Big Interview
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e. The
s, has
s and
ket
Doug
Emslie on
tradeshows:
“Tradeshows
are missioncritical
in
rebuilding
the economy:
they’re the
number one
platform for
companies
to sell and
to source.
One of
governments’
key aims
should be
to get trade
exhibitions
going again
as soon as
possible.”
“Tradeshows
aren’t like a
football game
or a festival –
they’re easier
to control.”
demand, at least from our customers,
for online tradeshows”.
“We will see advances and
new things to do but I don’t see a
fundamental impact on our industry.”
The rabbit hole he says he would
jump down would be advancing to a
kind of hosted buyer model. He also
sees a two-speed recovery likely.
“If a show is domestic, it will
recover more quickly. Those that
are very international will have
a slower recovery, not least with
the complexities of travel. I expect
a phased regional approach
beginning in China, with a bubble
then perhaps spreading to Japan,
Korea and the rest of Asia, with
Europe and America later.
“I think it will be a bit like 9/11, in
that getting on an aeroplane changed
forever. As a result of the virus, going
to a space where there are lots of
people and how that’s managed will
likely also change forever.”
“This will definitely change
the nature of partnerships in our
industry,” Emslie adds. “I see more
collaborations with associations, with
the Messes and with government –
the dominant forces in the market.
One of the positives is the change in
how people work together.”
Issue 3 2020 17