ews that IMEX
Frankfurt 2020 had
been cancelled came
as a shock to the wider
events industry when it was
announced on 11 March.
However, as an indication of how
fast news is moving, it is of no
surprise now.
In a statement released on its
website, IMEX Group’s chairman
and CEO, Ray Bloom and Carina
Bauer, said that factors beyond
their control have forced them to
make this reluctant decision. The
event was due to take place at
Messe Frankfurt, 12-14 May.
Yet, in these unprecedented
times, the statement released by
IMEX Group demonstrated
dignity and positivity. How event
organisers conduct themselves
now will be crucial when it
comes to the rebuilding stage. It
is clear that Messe Frankfurt
and the German Convention
Bureau helped to the end, before
the authorities made it clear the
event could not run. The show
will take place in 2021.
IMEX statement in full:
“It is with deep sadness and
heavy hearts that we announce
the cancellation of this year’s
IMEX in Frankfurt (due to take
place 12-14 May).
“We know that this will come
IMEX
FRANKFURT
WILL RETURN
IN 2021
News that IMEX Frankfurt will not run in 2020 may
not have come as a surprise in the current climate, but
there remains positivity for the show’s 2021 return
as an enormous disappointment,
not only to the exhibitors, buyers
and industry professionals who
were due to attend the show, but
also to the global business
events community.
“This is not a decision we have
taken lightly and there are two
overriding concerns that have
caused us to make this decision
at this time.
“First is the uncertainty
caused by the fact that the
German health minister has
recently called for the ban on
events with over 1,000 people
which some German states have
already endorsed, including the
state of Hesse where Frankfurt
is located. This announcement
makes the probability of factors
outside our control forcing us to
cancel the show at the last
minute much higher.
“Second, our primary
concern is always the
responsibility we feel towards
our exhibitors and partners,
who fund the show – not only
by purchasing stand space but
also in the considerable
additional investment they
make in everything from the
build of stunning stands to the
hosting of buyer events.
“While only a short time ago
we felt optimistic that May was
far enough away to confidently
proceed with our plans, as it
stands today [11 March] we
cannot guarantee the one thing
that our exhibitors trust us
above all else to deliver –
namely a large-scale, high
quality hosted buyer
programme.
“In an ideal world we would
wait and see. But we are in the
www.conference-news.co.uk
23
IMEX
real world
and we
cannot, in all
good conscience, ask our
exhibitors to continue to invest
money against which they may
not get a return.
“Both of these factors –
uncertainty around whether
IMEX will be allowed to proceed,
as well as doubts as to the
number of buyers who will be
able to attend – have led us to
the conclusion that we now have
no option but to cancel IMEX in
Frankfurt.
A decision based on facts
“We want to make it very clear
that we have made this decision
based purely on the facts as we
know them today and,
importantly for the whole IMEX
team, based on the
responsibility and genuine care
we feel for all our clients and the
global business events
community.
“IMEX is our family business
and the business events
community is the only
community we serve.
“We have tried today to take
the best decision for the industry
and we are so thankful for the
support that has already been
shown to us. Quite rightly many
of you see yourselves as friends
and members of the extended
IMEX family. This is precisely