Aside from the NAB Show in Las Vegas, one of the biggest global annual events for the broadcast media industry and the vendors that seek to grow their business at such conference expo halls is the IBC affair.
Held each year in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, the 2021 in-person edition of IBC was largely thought to have been scrapped, due to lingering pandemic concerns.
That’s not the case. It’s just delayed a few months from its normal show dates.
IBC2021 will take place on December 3 at the RAI in Amsterdam.
The announcement follows a decision at the May 24 IBC Partnership Board meeting to move the event from its usual September slot.
“Following a period of industry consultation, the IBC Partnership Board has agreed that December is the best date in terms of safety and industry readiness to engage,” IBC CEO Michael Crimp said, noting that the organization’s conclusion is based on the results of recent IBC exhibitor and visitor surveys and “macro evidence” of Europe opening up for business.
“We really value the feedback and candid input of our community — we have always been ‘By the industry, For the industry’, and this ethos continues to guide our daily decision-making process,” Crimp said.
IBC found that two thirds of the visitors and exhibitors it surveyed said assurance of robust onsite health and safety protocols would encourage them to attend, with vaccination passport entry by far the most popular measure. Further, some 86% of survey respondents said they were very likely, and 13% likely to have been vaccinated by December.
Additionally, two thirds of respondents already feel they are ready to travel, and a vast majority expect any corporate travel restriction policies to be updated by the end of the summer.
European Union commission data show that Europe is now on track to achieve its 70% vaccination target by July 2021 and to surpass this target by December.
Only one in ten of the visitors surveyed said they would not attend a December event.
Crimp concluded, “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. We also had to consider the ability of the supply chain to deliver a high-quality event. We believe that key services such as airports and airlines, and hotels will have established smooth operations and be able to provide a more streamlined service by December.”
