Clarion Events’ proposed refund plan will give dealers 50% of their stand cost back, with the remaining 50% carried forward to the fair’s staging in 2021.
Indoor fairs were hoping to return after October 1 when some regulations on business events in conference centres were expected to be lifted. However, following the tightening of regulations in response to a rising Covid-19 infection rate in the UK – including the ‘rule of six’ for social gatherings – this could be delayed.
The proposed restart for indoor events of more than 30 people is now to be reviewed at an unspecified date.
‘Remove the financial risk’
“We are planning for the fair to go ahead in November, but if government policy prevents us, we want to remove the financial risk to the dealer,” said fair director Mary Claire Boyd. “We hope this will give more exhibitors the confidence to join us in the autumn.”
The Winter Olympia is scheduled to take place at the Olympia London exhibition centre in Hammersmith from November 3-8 (plus a preview on November 2).
Safety measures have been arranged for the event should it proceed as hoped.
They include temperature checks on arrival, staggered admission times, enhanced overnight cleaning, an air-cooling system that draws air from outside rather than recirculating and new crowd management protocols.
