Attendees completed a daily symptom-tracking survey through the Vital Circle platform, and if they got the “all clear” green check, they could enter the meeting area. Here, Linda Lawson, Achieve Incentives & Meetings, shows she’s cleared for a day at the Invitational.

Every attendee wore a device on their name tag to help with contact tracing in the event someone tested positive for Covid during or immediately following the event.

A new wristband was issued on each day of the IRF conference to indicate an attendee had passed that day’s health screening.

Attendees displayed their personal comfort level with social interaction by attaching one of these buttons on their nametags. Green meant “elbows and fist bumps welcome,” yellow indicated “open to talking but not touching,” and red meant the attendee preferred to keep distance between themselves and others.

Temperature checks were part of the morning meeting ritual.

While most attendees were mask-free, hotel staff and some entertainers, like these dancers from the final-night festivities, kept their mouths covered. Here, Jonathan Leonardis, 1 Hotels, and Tracy Norum, Meetings & Incentives Worldwide, arrive at the beach event.

Chairs for the breakout sessions were set with plenty of breathing room.

While the education and camaraderie would have existed at the IRF Invitational if masks were required, there was no doubt attendees enjoyed seeing the smiles of clients and colleagues.

Stephanie Harris, president of the Incentive Research Foundation, and Cosimo Bruzzese, PRA Business Events, who serves on the IRF Board of Directors.