AMD 252 July 2020 American Motorcycle Dealer 252 July 2020

NOW
IN OUR
28th
YEAR
™
THE LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE AND PARTS INDUSTRY
INTERMOT and AMD World
Championship of Custom
Bike Building 2020 Canceled
JULY 2020
ISSUE #252
Koelnmesse, the
international exhibition
center at Cologne,
Germany ( that
organizes the biennial INTERMOT
expo for the German motorcycle
trade association/IVM), has
announced that it has had to
cancel this year's planned
October INTERMOT.
Therefore, AMD will not be able to
stage this year's much-anticipated
World Championship of Custom Bike
Building at the venue and time
planned. With nearly 100 custom bikes
already slated to compete, and
builders expected to travel to the event
from some 30 or so countries, this is
obviously a blow for the custom bike
market.
However, there are bigger issues at
play here. Koelnmesse stated that it
"took this decision not least in the
interest of the health of exhibitors and
visitors. In contrast to trade fairs with
a B2B orientation, major events such
as INTERMOT draw tens of thousands
of private visitors on all days of the
trade fair; the hall space is limited and
the time available is short.
"Spatial proximity and the shared
experience of the trade fair form an
integral part of the character of this
event. At this point in time, the
specifications currently in effect that
have been issued by the Robert Koch
Institute (RKI - the German
government health institute), policy
makers and the public authorities
cannot be met at major events. This is
compounded by uncertainties on the
part of numerous customers and the
complicated travel situation.
The next INTERMOT will be from 5-9
October 2022 in Cologne. "We regret
that the overall situation leaves us no
other choice."
Like all exhibition organizers
throughout the world, Koelnmesse is
aware that 2020 is clearly going to
prove to be a watershed year in terms
of how consumer and B2B trade fairs
and exhibitions are operated. They
went on to say that in future, such
events " will incorporate more hybrid
elements to supplement the on-site
experience with added digital reach.
All stakeholders involved now have
enough time to prepare accordingly
for the next INTERMOT in Cologne,
and to make it, once again, the
meeting place of the international
motorcycle community.
"We have hosted digital formats, in
planning, that will present vehicle
manufacturers' world premières for
the 2021 season, together with
innovations and industry news from
the parts, accessories and apparel
segments. There are also plans for a
Continues on page 8 >>>
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