Nearly three-quarters of organizers of B2B exhibitions say they've had to cancel at least one in-person event because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to recent research from The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR).
The report was based on data from a survey conducted June 9-21, 2020, among 169 executives with oversight over US B2B exhibitions. In their analysis, the researchers compared the findings with results from a similar survey of 164 executives conducted in April.
Some 73% of respondents say they've had to cancel at least one in-person B2B exhibition, up from 62% in April.
Some 74% of B2B exhibition organizers who have canceled an event say they did so because of uncertainty over whether state/local orders would allow large gatherings, and 69% say they did so because of corporate "no travel" policies:
Some 81% of B2B exhibition organizers say they're now providing one or more virtual offerings, and 65% say they've moved education sessions online:
About the research: The report was based on data from a survey conducted June 9-21, 2020, among 169 executives with oversight over US B2B exhibitions.