Steve Monnington
Managing Director
Mayfield Media Strategies
Dealm
fter the uncertainty of the last couple of months, the
exhibition sector has started to get some good news
from around the world as some countries start to
come out of lockdown.
China led the way when the government allowed the Hunan
Auto show to open on 30 April. This was followed by the
announcement that exhibitions could resume subject to the
venues and police departments being happy about Covid safety
measures.
KINTEX in Seoul, South Korea hosted the 47th MBC
Construction Expo in mid-May. Compared to last year, the show
was a lot smaller (two halls rather than five) but they safely
processed 45,500 visitors (last year 120,000) and exhibitors were
very satisfied. South Korea is one of the countries with the most
stringent Covid testing, tracking and tracing systems and this has
allowed them to be confident in opening exhibitions. KINTEX
shared some of its challenges and lessons learned online, which
gave us all hope.
Germany’s national government and its 16 states agreed that
there should be a differentiation between exhibitions and mass
gatherings – an important distinction which, as with China, put
the onus on the local authorities and venues to create a safe
environment and, as long as the virus stays in check, removes
the risk of a continuing blanket ban. These moves come despite
the World Health Organisation putting exhibitions in the same
category as festivals and other major public events.
“In the US we can expect to
see many association events
change ownership – with either
an outright sale or as a joint
venture with one of the larger
organisers.”
www.exhibitionworld.co.uk