Organizers of the meetings industry trade show based the decision on uncertainty caused by the German government and “the responsibility we feel towards our exhibitors and partners,” hospitalitynet.org reports.
IMEX Frankfurt, the largest annual trade exhibition for the meetings, conventions, events, and incentive travel industry, has been canceled, following German federal and state advisories to cancel large events due to the coronavirus outbreak. The event was scheduled to be held between May 12-14 in Frankfurt, Germany.
The move comes three days after German Health Minister Jens Spahn called on organizers of events larger than 1,000 people to cancel them. “Consider also what in your daily life is so important that you can’t do without it for the next three months, whether that’s an evening clubbing, a family birthday or a club meeting,” Spahn tweeted.
The annual event attracted 3,500 exhibitors from 172 countries and nearly 7,800 visitors and hosted buyers last year; the program also included more than 250 education sessions.
At press time, the organizer’s sister show, IMEX America, remains scheduled to be held between Sept. 15-17, 2020, at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas.
Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group, and Ray Bloom, chairman of IMEX Group, released the following statement this morning:
“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the cancellation of this year’s IMEX in Frankfurt (due to take place May 12-14).
We know that this will come as an enormous disappointment, not only to the exhibitors, buyers and industry professionals who were due to attend the show but also to the global business events community.”
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