This year’s IFSEC is not going ahead.
Informa, the owners of the annual UK show say that the next edition will run from May 18 to 20, 2021, at the same at London ExCeL venue. Chris Edwards, Group Director at Informa said: “We know how important these events are as a forum where our communities come together to learn, network and meet suppliers. We have a proud track record of hosting the largest gatherings of any event in our industry in the UK, and often beyond, and no one is more disappointed in this decision than us, but after much deliberation we are sure that this is absolutely the right thing to do in the circumstances.”
This is in line with other major security industry and other events. In Germany, Security Essen has already cancelled its September show and it will next run in September 2022. In the United States, the organisers of the annual Global Security Exchange (GSX) arranged for September 21 to 23 in Atlanta, are running instead a virtual exhibition and conference from September 21 to 25.
Quite apart from the lockdown and social distancing arising from the Covid-19 pandemic since March, the IFSEC venue of recent years, ExCeL in Docklands, was the London flagship Nightingale Hospital for virus cases, in the event barely called upon. IFSEC had already been put back from May to September as a result.
The cancelling and rescheduling of IFSEC also covers Clarion Defence and Security’s Counter Terror Expo (CTX), Forensics Europe Expo (FEE), World Counter Terror Congress (WCTC) and IFSEC’s co-located events on Safety and Health, Facilities and related building and workplace shows.
Chris Edwards said that IFSEC will also be working hard ‘to ensure we return next year with an event that brings people back together for the reunion everyone will be crying out for. Details on how our events will continue to evolve and develop for next year will be forthcoming over the summer.
‘Exhibitor bookings will transfer automatically to 2021 and we will be in contact with each and every customer and event partner to discuss this in person. Rest assured that prices will be frozen from 2020 and we will be reaching out to everyone by phone but if we can’t reach any individual for a few days, then by email.’
David Townsend, Event Director, CTX, Clarion Defence and Security, said: “CTX is an important milestone for security professionals from industry, infrastructure, government and policing to network and do business. So, while we are of course disappointed not to be holding the event this year, the decision is in the best interests of our customers, attendees, and suppliers. In addition, as a strategic counter-terror event with a global audience, a significant proportion of this audience typically travel from overseas. Given that governments around the world are continuing to advise against international travel at this time, we believe the most prudent course of action is to focus on bringing the community back together at CTX in May 2021. We will be working closely with our exhibitors and industry partners to shape a reunion to remember.”
Informa earlier this month reported that in its largest market, the United States, the Group is now assuming ‘a low probability that any physical events will run before September, with most brands due to run in July/August either rescheduled, cancelled or switched to a fully digital event’, including Black Hat, the cyber security brand. Black Hat USA was due to run in Las Vegas but instead will be an online event from August 1 to 6. Black Hat Europe is due to run at London Excel in November.
Pictured; IFSEC 2019 keynote arena.
