Cancellation of IBEX 2020
The 2020 edition of the American Boat Show, IBEX, will not take place physically. Scheduled from September 29, 2020 to October 1, 2020 in Tampa, Florida, the 30th edition of the event takes an original twist. Victim of the health crisis and its practical consequences in the context of the resurgence of the Covid pandemic19 , the IBEX is being transformed into a virtual rendezvous. Visitors will be invited to meet online on the same dates. Details of the initiative are expected in August.
Health considerations and challenges for trade show organizers
"As bringing people together physically is not the right decision this year, we will instead be connecting them virtually...By removing the barriers of travel, budget constraints and time away from the office, this is a unique opportunity to participate remotely and a chance to share IBEX with colleagues and teams who don't usually attend, especially new and emerging professionals in the boating industry," explains Anne Dunbar, IBEX Director.
The announcement of the cancellation also comes in a difficult context for trade show organizers, affected by the halt in activity and the slowdown in investment in communication. RAI Amsterdam, co-owner of IBEX and also owner of METSTrade, announced on 8 July 2020 a reorganisation involving the loss of 125 employees and savings of 25 million euros. The other owner, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), also made redundancies in April 2020, notably in the organisation of its boat shows.
