The event had originally been due to take place in the spring of 2020, but was pushed back to March next year due to the Covid-19 crisis.

However, with concerns over the situation of European travel in the early part of next year, organisers have switched the events to the autumn, with both shows to run from October 12th to 15th at the RAI exhibition centre in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The majority of exhibitors will be able to transfer their contracts to the new dates, while FESPA says several suppliers whose company policies precluded them from participating in March 2021 have indicated that they would be keen to exhibit at an autumn event.

FESPA chief executive Neil Felton comments: “The decision to push the event back by seven months doesn’t dent our exhibitors’ enthusiasm for a live FESPA exhibition as the engine for business recovery.

“Nor does it reflect any concerns about delivering a Covid-secure event. Rigorous health and safety protocols are in place with the RAI, and we’re confident of protecting our exhibitors and visitors to the best of our professional ability.”

 “However, the situation regarding cross-border travel into The Netherlands is uncertain at this point.

“Since our exhibitors are now at the point of having to make detailed logistical plans and commit further costs to be at our events, we believe that the right step is to move to our October 2021 contingency dates, enabling us and our participants to plan with greater confidence.”

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