Postponement of ITT Hub to May 2021

Postponement of ITT Hub 2020

 Monday 16th March 2020

With great reluctance and a heavy heart, I regret to inform you that we have taken the difficult decision to postpone the first edition of ITT Hub, which was scheduled for May 2020.

It is clear that the COVID-19 outbreak could well peak at some point around the dates of our event this year. Looking at the experience of other trade shows around the world, we are seeing increasing occurrences of high-level corporate and government decisions constraining travel plans and large gatherings for staff and the public in general. This has caused the last-minute withdrawal of important exhibitors at a range of exhibitions. Where a slimmed-down show has continued, the same issues have caused a significantly lower attendance.

In my twenty years of running over 100 trade shows and events across various markets at many venues, this situation has created unique challenges and uncertainty for everyone. What has been clear to me is that a smaller trade event and/or one with poor attendance is not what I would wish to deliver.

In recent days, an increasingly large number of exhibitors have told us that they are understandably concerned for the welfare of their staff and customers. Decisive action now, I believe, addresses these concerns in a pragmatic and responsible way. By taking the difficult decision to postpone ITT Hub now, I hope our supporting exhibitors can avoid a significant proportion of their other costs such as travel, accommodation and show build/materials.

What is the plan for ITT Hub now? We have explored carefully all options around rescheduling the event. In light of the uncertainty surrounding how long the coronavirus will continue to affect the UK, the period of recovery, other events in the calendar and the need for our partially outdoor show to take place in good weather, we have decided that the optimum revised date for ITT Hub is on 12th and 13th  May 2021.

I realise that I am not alone, as you and your businesses also face the challenges of dealing with the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak.

I would like to thank you for your continued support and loyalty. Very best wishes with overcoming the challenges facing you and your team, both professionally and personally, and I hope that you all stay safe and well.

In the meantime, rest assured that all of our team and various event partners will do our very best to deliver an inaugural, forward-thinking ITT Hub in 2021 which our industry can be proud of.