Baselworld, SIHH Synchronize 2020 Dates

RAPAPORT... Baselworld and Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie inGeneva (SIHH) will take place back-to-back from 2020 in an attempt by theirorganizers to reinvigorate interest in the shows. SIHH, which is usually a January event, will instead runfrom April 26 to 29 in Geneva, while Baselworld will begin immediatelyafterward, from April 30 to May 5. That show is usually scheduled for March.The two will conduct consecutive fairs until at least 2024, they said Tuesday. The move follows industry discontent with the watchand jewelry fairs, with critics calling them too expensive and outdated. Baselworld lostseveral large exhibitors, including Swatch Group, Maurice Lacroix, Corum andRaymond Weil, while Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille plan to pullout of SIHH from 2020. Baselworld has attempted to make changes to itsprogram, including reducing exhibitor prices and negotiating cheaper deals with hotels and restaurants in the area. The new arrangement between the two fairs could potentially help visitors further, as exhibitors would now only needto travel to Switzerland once to attend both events. "Baselworld and the SIHH are working for the industry andits clients," said Michel Loris-Melikoff, managing director of Baselworld. "Wehave sought dialogue with the SIHH and together have found a solution [that] benefits visitors, the media and the entire watchmaking industry enormously." Earlier this week, Kim-Eva Wempe, CEO of watch company Wempe, told industrynews website WatchPro she favored an alignment between the two fairs. "I would like to have one single trade show, and not two oreven more," she said. Patek Philippe chairman Thierry Stern told Reutersthat while the company would not be leaving Baselworld, thetiming needed to be coordinated with SIHH. "That is the key to the show's future success," he added. In 2019, the dates for both fairs will remain separate, withSIHH running from January 14 to 17, while Baselworld will take place from March 21to 26. "Our two events have always been different, yetcomplementary," said Fabienne Lupo, president and managing director ofFondation de la Haute Horlogerie, which organizes SIHH. "Re-synching withBaselworld will further confirm Switzerland as the foremost destination forwatchmaking in the world. This is something we welcome wholeheartedly, as it isin the interests of all." Image: A Rolex watch. (Pixabay)