The week in events: ‘UK lockdowns over’ while Delta disruption continues

Your weekly exhibition industry news round-up from ExpoPlatform. We highlight five top stories so you don’t miss out on what’s been happening – including announcements, insights, opinion and more.

UK events insurance shows lockdowns are over, says EIB chair

The chairman of the Events Industry Board has claimed the UK Government’s £750 million insurance scheme for the sector shows that lockdowns are over.

Michael Hirst told M&IT he believes Ministers no longer want to impose restrictions, but raised concerns about whether the initiative would cover shows which suffered partial measures.

The insurance scheme was announced last week by Chancellor Rishi Sunak and is due to come into effect in September. However, the situation is not the same everywhere …

EXCLUSIVE: Event insurance scheme shows lockdowns are over, says @ChairEIB #eventprofs #eventprofsuk #eventinsurance https://t.co/2bwFCMRwyb

— m&it magazine (@meetpie) August 12, 2021

Events face new wave of cancellations as Delta variant surges

Uncertainty continues as events across the world have been forced to cancel again due to the ongoing spread of the coronavirus Delta strain, XLive reports.

The New York Auto Show as well as the AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo were among those highlighted which put the withdrawal of their shows down to the Covid-19 variant.

XLive also highlighted reports that large exhibitions in China will be cancelled for the rest of the month, including the World 5G Conference.

The majority of shows remain unaffected but the uncertainty “underscores” the importance of investing in digital, according to XLive.

Meanwhile, PCMA has relaunched its Business Events Recovery Dashboard to measure the industry’s response to the surge in Covid-19 cases.

For more information about how to combine live and digital experiences read our hybrid events guide.

WTTC: UK Government should cover PCR test costs for double-jabbed Britons

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has urged the UK Government to cover the cost of PCR tests for Britons who have been fully-vaccinated.

It comes after Health Secretary Sajid Javid called for an investigation into “excessive” pricing from Covid-19 test firms, with the country’s among the priciest in Europe.

'UK government should pay for expensive PCR tests crippling the Travel & Tourism sector'

📝Full Press Release: https://t.co/daCZmc3lyb#TravelRecovery #TravelAndTourism #Travel pic.twitter.com/zAMTaCd5za

— WTTC (@WTTC) August 10, 2021

Conference News reports how the WTTC now wants PCR tests to be paid by the public purse for those who are double-jabbed.

It claims this would remove a financial burden which is having a bad impact on demand for travel and holding back its recovery.

Dutch Government communication ‘hindering restart of exhibitions’

RIA Amsterdam has claimed poor communication from the Dutch Government could see a number of international events cancelled.

The international organiser and venue said messaging from official websites about multi-day shows was creating confusion for event producers, who they say are now considering withdrawing or moving their exhibitions.

It claimed there was no distinction between events with and without overnight stays onsite.

Exhibition World reports RIA Amsterdam has written to the country’s prime minister Mark Rutte appealing for the texts to be clarified.

Proof of vaccination needed for US bar and beverage show

Bar Convent Brooklyn, a Reed Exhibitions trade show, has made it an entry requirement to show evidence of being vaccinated against coronavirus.

The US beverage industry event returns to the Brooklyn Expo Center next week, while Exhibition World raises the question if this is “the shape of things to come?”