Baselworld 2021 Show Canceled

RAPAPORT... The organizer of Baselworld has called off the next edition of the show, scheduled for January to February 2021, following a revolt over timing and refunds.MCH Group said it had reached an agreement with exhibitors and drawn up an "amicable solution" that had gained support from industry associations."In light of the large loss of revenue due to COVID-19, and our responsibility to all our stakeholder groups, this solution marks the limit of what is possible for us," Bernd Stadlwieser, MCH's CEO, said in a statement Thursday. "With the amicable settlement..., we can now concentrate fully on the future."Patek Philippe, Rolex, Tudor, Chanel and Chopard, as well as LVMH brands Hublot, Zenith and Tag Heuer, have agreed to take a thinner refund so that other exhibitors receive better conditions, according to Hubert du Plessix, president of the Baselworld exhibitors' committee and chief investment officer at Rolex.Those brands had quit the 2021 show amid complaints that the fair clashed with other events and that MCH was not returning the fees it had already received. MCH had been forced to cancel the 2020 edition due to the coronavirus, and rescheduled it for January 28 to February 2, 2021."I welcome the constructive attitude of the representatives of the MCH Group, which has enabled us to find a balanced solution," noted du Plessix, who had been a vocal critic of MCH's handling of the rescheduling."Together with the exhibitors and visitors, we are working intensively on clarifying and discussing the requirements and options for new platforms," said Michel Loris-Melikoff, Baselworld's managing director. "We will be taking a decision on possible follow-up formats by the summer, and will then provide information on the new concept and scheduling."Image: Hall 1 at the 2018 edition of Baselworld. (MCH Group)