Connect Weekly: IMEX Frankfurt Canceled, Taking Events Virtual & More

Welcome to another edition of Stova’s Connect Weekly column, where we share the top five news stories from the week that today’s meeting and events planners should know. We aim to cover everything from the worlds of events, technology, business, marketing, social media, travel, hospitality and beyond. Check out the top stories from the week of March 9, 2020.

IMEX Frankfurt 2020 Cancels Due to Coronavirus

canceled due to the global outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19). Previously scheduled for May 12-14 in Germany, IMEX Frankfurt will not go on as planned, according to show officials. IMEX Group Chairman Ray Bloom and CEO Carina Bauer issued the following letter yesterday morning detailing the cancellation: It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the cancellation of this year’s IMEX in Frankfurt (due to take place 12-14 May). We know that this will come as an enormous disappointment, not only to the exhibitors, buyers and industry professionals who were due to attend the show, but also to the global business events community. This is not a decision we have taken lightly and there are two overriding concerns that have caused us to make this decision at this time. Read more.

Insurance Companies Limit Event Coverage for Coronavirus

Mirroring their reaction to terrorism clauses following 9/11, insurance companies have gone into lockdown, making it practically impossible to add epidemic coverage to your event policy if it’s not already in place. The best way to protect upcoming events is to build coverage into your own contracts with attendees, exhibitors, and attendees. Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, including coverage for communicable diseases was a low-cost extension on standard event insurance policies. Planners for smaller events were less likely to tack on the extra expense, but large organizations planning major events often would. Now, however, the industry has completely taken the option for coverage off the table, according to Terry Waller, managing director of Arc International Insurance. Read more.

New GBTA Research Shows Coronavirus Continues to Impact the Business Travel Industry

The coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to impact the global business travel industry, with companies canceling meetings and instituting blanket business travel cancellations, according to the latest research conducted by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). GBTA members routinely send their employees to meetings and events throughout the world, with the primary destinations being North America, Europe, China, and the Asian Pacific region. To understand the coronavirus’s effects on business travel, GBTA conducted its third lightning poll of membership on March 4-6, 2020.  GBTA received responses from more than 1,000 member companies throughout the world. Read more.

Canceling Your Event? Four Insights on Pivoting to Digital

As brands scramble to reimagine their events in the wake of cancellations resulting from the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, there is a resurgence of interest surrounding the virtual event space one that looks a whole lot different than it did 10 years ago. Live broadcasts and on-demand content are ubiquitous in the industry today. But despite the advances in technology, from live streaming and social-casting to next-gen webinar tools and video conferencing, the concept of taking an entire event community fully digital (and, potentially, on a tight deadline) is new territory. Enter: The age of the “distributed” event. So, how do you pivot on a dime toward the event of the future? We tapped Brent Turner, SVP-strategy at Opus Agency, and Miriam Agrell, COO at Tencue, for tips and insights. Read more.

Instead of Cancelling, Let Stova Help You Go Virtual: It’s hard to deny that coronavirus is having a serious impact on the world and live events. Rather than cancelling your events altogether, save time and enjoy the flexibility of a fully integrated virtual event platform. Contact Us.

4 Options for Meetings & Events in the Wake of Coronavirus

Within the past few weeks, the COVID-19 Coronavirus has disrupted the global stock market and shaken businesses across the world. Many companies have shut down their offices and are asking employees to self-quarantine to prevent the further spread of the virus. On top of this, many state and federal governments are advising against large gatherings. The Swiss Government even placed a temporary ban on all events, conferences, and gatherings of 1,000 people or more. The entire country of Italy is on lockdown, and the United States just announced a 30-day travel ban from Europe. Because of these quarantines, public health concerns around large gatherings, and growing travel restrictions, many companies in the meeting and event industry have been scrambling. Do planners cancel their events? What other options do we have? Read more.