Dutch real estate trade fair Provada plans to turn its annual show, which has been moved to November from June due to Covid-19 concerns, into a hybrid event combining physical meetings and virtual sessions, the organisers said on Thursday.
Despite a further easing of coronavirus restrictions in the Netherlands from 1 July, including permission to stage large events, this is not enough to press ahead with the show in its regular format, Provada said. Last year, the three-day event in Amsterdam’s RAI exhibition centre attracted over 26,000 visitors.
Although various scenarios were assessed, accommodating 300 exhibitors over three halls in the RAI centre while taking into account social distancing and other restrictions did not seem either feasible or desirable, the organisers said. Measures such as one-way routes, time slots and limits on visitor numbers did not fit with the essence of the Provada fair as a social and networking event, they noted. In addition, exhibitors would likely have had to incur extra costs to make their stands Covid-safe.
The rescheduled event, to be held on 3-5 November in the RAI, will therefore eliminate exhibitor stands and booths, and use the space freed up for a ‘unique and creative’ mix of ‘meetings, networking, knowledge and fun’, the organisers said.
Provada will also use experience gained from its recent Provada Live sessions – livestreamed virtual presentations and discussions held on 16 and 17 June - to finetune its virtual offering.
