Baselworld Boss: Too Early to Talk About a 2022 Show
May 10, 20
(IDEX Online) - Baselworld boss Michel Loris-Melikoff says it's too early to talk about a return in 2022, after the 2020 show was postponed and the replacement 2021 show was then canceled.
He also said coronavirus had accelerated a major re-think that was already under way on the format of the premier watch and jewelry event, held annually in Switzerland.
In an exclusive interview with Australia's Jeweller magazine the managing director said expert interviews and a survey were being conducted to help design a new show better suited to the needs of exhibitors, visitors, buyers and journalists. Results were due by the end of June.
The event was hit by an exodus of exhibitors in 2019, followed by further departures - led by Rolex and Patek Philippe - after COVID-19 forced the postponement of the 2020 show to April 2021.
Last week Baselword announced that the re-scheduled show in January 2021 would not be taking place and that it had reached an agreement with exhibitors who had complained about its refund policy.
Many high-profile brands are now expected to take part in new event to be held in Geneva, in April 2021.
Mr Loris-Melikoff told Jeweller it was too early to talk about 2021 or 2022.