Organizer Expects Trade Shows to Resume This Summer

Emerald expects full resumption of its trade show calendar beginning in summer, CEO Herve Sedky told a Friday Q1 call, citing the tens of millions of Americans who have been vaccinated and announcements of states reopening, including Nevada, California and New York. Florida and Texas are “fully open for business,” he noted. The outlook for attendance “remains uncertain and could well be challenged near-term, even for events we do stage with a lingering impact of COVID-19,” said Sedky, though the company is encouraged by events in Asia where recovery “seems further along.” The company’s focus is “to ensure that we stage successful shows for customers” and provide “a safe environment,” Sedky said. CEDIA Expo is scheduled Sept. 1-3 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis (see our calendar here). Emerald has canceled 108 events due to the pandemic.