The corona virus will also have a considerable impact on trade fair events in Frankfurt in 2021. This has been clear for some time, as Messe Frankfurt, together with the industries involved, had already decided last September that no trade fairs would be held at the Frankfurt exhibition grounds in the first quarter of 2021. In the meantime, it has become clear that the infection situation will continue to be completely unpredictable beyond this time. As a result, the international presence trade fairs Prolight + Sound, International Consumer Goods Show, Heimtextil, Techtextil and Texprocess planned for April and May will now also deviate from the scheduled dates due to the current changes in regulations and travel restrictions.
The ban on events that is currently in effect in Germany, as well as the continuing international travel restrictions, make trade fair planning for April and May 2021 impossible at present. "The Corona pandemic is extremely present at the moment and also influences our planning. In view of the current situation, we are unable to meet our customers' expectations with regard to internationally oriented trade fairs in April and May," says Detlef Braun, Member of the Board of Management of Messe Frankfurt.
Therefore, Messe Frankfurt has decided, in close consultation with customers and partners, to cancel or postpone both the Prolight + Sound and the International Consumer Goods Show planned for April hybrid, as well as the three textile fairs Heimtextil, Techtextil and Texprocess scheduled for May. The trend-oriented order cycles in the entertainment technology, consumer goods and textiles sectors require an annual event in spring. Therefore, a further postponement to the second half of the year would not meet the needs of exhibiting companies. In addition, the peak phase of preparations for the fair is now starting for participants in the sector - a logistical lead time required above all by exhibitors at Techtextil and Texprocess, some of whom bring presentations with machinery to Frankfurt. Against the backdrop of the current general conditions and travel restrictions, there is massive uncertainty on the part of exhibitors as far as their presence, customer contacts and, consequently, their commitment to take part in the fair are concerned. No planning certainty can currently be guaranteed for investments in trade fair participations in April and May.
Concentration on digital formats
Because physical events are not possible, Messe Frankfurt has created a variety of digital offerings for its customers. For example, the Consumer Goods Digital Day on April 20, 2021, will offer the opportunity to meet, exchange and inform at a specific digital location. The Digital Day offer will be dedicated to the topic of helping retailers to help themselves, especially against the background of the fact that no leading international trade fairs with corresponding lecture and supporting programmes have been able to take place in Frankfurt since Ambiente 2020. This offer will be supplemented by the possibilities offered by Nextrade as the first order and data management platform for the home and living sector. Nextrade also offers manufacturers of ready-made home and household textiles an attractive presentation opportunity for their products and a highly frequented channel to drive business with retailers. Further digital information and content offerings on the part of Heimtextil, Techtextil and Texprocess, as well as Prolight + Sound, are also being planned.
"The ongoing shutdown in the retail sector in our visitor countries requires up-to-date, custom-fit information and approaches to solutions," explains Braun. "We are meeting this need with our digital offerings in this volatile situation. As you know, we continue to put all our efforts into safe and promising trade fairs. Because there is no substitute for meeting people in real life."
Home Textile will therefore take place from 11 to 14 January 2022, followed by Christmasworld from 28 January to 1 February 2022 and Paperworld and Creativeworld each from 29 January to also 1 February 2022. Ambiente will open its doors as usual from 11 to 15 February 2022. This will be followed by Prolight + Sound from 26 to 29 April 2022, with Techtextil and Texprocess completing the series of trade fairs in the second quarter of 2022.
