‘With the safety and wellbeing of our people at the forefront of our considerations, we have decided to withdraw CBRE’s attendance as exhibitor at Expo Real this year, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic,’ broker CBRE said in a statement, adding that the group continues ‘to monitor and assess its attendance at all upcoming events and associated travel’.

C&W also said that the withdrawal is based on the group’s main concern, i.e. the health and safety of its employees and customers. ‘Since our decision in February to withdraw from Mipim due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have not participated in any events. This also applies to Expo Real this year,’ said Yvo Postleb, managing director of Cushman & Wakefield Germany.

JLL said: 'After careful consultation, we have decided to withdraw from Expo Real, to ensure we can continue to protect the health and well-being of our employees and clients.'

Avison Young said: ‘As responsible global citizens, we believe we have a duty to support the continued global efforts to contain and reduce the spread of Covid-19. Due to the unpredictable nature of the virus’ development over the next months, we have taken the decision not to exhibit at Expo Real in October.’

Last week, the Bavarian state government announced that it would allow trade fairs to take place in the German region from 1 September, hence giving the green light to the Expo Real event which is scheduled to run from 5 to 7 October.

Nevertheless, organisers still require a critical mass of exhibitors in order to run it and a decision on whether the show goes ahead is expected over the next few weeks.

Last year, the international property trade show attracted more than 46,000 visitors from 76 countries. Messe München, Expo Real’s organizer, has been working on a new concept aimed at minimising infection and making its events safer for all attendees.