Mido moves online for 2021

The organisers of the Mido trade show have announced the decision to move the 2021 event online, postponing the face-to-face show until February 2022, as the pandemic continues to cause disruption.

Due to be held this year between 5–7 June, the Mido team is now working to create a digital version of the event.

The physical trade show is now set to be held between 12–14 February 2022.

“It’s now more than a year since the beginning of the pandemic in Italy and regrettably, the public health situation, not only in our country, is still critical,” president of Mido, Giovanni Vitaloni, said. He pointed to high infection rates and variants of the virus, as well as problems in vaccine production and distribution, as causing additional difficulties. The limits on international travel have also contributed to the challenges.

Last year, the 50^th edition of Mido, due to have taken place between 29 February and 2 March, was postponed and later rescheduled as the pandemic evolved.

“Last October we were optimistic about the coming months, but the reality is proving to be very different,” Vitaloni shared. “Trade shows, at present, are still banned.”

As a result, the event organisers made the “tough decision, dictated by our sense of responsibility towards exhibitors and visitors.”

Discussing the plans for the digital Mido, event organisers suggested that, along with a platform dedicated to exhibitors and buyers, the event will also provide the opportunity to share projects and proposals, reassess the sector, analyse economic and social themes, discuss trends and new developments through high profile figures and interactive events.

In a Q&A announcing the changes, Vitaloni described the digital edition of the show as similar to a “live, unique TV show.”

Operating as an “exchange of ideas,” the organisers aim to include key figures in the sector to discuss the state of the industry and to “understand where we are, and where we hope to go.”

Looking ahead to the 2022 show, Vitaloni said it would be “at last an occasion for sharing the reconstruction, enthusiasm and energy which we are all striving to set in motion in order to revive one of the most important segments of our country’s economy.”

Adding that the organisers are monitoring the developments of the pandemic, Vitaloni concluded: “Once it is possible to hold in-person events again, we will not hesitate to do so.”