What's coming is promising!

For the first time since WW2 the UITP Global Public Transport Summit will not take place this year. I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, like my colleagues and those who already experienced the Summit, I am sad. On the other hand, I see the opportunity to build on the momentum created by the crisis to innovate and invent a new experience.

For the first time since WW2 the UITP Global Public Transport Summit, which has been organised since 1886, will not take place this year as scheduled. It was planned to take place in Melbourne, initially in June then postponed to December.

After careful analysis of the situation and active consultation with our partners, we jointly decided with Victoria Department of Transport, the host organisation, to cancel it. Despite the roll out of vaccinations globally and the control of the pandemic in some countries, there is much uncertainty around global travel through the course of the year. Due to the important consequences that a late cancellation may have, we preferred to take this decision well in advance to avoid giving false hopes to our members, stakeholders and the public transport community worldwide.

I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, like my colleagues and those who already experienced the Summit, I am sad. The Summit is such a professional challenge and a wonderful personal experience, and knowing it won't take place is disappointing. We'll miss the learning experience, the networking activities and the many friends we enjoy meeting and having fun with on this occasion. I am also sad for those who already worked very hard to organise the event, for all those who have submitted their papers and were preparing themselves to participate, those who have planned to visit Australia for this occasion, those who started living the Summit from the day Melbourne was selected as host city back in 2018. I tell them 'your work and efforts are not lost'. The experience gained is very useful for further projects. Regarding the selected papers and posters, we'll find ways to give them the exposure they deserve. We considered  holding a hybrid event with the Australian stakeholders attending in-person and the others online, or to have a fully digital edition, but the Summit is not just any event; it is an experience that would have been downgraded with such scenarios. We don’t accept to hold our global flagship event with local attendees only.

On the other hand, I see the opportunity offered by this cancellation like the many opportunities offered by this crisis. The event is not an end in itself, it's a way to answer objectives. Some want to learn, others to develop their business or to advocate for the sector, others to network, to have fun, etc. UITP will be creative and develop new types of services to answer those expectations. We'll engage differently with our members and stakeholders, we'll build new partnerships. This crisis has shown how relevant UITP is to advocate for the sector and support the public transport community. We have a tremendous opportunity to build on that by innovating and creating a new experience. 

The theme initially created for the Summit, Mobility for Life, is such a strong and federating message. It's even more relevant and inspiring in this health crisis. It will be the umbrella theme of our working priorities and advocacy messages while UITP focuses on providing even more tailor-made services and personalised experiences. Stay tuned, what's coming is promising.