London-based table game supplier TCSJohnHuxley last week released an “Open Letter to the Gaming Industry” calling for the postponement or cancellation of July’s G2E Asia trade show calling the decision of producer Reed Exhibitions to proceed with the set dates of July 28-30 “sheer folly and corporate profiteering.”
“The unfolding coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis has significantly affected the world as we know it,” the statement from TCSJohnHuxley CEO Tristan Sjoberg said. “As countries work to contain the spread of the virus, many governments have banned large events, mass gatherings and in many cases, enforced full lock downs until the situation is brought under control.
“The organizer of G2E Asia, Reed Exhibitions, has decided to postpone the show until the end of July; however, even these new dates are far too close for any exhibitors to be able to think about taking part. To exhibit at a trade show takes months of painstaking, meticulous preparation. With so many businesses in lockdown for indefinite periods along with global travel restrictions, it will take some time to re-establish normal working levels and the appetite to travel will be limited for many.
“As we emerge from this crisis, we will all need to pull together to support each other and our industry, but we need to ensure our decisions are also based on the safety, health and well-being of our customers and our employees. Having consulted with our customers, it is our firm belief that very few operators outside of Macau will want to, or be able to attend a show in July, even if it could go ahead at that time. We face challenging trading times and if customer volumes are significantly reduced along with the difficulty of moving products around the world, we have to ask ourselves if this trade show is commercially viable.”
The company said in the statement that it has urged Reed to either reschedule the show for Q4 or cancel it entirely, but Reed has refused. “To go ahead with the show under these circumstances is a ludicrous combination of sheer folly and corporate profiteering,” said Tristan Sjöberg, TCSJohnHuxley executive chairman.
“We are therefore encouraging other exhibitors and industry professionals to take a stand,” the statement concluded, “and advocate for the show to be moved to the end of the year at the earliest. This is the time for us all to work together in highlighting to Reed the need for a sensible approach that is workable, yet beneficial for everyone.”
