hall meeting to discuss how museum professionals of color have been impacted by the pandemic. Their last meeting took place on Thursday, April 30th. Follow them on Twitter for future events and register for their next town hall here.
Museum of Science Boston
The Museum of Science Boston has gone digital with a series of livestreams and webinars. On April 28th, Christina Dillard, the Environmental Health & Safety Program Manager, led a conversation on providing a safe and healthy environment for both guests and staff. If you missed the live broadcast, you can watch the replay here.
The Ocean Project
The Ocean Project has put together a list of nearly a dozen zoos and aquariums who are reaching out in new and innovative ways to keep their audiences engaged. Here are some ideas that have been working particularly well.
Mental Health America
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Mental Health America has released a toolkit of resources to help anyone struggling during these difficult times. The kit contains signage, infographics, ready-to-use articles, social media posts, and banners. Learn more and download the kit here.
Erin Bromage
Erin Bromage is an associate professor of Biology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where she conducts research on infectious diseases and host immune responses of animals. She has a fantastic resource page entitled “The Risks – Know Them – Avoid Them” which she keeps updated with her take on how to interpret the latest details and trends on reopening.