Organiser consults on MCE 2020 decision

ITALY: The organiser of next month’s Mostra Convegno Expocomfort (MCE 2020) exhibition in Milan is evaluating the possibility of postponing the event as a result of the coronavirus. 

UPDATE 25/2/20: MCE 2020 postponed until September

The organiser, Reed Exhibitions, stresses that it is not looking to cancel the exhibition but is currently consulting with local authorities and the Fiera Milano on the possibility of postponing the event to a later date. The show is currently scheduled to be held at the Fiero Milano from March 17-20.

The organiser had assured the Cooling Post last week that MCE 2020 would go ahead as planned, but an unexpected spike in cases of the coronavirus in northern Italy over the weekend has put this in doubt. 

The subsequent lock down in the Lombardy region has already forced the cancellation of an international eyewear trade show scheduled to open this coming Saturday at the Fiera Milano, Rho, fairgrounds. The Myplant & Garden fair scheduled for 26 to 28 February at the same venue has been postponed until September and Milan’s Salone del Mobile furniture fair, scheduled to be held from 21 to 26 April, is also reported to be consulting on its future.

A decision on MCE 2020 is promised shortly: “A permanent coordination committee has been set up among the Reed Exhibitions Group, the local authorities and Fiera Milano and we will shortly notify you about the final decision and new dates,” a spokesperson said. 

The virus has already led to the postponement of the China Refrigeration Expo 2020 in Wuhan in April and the cancellation of the HVAC&R Japan 2020 show due to open next week in Chiba.

The last MCE show in 2018 attracted over 162,000 visitors, of which over 10,000 were from Asia. This year’s event features over 2,000 exhibitors, with 256 of those from China.

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