IMEX 2021 in Frankfurt Is Cancelled

January 11, 2021

IMEX announced on Monday that it is cancelling its annual trade show and conference in Frankfurt this year. The prestigious trade show and conference was scheduled to be held in Frankfurt, Germany, May 25-27.

In making the announcement, IMEX Group Chairman Ray Bloom and CEO Carina Bauer said that the organization believed the pace of the coronavirus recovery would prohibit the type of event attendees are used to experiencing.

According to the statement, “We still believe wholeheartedly that a resurgence will come, but sadly we do not believe it will happen in time for us to deliver a strong and successful event in May.”

Bloom and Bauer added that they have high confidence that IMEX America will occur Nov. 9-11 in Las Vegas and that it’s full steam ahead for IMEX Frankfurt to return April 26-28, 2022. 

Still reeling from challenges from COVID-19, the meetings and events industry is eager for any signs of normalcy. CES 2021 is happening all virtually this week, but other trade shows such as Surf Expo are going in-person as originally scheduled.

The timing was not lost on IMEX, which noted: “The timing of our announcement comes as a blow so early in 2021. More than anything, and like you, we’re eager to deliver some good news and mark a fresh start.”

IMEX is without a doubt one of the industry’s largest and most important events. More than 150 countries are represented—a fact that made this year’s event so challenging. Rules about international travel remain in flux, and many countries in Europe remain in a temporary lockdown. 

Sharing the same forecast as many within the trade show world, IMEX predicted the vaccine roll-out will allow for large-scale face-to-face gathering toward the final months of the year. Hence, IMEX Americas appears to be in safe shape.

To keep its attendees engaged, IMEX will continue with its digital offerings to help facilitate future business, educate event professionals and serve as a forum for innovation. Those same ideals will shape IMEX going forward as well, noted Bloom and Bauer.

“When we do deliver another IMEX show — you can count on it being one worth waiting for.”


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