With the recent cancellations of both Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona and CP+ in Japan due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, there is growing concern about what may happen to other large trade shows within the photography and video industry over the next few months. DIYP reached out to The Photography Show (TPS) in the UK, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) in the USA, and Photokina in Germany to find out their current thoughts and plans for their upcoming shows.
The Photography Show – March 14-17, 2020, Birmingham, England
In a statement, The Photography Show organisers told DIYP that the event is still to go ahead as planned. So far, only nine people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 coronavirus in the UK, although health officials have contacted conference attendees in London after one visitor at the UK Bus Summit at the QeII Conference Centre was positively diagnosed.
The Nikon D6 and Canon EOS R5 are set to make their global debut at The Photography Show next month. – Jonny Sullens, Event Director for The Photography Show
NAB – April 18-22, 2020, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
NAB has today issued a press release in response to our request. The NAB Show is currently still going ahead as planned but is closely monitoring the COVID-190 situation.
Photokina – May 27-30, 2020, Cologne, Germany
Koelnmesse, the venue and organisers of Photokina have also provided DIYP with an official statement regarding all events at the Koelnmesse, including Photokina. They also referred us to a statement made by the German Trade Fair Association. NAB Show is the premier event driving the evolution of media and entertainment. It is an engine for commerce and a critical launchpad for products and services expected to revolutionize the business. The convention’s 1,600 exhibitors and 90,000 attendees rely on the annual NAB Show to raise their profile and meet business goals. While the NAB stands firm in its commitment to hold the convention as planned, the health and safety of attendees and participants are NAB’s top priority. To that end, NAB is dedicated to providing rapid responses and assistance in support of the global NAB Show community’s participation plans. The event management team has launched a COVID-19 resource page on the NAB Show website, where updates will be provided. Currently, NAB is:
Adhering to all guidance and recommended safety measures issued by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state and local health organizations.Working with the Las Vegas Convention Center, the airport authority, and area hotels and resorts to coordinate appropriate safety procedures.Following CDC recommendations and protocols for heightened levels of cleanliness at event facilities.Making accommodations and actively encouraging attendees to take common-sense precautions and follow CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of illness.Ensuring medical care is readily accessible to address immediate health concerns.Working with China-based exhibitors and registered attendees to evaluate options for those unable to attend due to travel restrictions. Of note, NAB Show attendance from China, although growing, represented less than 2 percent of total registered attendees in 2019.
NAB is taking COVID-19 very seriously and is fully invested and prepared to host a successful NAB Show in Las Vegas. The city of Las Vegas is maintaining rigorous cleanliness and safety standards throughout public spaces, resorts and meeting facilities, and hosts successful trade events daily. Meanwhile, NAB Show has experienced an uptick in exhibit sales, attendee registration and hotel bookings in recent weeks, and conference program speakers are confirmed daily. So, for now, all three shows are going ahead as planned, but all three are taking the potential risks that COVID-19 poses very seriously. Things may change between now and when the shows actually go ahead, but for right now, everything is as scheduled. For Koelnmesse’s part, we take the topic seriously and have initiated a state of heightened vigilance. This includes us being in permanent dialogue with the health authorities. In view of the recommendations of the World Health Organization, the German Federal Ministry of Health and the local health authorities, there is currently no reason to cancel major events such as those at Koelnmesse. That means: All of Koelnmesse’s events in Cologne will be going ahead as planned. We are looking forward to your participation. We have taken constructive prophylactic measures at our exhibition grounds and are informing our customers accordingly. We have increased disinfectant supplies, considered the most effective way to prevent transmission. Highly frequented areas of the exhibition grounds are also being cleaned at shorter intervals. Qualified doctors and paramedics at our medical stations are prepared for potential suspected cases and are available to answer your questions in situ. We’ll keep you posted if we hear that anything has changed, but don’t go cancelling your travel plans just yet!
