IMEX 2021 in Frankfurt Is Cancelled

January 11, 2021

IMEX announced on Monday that it is cancelling its annual trade show and conference in Frankfurt this year. The prestigious trade show and conference was scheduled to be held in Frankfurt, Germany, May 25-27.

In making the announcement, IMEX Group Chairman Ray Bloom and CEO Carina Bauer said that the organization believed the pace of the coronavirus recovery would prohibit the type of event attendees are used to experiencing.

According to the statement, “We still believe wholeheartedly that a resurgence will come, but sadly we do not believe it will happen in time for us to deliver a strong and successful event in May.”

Bloom and Bauer added that they have high confidence that IMEX America will occur Nov. 9-11 in Las Vegas and that it’s full steam ahead for IMEX Frankfurt to return April 26-28, 2022. 

Still reeling from challenges from COVID-19, the meetings and events industry is eager for any signs of normalcy. CES 2021 is happening all virtually this week, but other trade shows such as Surf Expo are going in-person as originally scheduled.

The timing was not lost on IMEX, which noted: “The timing of our announcement comes as a blow so early in 2021. More than anything, and like you, we’re eager to deliver some good news and mark a fresh start.”

IMEX is without a doubt one of the industry’s largest and most important events. More than 150 countries are represented—a fact that made this year’s event so challenging. Rules about international travel remain in flux, and many countries in Europe remain in a temporary lockdown. 

Sharing the same forecast as many within the trade show world, IMEX predicted the vaccine roll-out will allow for large-scale face-to-face gathering toward the final months of the year. Hence, IMEX Americas appears to be in safe shape.

To keep its attendees engaged, IMEX will continue with its digital offerings to help facilitate future business, educate event professionals and serve as a forum for innovation. Those same ideals will shape IMEX going forward as well, noted Bloom and Bauer.

“When we do deliver another IMEX show — you can count on it being one worth waiting for.”


Don’t miss any event-related news: Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter HERE and engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram!

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started. Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind. “Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for." What’s New – AT&T Discovery District Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall. Hotels Coming Soon Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond. JW Marriott This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar. InterContinental Dallas  Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.   Hotel Swexan Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.