With the first major seafood shows of 2021 just around the corner, it remains unclear whether the events will occur as planned or be derailed once again by the effects of the coronavirus.

Operated by Maine-based Diversified Communications, Seafood Expo North America (SENA) is scheduled for Boston from March 13–15, and Seafood Expo Global (SEG), which is relocating from Brussels to Barcelona in 2021, is set for April 27 -29.

But with the number of daily cases of COVID-19 spiking in the United States and around the world and new lockdowns going into place in Europe, the likelihood of these in-person trade shows happening is dimming by the day.

On Tuesday, Diversified Communications and Vinexposium, organizers of Vinexpo New York, a trade show for the North America wine and spirits industry, announced the event scheduled for early February in Manhattan has been cancelled due to the ongoing risks of COVID-19 and the uncertainty surrounding the lifting of travel restrictions.

Mary Larkin, president of Diversified Communications USA, told IntraFish the company has not yet made a decision on the seafood trade shows, but would be communicating “contingency plans or changes to 2021 scheduled events directly with our customers and as quickly as possible.”

“As we have said before, health and safety are of primary importance and as such, we are closely monitoring the situation around COVID–19,” Larkin said.

Both SENA and SEG were canceled this year after attempts to reschedule the events, as was most every seafood trade event and conference.

The entire global trade show sector has been suffering under COVID restrictions. According to a report from PwC, the US trade show market alone will see exhibition spending plummet by $10 billion (€8.5 billion) this year, a 64-percent decline compared to 2019.

The report does forecast a rebound, but PwC doesn’t see this market recovering to last year’s size until after 2024.

The somber forecast is further supported by a new survey in the Q3 issue of Convene magazine, which reports on the meeting and events industry.

Many in-person conferences have pivoted to online, digital events with varying success, but trade shows, which are much larger affairs and rely on networking and socializing, are having a tougher time finding a way forward.

In fact, when asked to what extent they believe the rise in the use of digital-event technology will cannibalize face-to-face attendance at events, a majority of planners felt the impact would be significant. Thirty-three percent said once the pandemic passes smaller and regional events will thrive before national and international groups gather.

But Diversified doesn’t need a survey to tell it the show business is in the ditch.

Ted Wirth, president and CEO of Diversified Communications, told the Portland Press Herald this summer that 90 percent of the company’s revenue disappeared this spring. Although the newspaper quoted him as saying it pushed the company into default, Wirth told IntraFish in an October interview that he was misquoted by the Portland Press Herald and the company did not default on any loans.

Larkin in October sent a letter to seafood industry members assuring them Diversified is in “solid financial condition and has never defaulted on any loans.”

She said the company has modified its in-person model into many content-led products in different industries it serves with other trade events. “This strategy has positioned our company very well to navigate the pandemic and re-emerge as a market leader in global exhibitions.”

Other event organizers have already announced changes to events they have planned for 2021.

AquaNor, for example, will be taking place in 2021 regardless of the current global pandemic. Organizers are introducing a new digital layer to the event.

The fair, which is now scheduled for Aug. 24 -27 in Trondheim, Norway, will be held digitally and in-person.

The North Atlantic Seafood Forum (NASF) will also move to an all-digital format next year.

Whether Diversified is considering some overhaul of its two biggest seafood shows remains unknown. However, it is planning Seafood Expo Asia Reconnect in November in place of its in-person event.

Whether this model will be deployed for its larger seafood shows remains to be seen.

Events

As pandemic resurges, outlook dims for in-person Boston, Barcelona seafood shows