A task force has been established to help with the resumption of trade and consumer shows.
Created by the Canadian Association of Exposition Management (CAEM), the 24-person group will lay the groundwork for the responsible, safe and effective reopening of the exposition industry, which has been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Business events serve as an immense driver of economic growth and innovation,” says CAEM president, Catherine MacNutt. “By uniting as an industry and collaborating with our strategic partners across the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector, we can present a unified voice to advocate for face-to-face events in Canada.”
The task force includes leaders from across the country and all areas of the exposition sector, including facilities, industry suppliers, and producers of trade and consumer shows. The group will work toward establishing industry best practices guidelines and recommendations in order to demonstrate to policy-makers, as well as the public, that there is a clear plan for how to operate, moving forward.
“The recovery or our industry will ultimately be dictated by the public feeling safe to gather again in groups,” says task force chair, Bianca Kennedy. “This task force has the ability to showcase thought leadership and develop best practices in order to demonstrate that trade and consumer shows can implement the necessary protective measures mandated by the provinces.”
