Inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific Event Rescheduled for April 2021

February 26, 2020
Danalynne Wheeler Menegus

Ripples from the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus continue to be felt by the meetings industry. Today, Reed Travel Exhibitions announced that it has postponed the inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific. Originally scheduled for Apr. 6-8, the event has been rescheduled to Apr. 13-14, 2021. The location (Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands) will remain the same.

According to Reed officials, the decision was made based on the latest advice from its partners, and after in-depth discussions with customers and hosted buyers regarding the coronavirus.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly,” said Shane Hannam, Reed Travel Exhibitions’ portfolio director for IBTM events. “Our customers, partners and team in Singapore have worked incredibly hard on the event, and while it is disappointing to postpone, it’s imperative that we prioritize the health and safety of everyone involved.”

He added, “We are extremely grateful for the understanding of our customers, partners and team, and for the strong support we have had since announcing this new addition to our portfolio.”  

Hannam said that Reed is committed to Singapore as a host city for IBTM Asia Pacific, and expressed the hope for a swift return to normalcy. He also stated that over the coming weeks, Reed will focus on creating new ways to keep the IBTM community connected. 

Dr. Edward Koh, executive director, conventions, meetings and incentive travel for Singapore Tourism Board, said that the tourism board will continue to work closely with Reed and partners to provide any assistance they need. 

“IBTM is a valued partner and their Asia Pacific show remains a key highlight in Singapore’s event calendar,” said Koh. “We look forward to extending a warm welcome to all attendees and exhibitors in 2021.”

Reed Travel Exhibitions hosts annual IBTM events around the world, all of which offer hosted buyer options. IBTM China is scheduled to be held in Beijing, Aug. 26-27, 2020, and as of now, there are no plans to change the dates for that event.

Update: the postponements and cancellations of trade shows have now spread outside of Asia to shows in Europe, including Baselworld and the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland; ITB Berlin in Berlin, Germany; Beauty Dusseldorf, Energy Storage Europe, METAV and ProWein in Dusseldorf, Germany. In the U.S., Facebook’s annual F8 Developer Conference and the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco are among a growing number of tech conferences to be postponed or canceled because of the coronavirus.

Photo credit: IBTM/Reed Travel Exhibitions

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