CEDIA Expo Owner Hopes Vaccines Bring Return of Physical Shows

CEDIA Expo producer Emerald had a 73% Q4 sales plunge year on year to $12.2 million. Declines were partially offset by insurance payments, said the company Thursday. Emerald held two events in Q1, said Chief Financial Officer David Doft on a quarterly call. The trade show company canceled the remainder of Q1 events, and many Q2 events were postponed until later in 2021, he said. The company hopes the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines allows more activities in the second half. Emerald canceled 19 events in Q4 and 94 in 2020, including CEDIA Expo. Buying software-as-a-service company PlumRiver will help expand digital presence, said CEO Herve Sedky on his first such call since joining Emerald Jan. 5 from Reed Exhibitions.