IBC 2021 to take place from December 3 to 6

IBC has confirmed through its CEO Michael Crimp that the IBC 2021 show will be held from 3 to 6 December, instead of September, as planned.

Michael Crimp, CEO, shared that this decision has been made after a period of consultation with the public, exhibitors and show partners. IBC is optimistic that the vaccination process will be sufficiently advanced by December, allowing it to hold an event with all the health guarantees and as much normality as possible.

In his speech, Crimp took the opportunity to underline the support he has received from all the agents that shape IBC. The possibility of holding the fair in September has been on the table, but he considers that the key to the success of the event will be “time”: “The more time goes by, the more confidence there will be and the more the vaccination will have advanced”. The feelings, for Crimp, are absolutely positive.

Backed by surveys

The various surveys shared by the IBC team have been instrumental in encouraging the organization to make the decision to hold the event in December at the Amsterdam RAI.

According to these polls, two-thirds of respondents are clear that they will attend IBC if the show establishes robust health and safety protocols, including allowing only vaccinated people to enter. In this regard, the surveys are clear: 86% of respondents said they are “very likely” to be vaccinated before December.

Similarly, comments from exhibitors and visitors show a strong desire for a live show in 2021. Only one in ten visitors surveyed said they would not attend an event in December. In Crimp’s words, “IBC’s primary focus is to deliver a safe and valuable event, and we believe the best way for us to achieve that is to take advantage of our opportunity to move the event to December. We did not shift from September lightly. However, as the evidence was gathered and considered, there was a shifting sentiment towards December from both exhibitors and visitors. Clearly, IBC will be safest when attendees are vaccinated, and shifting to December allows us to implement the most appropriate safety protocols. In turn, this will enable us to maximise the audience.”

Hybrid event

Although holding IBC 2021 in December will allow us to achieve greater normalcy, IBC has been keen not to forgo the benefits provided by hybrid event models.

Der 250,000 members of the IBC community will be able to participate in the event through IBC Digital. This digital platform will create a hybrid event that seeks to combine “the best of trade shows with the most advanced online interaction,” thus offering “new opportunities” for exhibitors, speakers and show attendees.

In the coming weeks, the show organizers will unveil new keys to what IBC 2021 will be like.