€300m ‘protective umbrella’ for organisers rolled out in Austria

The Austrian federal government has signalled its backing for the meetings industry with the announcement of a new protective umbrella for event organisers, a €300m endowment allowing for more security in planning in-person events in Austria. This international support is a clear signal of strength is being sent by Austria as a business and event location. “All national and also international event organisers who are planning an event in Austria, and thus in Innsbruck, now have a much improved outlook when it comes to planning,” said Christian Mayerhofer, CEO Congress und Messe Innsbruck GmbH. The ‘Veranstalterschutzschirm’ (protective umbrella for organisers) is endowed with €300m by the Austrian government and is open to national and international organisers who are planning an event in Austria between 1 March 2021 and 31 December 2022. The ‘umbrella’ is designed to protect organisers who bear the financial risks of organising an event. The relevant application forms can be submitted to the Austrian Hotel and Tourism Bank (ÖHT) and conditions apply. The guidelines state grants may be awarded in case an event has to be cancelled or take place in a reduced form for objective reasons relating to the coronavirus pandemic. Grants may cover up to 90% of the financial losses in terms of costs incurred minus income generated. “We’d like to make our national and international organisers aware of this opportunity and encourage them to actively apply so that the planning process for the implementation of their projects can be started and continued in collaboration with their partners. In this way, in spite of the current challenges, we can look to the future together with the optimism that in-person events will soon be possible once again without restrictions,” said Mayerhofer. Applications for grants from the protective umbrella for organisers (which do not have to be repaid), can be submitted to the ÖHT. More information for interested organisers can be found by visiting: www.oeht.at/produkte/schutzschirm-fuer-veranstaltungen.