The Meetings Show, a UK exhibition for the events, meetings
and conferences sector, has announced it will switch from a hybrid event to
virtual-only for 2020 on 19-21 October following a rise in cases of Covid-19 in
the UK.
Event director Jack Marczewski said: “Over the last six
months The Meetings Show team has worked tirelessly, engaging with our valued
stakeholders and advisory board to find a solution to enable event and meetings
professionals to meet and help stimulate and support the recovery of our
sector.
“The health and wellbeing of everyone involved in and
visiting the show has always been at the heart of our plans and we had hoped
that we would be able to offer a hybrid format. But unfortunately, with cases
of Covid-19 rising in the UK and the tightening of government regulations,
after extensive talks with key industry representatives, exhibitors, visitors,
partners and associations, this week we have had to make the difficult decision
to switch The Meetings Show to one that is completely virtual.
“The entire team would like to take the opportunity to thank
the world’s meetings, events and incentives community for their support in
helping to ensure that we can connect the industry and make The Meetings Show
happen in 2020.”
The announcement follows the news that World Travel Market,
which was due to take place as a live event in London on 9-11 November, has
also made the switch to a completely virtual event.
The meetings and events industry is waiting for news from
the UK government about whether conferences and events of more than 30 people
will be able to go ahead later this year after prime minister Boris Johnson
announced restrictions on social gatherings of more than six people and a
review of plans to restart larger events from 1 October.