consider what any recovery will look
like and what we are doing to give
people the confidence to return. “Our
associations have a huge job,” he
believes and advocates working with
others, such as through ‘US Travel’
Stateside at least. “If we dissipate our
energy we don’t achieve anything.”
He also calls for money to be put
in to our industry for promotion
and, in terms of destinations to learn
from, Emslie picks out Hong Kong’s
policy of free tenancies for organisers
for the next year. “They are leading
in understanding the impact our
business has on the economy.”
His second objective for SISO is
to encourage smaller organisers,
a sub sector where he sees some
unfortunate casualties likely due to
the unprecedented cashflow situation.
Emslie notes, however,
“entrepreneurs are very good at
coming up with workarounds and
much depends how quickly money
can be put into the system.”
He doesn’t subscribe to the theory
that there will be lots of M&A fire
sales, with organisers likely staying
largely focused on the day to day.
“Companies will probably not
invest until the worst is behind us,”
he says.
Venues
Does he think venues have b
understanding of organisers
situation?
“Ninety percent have been
helpful as partners, with the
exception. In the US one gro
been difficult,” Emslie notes
says that here SISO was able
a strong role when it emerge
were 12 complaints in one w
about that group.
“You can’t ask governme
money if you’re playing ha
with customers. So, we wer
to influence that venue gro
relax its rules.”
Incidentally the one Tarsus
cancellation was a CES partne
in China and Emslie notes the
sector in general was the first
out of shows. “I suspect it will
to come back,” he adds.
Virtual
In terms of virtual elements a
any new normal, Emslie beli
the more content and confer
oriented material there is, th
opportunities there are onlin
classic tradeshow, he believe
not really changed in 20 year
Emslie adds there is “no mar
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