A thing of the past? Music fans crowding the streets of Nashville will adjust to the new normal.
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As cities around the country negotiate the stages of reopening for business after months of Corona virus-mandated shutdowns, special challenges confront metro areas that attract crowds of tourists. Nashville’s downtown, with its many bars and music venues, is often packed with people. To help businesses reopen safely, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC) has partnered with Vanderbilt Health and Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP) to launch a free program supporting area businesses with extra resources and access to public health experts as the city begins to reopen.
“The Good to Go program will ensure a safer city for residents and visitors as Nashville businesses pledge to implement health standards in a way that is consistent across Music City,” says Butch Spyridon, president and CEO of NCVC.
Good To Go will not dictate the schedule of reopening, but rather serve as a communication and resource tool for businesses.
“Our role is to make businesses feel prepared,” says David Aronoff, Director of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University. “Guidance for what steps to take and when to take them come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and from state and federal health agencies. We don’t set policy – we communicate and help them to understand.”
Over 450 Nashville businesses of various kinds have signed on for the program, which provides them with signage, access to a program toolkit and materials on infectious disease prevention and workplace safety informed by Vanderbilt experts, insights into best practices from Ryman Hospitality Properties leaders, monthly calls with fellow Good to Go participants and timely access to Vanderbilt Health infectious disease professionals for questions.
“We encourage every business in Nashville to join Good to Go. We believe this is the first program of this kind in the nation to provide uniform industry guidelines and comprehensive toolkits for businesses throughout the city in response to COVID-19. We want to show the world that through cooperation and collaboration, Nashville is safe and sound,” says Spyridon. “As destinations begin to open, Good to Go will help Nashville stand apart as it ensures that our business community is following all public health guidelines and has access to leading experts at Vanderbilt Health. It will give all those who live and come to Nashville confidence and peace of mind that we are safely open for business.”
Participating businesses will be given a special green music note to display at their locations and on their websites and materials, indicating their commitment to following these safety standards. Additionally, participating businesses will be recognized on a new Good to Go website which will be promoted to visitors.
“If multiple businesses follow the same guidelines, it can be empowering,” says Aronoff. “It helps businesses to know that everyone buys into this.”