GCCC TO REOPEN JUNE 1 TO HOST FRANKLIN COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT PROCEEDINGS

May 26, 2020

Dear Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) partners:

I am pleased to announce that the GCCC will reopen to event operations on June 1, 2020!  Beginning on this date and continuing through August 28, 2020, every Monday-Friday, the GCCC will serve as host to the Franklin County Municipal Courts.

Court hearings will be conducted in a section of GCCC meeting rooms and will involve traffic and eviction cases.  In line with current State of Ohio orders related to mass gatherings, the court rooms will be set up with all proper social distancing measures in place and participants per room will number no more than ten individuals.

I also have news to report out on banquet and wedding-based events.  Based upon new directives from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, the GCCC and other like banquet facilities can now host these types of events.  The allowed hosting resembles prior guidance provided to restaurants throughout Ohio upon their recent reopening.  The GCCC hosting of these events will involve, limiting capacity to 300 people or less, no congregating, and assurance of six feet distance between tables.

Although hosting banquet and wedding events are allowed, the GCCC is still precluded from hosting any other type of events where the capacity is not 10 people or less, until there is a change to the current mass gathering number.  Additionally, a portion of the GCCC exhibit halls continue to remain reserved and set for potential activation as an alternative care site if there is a local surge in COVID-19 cases.  An activation of the GCCC has not occurred to this point.

Since the last time I wrote to you, I had the honor of being named by Governor DeWine to be a member of the Restart Ohio Travel and Tourism Task Force.  This included serving as the Chair of the Meetings and Conventions Subcommittee.  The recommendations from our task force’s work will be forthcoming very soon and will report out, how Ohio can begin to reopen our industry in full and we as the GCCC can safely operate all events in a post-COVID-19 environment.

Along with hosting events, the GCCC South Café & Marketplace is reopening as well.  Merchants reopening during the past week included, Heroes & Games, Sky’s the Limit Barber & Beauty Boutique, Nielsen’s Convenience Stores & Gifts and Donya’s Florals.  Within the next week, SegAway Tours will resume their GCCC operations.

A new merchant, Lavish Laque Nail Bar has joined the GCCC South Café Marketplace.  Operated by Lasta Ramsey, Lavish Laque Nail Bar offers waterless manicures, waterless pedicures, gel manicures, dip powder, gel polish and builder gel overlay.  Guests may stop by the new business in person Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or book appointments online at www.LavishLaque.com.

Beginning June 1, you can again enjoy a selection of our quick-service restaurants that will reopen and provide great variety and value.  Outlets such as Charley’s Philly Steaks, Subway and Siam Express are ready to safely serve you.

Our top priority continues throughout this process to be your health and safety.  The GCCC has put in place sustainable cleaning, training, and safety best practice measures, including the creation of an initiative called VenueShield.  We will be sharing more with you on VenueShield in the coming weeks.

We will continue to provide updates on future developments related to the GCCC’s operation as we navigate this unprecedented health crisis together.

I look forward to welcoming you back to the GCCC soon.

Sincerely,

John Page General Manager