Trade shows cancelled to help curb virus spread
Major industry trade events have been postponed and cancelled, following government advice to the effect that large gatherings should be avoided in a bid to curtail the coronavirus’s spread.
Organisers of the Microlise Transport Conference and ITT Hub, which were scheduled to take place in May in Coventry and Farnborough respectively, announced last month that the events would now not take place, but return in 2021.
Shortly afterwards, Commercial Vehicle Show bosses announced that this year’s event, scheduled for the end of April at the NEC Birmingham, would also be cancelled.
“In light of the current Covid-19 pandemic together with guidance issued by the government on Monday 16 March that all mass gatherings are to be avoided, it is clear that the only realistic options for this year’s Show were cancellation or postponing to a later date,” said CV Show organisers.
“The option of postponing was given careful consideration given the importance of the Show to the road transport sector; however, it was felt there were too many unknown variables to make this option possible. As ever, our priority is to ensure the health and safety of all those involved with the Show.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our exhibitors, registered visitors, show team and other stakeholders for their continued support during this most challenging and unprecedented of times.”
It has since been announced that the NEC will be used as a temporary field hospital to treat coronavirus patients in the West Midlands region, with a capacity of up to 2,000 beds. Multimodal 2020, which was also due to take place there in June, has been postponed until 4-6 November.
Tip-Ex and Tank-Ex 2020, scheduled for the end of May in Harrogate, has also been postponed until 2021, with dates to be confirmed.
Some events planned for later in the year are so far unaffected by cancellations – but operators are advised to keep checking the relevant organiser websites as the situation develops.
