Conference organizers take steps to restart in-person shows after pandemic

After more than a year of shutdowns related to the Covid-19 pandemic, the conference industry is trying to restart in-person events.
Last month, the Sweets & Snacks Expo held an in-person show after skipping last year because of the coronavirus crisis. This year’s show was staged in Indianapolis June 23 to 25. Organizers say the show had over 450 exhibitors and about 8,000 attendees.
However, the previous in-person show, held in Chicago in May 2019, drew more than 800 exhibitors and over 15,000 candy and snack professionals.
Other industry trade shows are counting on things to return to some semblance of normalcy this fall.
The National Association of Broadcasters is kicking off its NAB Show Oct. 9-13 in Las Vegas. The NAB canceled last year’s show due to the pandemic.
The 2021 NAB Show was originally scheduled for April 11-14, but organizers decided in September 2020 to move the event to this October.
Online video conference VidCon plans to hold its next in-person show Oct. 21-24 in Anaheim, Calif., after a one-year hiatus. This year’s lead sponsor is TikTok, which replace longtime sponsor YouTube.
Other trade shows have given up on 2021 altogether because of the still raging pandemic.
Organizers of the IFA Berlin consumer electronics show canceled this year’s conference because of the Covid-19 pandemic. IFA 2021 had been scheduled for Sept. 3-7 in Germany. Last year’s IFA was a hybrid in-person and online event.
Also, video game publisher Blizzard Entertainment canceled its BlizzCon fan convention for the second year in a row because of Covid. The annual event is usually held in November in Anaheim, Calif.

Related article:

Post-Covid reopening delayed by delta variant (July 16, 2021)

Photo: A worker at the Sweets & Snacks Expo hands out of a sample of Haribo gummy candies at the 2021 show in Indianapolis. (Sweets & Snacks Expo)