Coronavirus

A new Covid variant is sweeping across the United States. One industry professional raises the alarm after contracting the virus at a recent convention.

TCT Asia, a major trade show, was shut down by Shenzhen authorities nine hours before it was set to open due to Covid numbers in the city creeping up to 24. Navigating policies and enforcements like this is a challenge for show and event planners, but it’s a reality that’s here to stay.

New data predicts a steady recovery for trade shows globally with almost all markets reaching two-thirds of 2019 revenue by the first half of 2023. Face-to-face meetings remain a priority as we overcome the direct impact of the Covid pandemic.

The rate of recovery for meetings and events has sped up fueled by smaller meetings and events of 200 attendees or less.

A new Covid variant, BA.5, is on the rise. What does this mean to your upcoming events?

The floodgates have opened, and travel is back, but where have all the event attendees gone? A number of factors have grounded them and kept attendance well below pre-pandemic levels.

Face-to-face gatherings are returning but the risk of last-minute cancellations remains a top concern of event planners.

To mask or not to mask, that is the question. Industry experts advise event planners to adhere to local health guidelines and pay attention to Covid infection and hospitalization rates.

The new Omicron subvariant BA.2 is on the radar of event planners as the number of worldwide cases ticks up. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this new variant is even more contagious than the last strain of Omicron.

In response to the country’s recent Omicron wave, New Zealand recently moved to its "Red Traffic light" setting — halting large-scale gatherings and impacting the local events industry. The decision has received some pushback; we explore why.