COVID-19 Speaker Updates
Updated on January 19, 2021
Dear EDW 2021 Speakers,
Thank you for choosing to join us at the Enterprise Data World 2021 Conference. At the time you received your speaking invitation, we were hopeful that we would be able to conduct the conference in person, in San Diego. Unfortunately, it is now clear that conducting the in-person part of the event is no longer possible, due to state and local regulations, and broader health limitations resulting from COVID-19. We will therefore be conducting EDW 2021 as an all-digital program.
The main COVID restrictions are obvious to everyone, but as it relates to EDW 2021, there are some specific limiting factors that have forced us to this point, including:
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California regulations currently do not allow groups of any size (i.e., greater than one person) to meet indoors, and with case numbers climbing very rapidly, there is no sign that this restriction will be lifted in the near future.
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San Diego County was recently moved to the highest risk level, designated as the “Widespread” risk level for spreading the virus, under which all public dining facilities can only operate outdoors, bars and pubs are shut down, and retail stores can only operate at 20% capacity. The guidance for hotels and lodging states that hotel operations with large meeting facilities must keep those areas closed.
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Under California’s updated Regional Stay Home Order, hotels and lodging cannot accept or honor out-of-state reservations for non-essential travel, unless the reservation is for at least 14 days, which is the minimum time period required for quarantine. It is clearly impractical to expect EDW attendees to travel to San Diego two weeks in advance and self-isolate for 14 days in order to attend the event.
As difficult as this decision is for us, we strongly believe we are doing the right thing by making it now, rather than waiting until closer to the event. As it relates to your speaker participation:
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You should still plan on making your presentation as part of the EDW digital program. We will follow up with you in the near future with further details about how to do this.
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Please cancel your flight and hotel reservations as soon as possible to avoid any potential fees.
Meanwhile, the DATAVERSITY team will be forging ahead with our preparations for an all-digital version of Enterprise Data World on April 18-23, and we hope you will choose to remain with us.
Thanks very much,
Tony Shaw
CEO
DATAVERSITY