March 01: Barely two weeks before one of the world’s biggest wine shows was to be held by Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, it has announced postponing the trade fair ProWein because of Coronavirus scare from March 15-17 with new dates to be announced in close coordination with all partners involved, according to a Press Release by the organizers who have also postponed other shows in Europe like Wire, Tube, Beauty, Top Hair and Energy Storage Europe
‘In doing so, Messe Düsseldorf is following the recommendation of the crisis management team of the German government to take into account the principles of the Robert Koch Institute when making a risk assessment of major events. On the basis of this recommendation and the recent significant increase in the number of infected persons, including in Europe, Messe Düsseldorf has reassessed the situation. Added to this is the uncertainty of numerous exhibitors and visitors at the events in March and the complicated travel situation, especially for international customers,’ says the Press Release of yesterday.
"This decision was not an easy one for all concerned," says Thomas Geisel, Mayor of Düsseldorf and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH. "But the postponement at the present time is necessary for Messe Düsseldorf and its customers in view of the increasingly dynamic developments. We will re-evaluate the situation in good time in consultation with health authorities and partners in order to make the appropriate decisions,” he said.
There are currently no intentions to postpone the trade fairs to be held in Düsseldorf in May and June though.
The 3rd edition of Prowine Asia to be held in Singapore on 31 March to 3 April, 2020 has already been postponed to 13-16 July when it will be held as usual alongside the biennial FHA-HoReCa show.
Vinitaly
It will be curious to now await and see if Vinitaly would also take a similar decision to postpone the Show, especially because Italy now tops 1,000 Cases, according to Bloomberg. The total number of infections is 1,128, with 29 possible virus-linked deaths, the Italian Civil Protection official said Saturday at a news conference in Rome. A day earlier, the total was 888 with 21 deaths. The number was nearly zero a week ago, reportedly says the nation’s emergency chief Angelo Borrelli.
Italy’s tourism business has already seen an immediate hit with travellers cancelling bookings from both abroad and within the country. The U.S. State Department has already issued a notice on Friday advising citizens to reconsider travel to Italy due to the outbreak.
Vinitaly is scheduled to take place on 19-22 April as of now but it is the considered opinion of delWine that the organisers will be obliged to postpone the event to a later date, hoping the virus would be contained by then.
Subhash Arora
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