| Key trade shows to have been cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19 02 March: The PATA Annual Summit 2020, due to be held in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE on 31 March 31-3 April has been cancelled due to the health crisis. The 2021 event will be held in the same location instead. 29 February: ProWein 2020, due to be held in Düsseldorf on 15-17 March, is postponed to an unconfirmed date. 28 February: The Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference and Awards, due to take place on 23-24 June in Istanbul, is postponed to 2-3 September in the same city. 28 February: Baselworld, the leading international watch and jewellery event, is postponed from 30 April-5 May 2020 until 28 January-2 February 2021. 28 February: The 15th ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly, Conference & Exhibition scheduled for 21-23 April 2020 in Nara, Japan, is postponed. A new date will be decided in due course. 12 February: The Mobile World Congress, the world’s largest mobile phone trade fair, due to be held in Barcelona on 24-27 February, is cancelled. Source: Moodie Davitt Business Intelligence Unit |
INTERNATIONAL. Two of the world’s biggest trade shows have been postponed due to the escalating COVID-19 outbreak.
ProWein 2020, due to be held in Düsseldorf, Germany on 15-17 March, has been postponed to a yet to be decided date as a result of the health crisis. Some 6,800 exhibitors from around the world had been expected to take part, representing all key wine-making regions and almost 400 spirits producers.
In related news, Baselworld, the leading international watch and jewellery event, has been postponed from its original 30 April-5 May dates until 28 January-2 February 2021 because of the COVID-19 crisis.
The decisions intensify the spotlight on two forthcoming travel retail trade shows, the 2020 Duty Free & Travel Retail Summit of the Americas, due to be hosted by the International Association of Airport Duty Free Stores (IAADFS) and ASUTIL in Orlando on 30 March-2 April; and TFWA Asia Pacific in Singapore (10-14 May).
The Orlando show is still on though the escalating number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North America (currently 71 in the US and 20 in Canada) and the deteriorating global situation will have the organisers continuing to monitor the situation intensely (click here for an interview on the situation with IAADFS President & CEO Michael Payne conducted on 13 February).
The TFWA Management Committee meet this Thursday and Friday (March 5-6) in Barcelona with the fate of the Singapore show top of the agenda. A repeat of the SARS-prompted 2003 cancellation now seems increasingly likely, especially given the severity of the crisis in many Asian countries, including Singapore (currently 102 cases). It would be a difficult decision but one likely to be understood and widely supported by the travel retail community.
“In the interests of safety” – ProWein postponement explained
“In doing so [postponing], we are following the recommendation of the crisis management team of the German government to take into account the principles of the Robert Koch Institute when making a risk assessment of major events. On the basis of this recommendation and the recent significant increase in the number of infected persons, including in Europe, Messe Düsseldorf has reassessed the situation,” the ProWein organisers said.
“Added to this is the uncertainty of numerous exhibitors and visitors at ProWein and the complicated travel situation, especially for international customers.”
Messe Düsseldorf CEO Werner M. Dornscheidt said: “Our customers, partners and employees trust us. Not only when it comes to the professional and successful handling of major international events in Düsseldorf. They can also have this trust in us when we make decisions about critical situations in the interests of their safety.”
“This decision was not an easy one for all concerned,” said Thomas Geisel, Lord Mayor of the City of Düsseldorf and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Messe Düsseldorf. “But the postponement at the present time is necessary for Messe Düsseldorf and its customers in view of the increasingly dynamic developments.”
In a statement, Baselworld said: “For health safety reasons and in accordance with the precautionary principle following the bans of large-scale public and private events issued today by the Swiss federal and cantonal authorities, Baselworld announces that it has taken the decision to postpone the show… due to concerns related to Covid-19.
“Baselworld… has taken this difficult decision in close consultation with its partners and the health authorities in charge, in whom Baselworld has full confidence for their expertise and recommendations for the benefit of exhibitors, visitors and collaborators.
“Following today’s official ban on large public gatherings which meant direct repercussions for the show, Baselworld had no other option than to make a decision as all preparations, in particular, construction in the halls and of the stands was scheduled to commence next week.
Baselworld Managing Director Michel Loris-Melikoff said: “We deeply regret having had to postpone the event as planned due to the coronavirus, in full consideration of the needs of the watch and jewellery industry to be able to benefit from the platform to develop their business.
“This decision has been all the more difficult in view of all the positives that have been achieved through listening and dialogue over the last few months, which resulted in new concepts and new solutions, that have attracted exhibitors to return and new ones to sign on. We registered encouraging growth in all sectors; watchmaking, jewellery, the gemstone and pearl trade, as well as in the technical branch.
“By postponing the show to January 2021, we have found a solution that enables the industry and all our customers to avoid losing a full year and at the same time reset their calendars for the beginning of the year, a period that is conductive to the presentation of their new products, new trends and order taking. This postponing will also allow Baselworld to continue developing and bringing new formats and solutions as well as improvements to the new concept we propose.”
