Story ID: 
HAI Commits To In-person Heli-Expo 2021
By: Mark Huber
Caption: The Helicopter Association International said it will hold its annual Heli-Expo trade show next March in New Orleans. 
Word Count: 202
The Helicopter Association International (HAI) reaffirmed its commitment to holding its in-person, annual Heli-Expo trade show in 2021. The show is slated to be held March 22 to 25 in New Orleans.

Alluding to the recent positive announcements concerning several Covid-19 vaccine trials in the last few weeks, HAI president James Viola said, “If you're following the news, there are developments on the horizon that promise a return to normalcy and to doing business as we once did. I'm looking forward to seeing you and the rest of our industry—safely—in New Orleans.” 

Viola noted that more than 350 companies to date have committed to exhibiting at the show and that numerous safety protocols will be in place. These include the following measures: creating a socially distanced show floor, meetings room, registration areas, and public areas; building extra time into the event schedule for thorough, repetitive cleaning; setting up additional mobile badge-printing stations to limit touchpoints; providing hand-sanitizer stations throughout common areas and the show floor; limiting show floor attendance to industry professionals; giving Covid-19 safety kits with masks and hand sanitizers to all attendees; mandating masks in the convention center; and conducting temperature checks at convention center entrances.