CHICAGO (BRAIN) — Organizers of the CABDA Expo will not hold their 2022 Midwest Expo, which had been scheduled for Feb. 9-10 in Chicago. The recent surge in COVID-19 cases drove the decision, show director Jim Kersten said.
"This was an agonizing decision," Kersten said. "Anyone that knows me also knows that 'The Show Must Go On' is my personal mantra.
"But the situation we're facing now is too difficult to overcome, and I think postponing the show is in the best interests of the exhibitors and attendees."
Kersten said he decided to make the call as early as possible before exhibitors and retailers began making preparations for the show.
"Even with enhanced mitigation procedures in place like vaccines, masks, and social distancing, we do not know what the situation will look like next month," Kersten said. "The last thing we want to do is to go forward with an event only to have the rug pulled out from underneath us a few days before the show."
Kersten said he would consult with exhibitors about the best time to reschedule a show. CABDA also is working with education partners to turn some seminars that had been planned for the show into online webinars. CABDA also plans on a handful of smaller, pop-up style events that will take place later in the year.
"Our industry is truly resilient, and we know how upsetting this news is to both our exhibitors and our attendees. We'll be working doubly hard to continue producing spectacular B2B events as soon as we are able," Kersten said.
