4 minute read
From the CEO
from AMT FEB/MAR 2022
by AMTIL
COVID is inevitable but where are our leaders
With AMTIL recently having to cancel another series of events this February due to complications with COVID and travel, I thought it would be insightful to share a (slightly edited) post from Gary Fitz-Roy, Managing Director of Expertise Events, and his thoughts on the challenges and obstacles we are facing.
It sounds like Groundhog Day. The threat of COVID spreading faster than a brush fire and again creating uncertainty and lack of confidence around events. This has certainly been emphasised by the diminished attendance at Christmas and New Year Events. Even the crowds at the post-Christmas sales were down considerably. Has the pent-up demand waned or is everyone just being super cautious? It is clear that governments, both State and Federal, are hoping herd immunity will control the Omicron variant as it continues to spread. And with the exception of Emperor MacGowan, all Premiers seem to accept no more border closures, and based on reports out of South Africa, where it was first detected, maybe it is on its way down and maybe the Premiers are making the right decision, but will it set the event industry back another six months? But firstly, a first-hand report re COVID, which was my Christmas gift on December 25th. At first I was mortified as it stuffed our Christmas plans, but in hindsight timing is everything and importantly it happened at a time when we had no events on, therefore no impact, and that is definitely the positive side. Is there a silver lining? Well the experts say it’s unlikely I will get it again, so that at least creates some confidence for me personally, however on reflection there are many things racing through my mind. 1. Staff – How do we as an industry manage staff returning to the office or events in early 2022? Under the current health orders whole teams could be taken out the day before an event opens? And what happens if someone on staff comes out with
COVID mid-event? 2. Exhibitors – How flexible do we need to be? Can we keep refunding or transferring space costs, furniture hire, stand builds, and how are venues going to treat rental? Already calls and emails are being received for shows in February and March with people saying they have COVID and need to cancel their booking. Their contagious period is over in 7-10 days, so how does this affect next month or later? 3. Visitors – Given that various events over Christmas and New Year were poorly attended, lack of visitor or attendee confidence will be a major issue. All three aspects have something in common and that is something I have raised for two years: CONFIDENCE. To address the above issues we need an industry approach. But are the exhibition industry associations up to taking a leadership role? It is time for them to wake up, stop living in a fantasy land, tackle the issue and stand for something. It has been suggested on a number of occasions that we need a national campaign underwritten by Government and supported by the industry extolling the benefits of LIVE events to build the story and confidence for businesses to exhibit or sponsor and for buyers to attend … learn from what we have just witnessed over the past few weeks and the last two years, it’s scary. Even if it starts at a grass roots level a bit like the #expoready campaign which received wide support, but whilst funding is requested let’s have a campaign that sends the combined message. Just like the Chinese zodiac signs we need to create the year of Events. The following quote maybe should be scribbled on associations and the industry’s walls: “The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you find yourself”. We need to be good shepherds and look at how we ALL get through, and this starts with an understanding of what they need help with as per the above points covering staff, exhibitors and visitors. And then what we put in place to rebuild, as 2022 is currently looking more shaky than we all had hoped for. If companies struggled last year with staff overlay, this year COVID could be taking more of the workforce out. There are currently discussions about shows being pushed back to later in the year and it’s not even through the first month of 2022. We need to have learnt something from the past two years, it’s time to dig deep, it’s not over, so step up or step out – has the industry got the fortitude, energy, fight and depth to do it? The clock is ticking and even post-COVID, I for one won’t be throwing the last two years away; as to do so would be admitting defeat.
