Socially distanced events are here to stay. For a while longer at least. Festivals, sports and music events, restaurants, museums are all adapting to this new reality and using all sorts of tools to simplify the customer experience and ensure the adherence to social distancing measures. what3words is one of these tools, and will prove to be very helpful in facilitating social distancing at events in 2021. If you’re an event organiser or a venue getting ready to welcome visitors again, this is for you.
What is what3words
First, let’s go over the basics. what3words is a simpler address. Every 3 metre square in the world has been given a combination of 3 words, making it possible to talk about any precise location easily with just 3 words. You can go to what3words.com and find the square in front of your front door; that’s the what3words for your home. Festivals like Glastonbury have used what3words to locate people, venues like The O2 Arena in London give the what3words addresses for all their different entrances and POIs. For example, the O2 Arena's main entrance is ///spill.inform.penny. People can enter the 3 words into the online map or free app to see exactly where that is. They can then tap 'Navigate' to get directions via their favourite navigation app.
Today, with social distancing, directing people to an exact location – whether that’s an entrance, exit, or table has become a crucial part of running successful events.
Here are a few ways what3words can help you deliver a great socially distanced experience in 2021:
1. One-way systems: many events and venues now have one-way systems. A specific door for entering, and a specific door for exiting. You can avoid visitors showing up at the exit or other entrances simply by giving them the what3words address for the entrance-only door. Signage isn't accessible to everyone, so giving people an address they can easily locate and navigate to is the most helpful and accessible option.
2. Drive-in events: such as drive-in cinemas, are in fashion again. Visitors can be given the exact 3 metre square where they should park with what3words.
3. Socially distanced concert venues or festivals: they can use what3words to direct people to their exact booth or stand and avoid them mixing with others whilst looking for it.
4. Find the closest POIs: you can make sure visitors are going to the closest food truck, toilet or information desk to avoid unnecessary mingling.
5. Big venues: stadiums and concert halls have many different entrances. Now more than ever, it's important that visitors use the right entrance to minimise indoor wandering. Organisers can give them the exact what3words address for the right entrance.
6. Hand-washing stations: In their Covid-19 Safety Playbook for Events, Eventbrite recommends setting up hand-washing stations with water and soap. These stations will have no exact addresses and will be easier to find with what3words.
7. Restaurants & pubs: they will be taking bookings for distanced tables outside. They can use what3words to give people the location of their exact table so they can go straight to it.
With what3words, you can communicate any location and point of interest very accurately, reducing contact between people. If you’d like to hear more or want to have a chat about how what3words can help make your event or venue safer, get in touch with me - Gigi Etienne.
