ISH 2021 now a digital event

GERMANY: ISH 2021, the HVAC exhibition scheduled to take place in Frankfurt next March, is the latest event to fall victim to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Taking the route of so many other exhibition organisers, the biennial exhibition will now take place only as an entirely digital event from 22 to 26 March 2021.

“It is important for our customers that we make a decision at an early date, as it would otherwise be time for them to begin investing in their trade fair presentations,” said Messe Frankfurt president and CEO Wolfgang Marzin.

The decision has been taken despite Messe Frankfurt already organising 13 large trade fairs at various locations in China since the crisis began. The organiser also claims that its exhibition halls are amongst the safest enclosed buildings and can be continuously resupplied with fresh air.

“Over the past months, we have done everything possible to ensure that ISH 2021 can also be held as a classic trade fair with personal encounters. Unfortunately, the latest pandemic developments have led to growing uncertainty among both exhibitors and visitors. Coupled with the renewed tightening of official and corporate travel restrictions, this means it is no longer possible to hold ISH as a physical event offering the customary high standard of quality,” said Marzin.

ISH 2021 as a digital event will offer a number of features including exhibitor presentations (products, specifications, videos, contact persons, chat function, one-to-one video calls), as well as intelligent, AI-aided matchmaking with suitable business contacts for lead generation. Additionally, the organiser promises live streams and on-demand transmissions of the programme of events, as well as an appointments system for online meetings with exhibitors. All features will be available worldwide during the event around the clock and across all time zones, it says.