IMEX 2021 cancellation
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GMF news - World Trade Fair Guide. Turin, January 13, 2021 – Below is the organizer's statement regarding the cancellation of IMEX 2021.
It is with regret that we announce the cancellation of IMEX in Frankfurt 2021, due to take place at Messe Frankfurt from 25 – 27 May.
We know the timing of our announcement comes as a blow so early in 2021. More than anything, and like you, we’re eager to deliver some good news and mark a fresh start.
When we were compelled to cancel IMEX in Frankfurt and IMEX America last year we hoped 2021 would see the early recovery of the industry and the IMEX shows. We still believe wholeheartedly that a resurgence will come, but sadly we do not believe it will happen in time for us to deliver a strong and successful event in May.
IMEX in Frankfurt is a hugely global event – our exhibitors and buyers represent 150+ countries – and we are, therefore, reliant on international travel routes being open in the coming weeks to allow our buyers and exhibitors from across the world to confirm their participation.
All that said, we are genuinely positive about the future.
Industry prospects
The vaccine roll-out and improvements in rapid testing programmes give us great confidence for the prospects of our industry and of travel in general. We are very confident that we’ll be able to deliver a successful IMEX America in Las Vegas from 9-11 November; as well as the 20th anniversary edition of IMEX in Frankfurt in 2022 (26-28 April). The IMEX Team is already working hard with our partners in both locations to create and deliver successful shows that will drive the future growth and prosperity of our industry.
In the meantime, we remain committed to value creation. We’ll be working with industry partners on digital activations and experiences that deliver on our mission of uniting and advancing the business events industry – doing everything we can to educate, innovate and help you to make powerful connections with the right people.
You can count on IMEX
We remain at the service of the industry and cannot wait to see all our industry friends again in person. When we do deliver another IMEX show – you can count on it being one worth waiting for.
Ray Bloom, Chairman, IMEX Group
Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX Group
Messages from partners
We very much regret the cancellation of IMEX Frankfurt in May 2021, but we can understand the decision in light of the current situation. We appreciate that IMEX made this decision early to provide exhibitors, their partners and participants with planning security. The GCB German Convention Bureau has been a strategic partner and host at IMEX since the very beginning, and we are looking forward to continuing our trusting cooperation. In this year of transition, we are joining forces with IMEX to work on new solutions and alternative paths to create platforms for the global business events community. Our common goal is to drive innovation and to create new approaches for future business events.
Matthias Schultze, Managing Director, GCB German Convention Bureau
For ICCA, the New Year has begun with plans to continue to strengthen our organisation and play our part, with industry partners, in the recovery of the global meetings industry. The IMEX tradeshows will play a hugely important and integral part of that recovery and help provide a catalyst for us to once again meet, engage and develop long-term, trusted relationships. We are naturally disappointed that this cannot be at IMEX in Frankfurt but look forward to supporting Ray, Carina and their Team at IMEX America in November at what will be a landmark event for our industry.
James Rees, President, ICCA
At JMIC, we are optimistic that, in 2021, our business events industry can ‘kick back into gear’. Testing and vaccination programmes will allow for markets to open up again and for confidence to return. But first, we have to make it through the winter - where so many of our industry are supporting the efforts of health care systems. When IMEX returns to the showfloor - in Vegas as in Frankfurt - JMIC and our members will be there, and we look forward to re-connecting in person with Ray, and Carina, and the whole IMEX team.
Kai Hattendorf, President, JMIC
The current unprecedented situation is forcing our event industry to make decisive and forward-looking decisions that were unimaginable to us a year ago. The cancellation of IMEX in Frankfurt 2021 is further sad proof of this. Nevertheless, together with the IMEX team, we are convinced that our resilient and vibrant industry will reliably recover and face-to-face meetings around the globe will be a reality again in the foreseeable future. This remains our goal together with our partners in Frankfurt and worldwide and we are looking forward to the anniversary IMEX in Frankfurt 2022.
Uwe Behm, Geschäftsführer/Member of the Executive Board, Messe Frankfurt
We are saddened to learn the news that our strategic partner, IMEX Group, will not be hosting IMEX in Frankfurt in 2021. The fact that the pandemic continues to place a sustained and downward pressure on our industry in 2021 is disappointing and frustrating. IMEX in Frankfurt represents a robust marketplace where business events are done, innovation and industry collaboration occur, and more importantly today, a place where industry professionals come to engage. The IMEX Group is an important part pf the MPI family and we stand by their side during these difficult times, because we are smarter and stronger together when working towards a better tomorrow.
Darren Temple, COO, MPI
We remain fully supportive of Ray, Carina and the entire team at IMEX. As we begin this new year with much optimism about our future and our ability to build back as a stronger, more sustainable, more equitable and more effective industry, we recognise that there is still much uncertainty in the near term. We must continue to be brave and decisive; we must all appreciate the challenges that still exist relative to our collective ability under all circumstances to confidently deliver enriching and engaging experiences to our respective communities. We must remain committed to our core values and work to collaboratively to establish trust as we continue on our road ahead.
Amy Calvert, CEO, EIC
For further press information, please contact:
Emma Blake: emma.blake@imexexhibitions.com or Chris Lewis: chris.lewis@imexexhibitions.com
https://www.imexexhibitions.com
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