LIVE. “We view EXHIBITORLIVE as our Super Bowl. It’s the chance to showcase our new products, services and staff to the core of the exhibit and event industry. As our industry begins to return, we want to help our clients and prospects scale. We have implemented service improvements, added new products and new education opportunities that we need to showcase to our industry. We also want our industry members to know that beMatrix is here for them as we have always been.”
The Controversy
Some were disappointed that EXHIBITOR Media Group, the producer of EXHIBITORLIVE, chose to “postpone” rather than cancel the 2020 event, offering exhibiting companies a full credit toward the 2021 show instead of a refund. Dissenters felt that an immediate refund was the only fair solution, due to an urgent need of cash to continue their business operations during the crisis. Some were uncertain whether they would even be in business long enough to participate in the next show. The unprecedented nature of the pandemic raised
We view EXHIBITORLIVE as our Super Bowl. It's the chance to showcase our new products, services and staff to the core of the exhibit and event industry... @EXHIBITCITYNEWS
questions industrywide about the proper handling of show postponements, cancellations and refunds, and exposed the inadequacies of industry contracts and cancellation insurance policies. In a 2020 statement, Randall Acker, president of EXHIBITOR Media Group, defended his company’s stance and said that it had received messages commending its handling of 2020’s postponement. “These exhibitors have emphasized how much they are looking forward to the event in 2021. In addition, we have proactively communicated dozens of times via multiple channels with exhibitors about the situation since we first announced the postponement. As we pointed out in our communications with our valued exhibitors, Dave the national shutdown took Mihalik place immediately before our event, after the vast majority of a year’s worth of production expenses had already been incurred and spent.” ELITeXPO, a company with a 34-year legacy, has long exhibited at the conference annually and is on the schedule for 2021. CEO David Mihalik says of EXHIBITORLIVE, “It’s a great opportunity to meet up with a lot of old colleagues and friends in the business as well as companies we still do business with today.” Although ELITeXPO has rolled over from 2020 to this year’s list of exhibitors, Mihalik is still uncertain if his company will actually participate. First, he stated that timing is problematic, since fall is historically a busy time of year for his company, and it is still scrambling to recover from pandemic losses. And although ELITeXPO had plans
in 2020 to have two separate booths, Mihalik said, “We have zero budget now. … In the past, we’ve spent $30,000-$40,000 all in on this event. There is no way we will have the time, budget or even employees to be able to staff a booth. If we are busy at the office, then that’s our priority.” Further, he feels the value of this year’s exhibition opportunity has been diminished. “The show hall we signed up for is NOT the hall we will exhibit at. The number of exhibitors we signed up for is less than when we signed up. The show floor will be smaller, although we are being told it’s because of the common space in the front of the hall. … We were moved without being consulted and put next to a competitor.” Mihalik would still prefer a refund of his 2020 expenditure or their deposit moved to the event that will be held sometime in 2022.
The Impact
EXHIBITORLIVE remains North America’s largest exhibition of tradeshow and event products and services. Hopefully, the 2021 event will provide space for the industry to come together once again for healing of past difficulties, celebration of collective triumphs and anticipation of opportunities ahead. When asked what she believes makes EXHIBITORLIVE a must-attend event for the industry, Apolinski said, “EXHIBITORLIVE brings all of the industry together in one conference, with an educational line-up that is second to none and exhibitors that always bring their ‘A’ game. Whether you are new to the industry or have been part of it for a long time, EXHIBITORLIVE provides the networking and education you need to continue to serve your clients in this industry.” ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 29