As the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to elevate case numbers around the globe, Messe Frankfurt, organizer of international trade fairs Christmasworld, Paperworld,, Creativeworld and Ambiente have decided to cancel shows for 2022. Ambiente was scheduled to take place February 11-15.
Ambiente features a cross-sector range of products for the table, kitchen and housewares, furnishing and decorative accessories, home furnishing concepts, gifts and fashion accessories.
"This decision was anything but easy for us. However, in agreement with large parts of the industries represented at the fairs, it is now our responsibility to take this difficult step. The last few months have been characterized by optimism, energy and ideas to give Christmasworld, Paperworld, Creativeworld and Ambiente a successful new start after the compulsory break in 2021," says Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt. "Our thanks therefore go to all our partners from the consumer-goods sector, be they exhibitors, visitors, associations or the media, who worked with us on the trade fairs until the very end and, like us, put their heart and soul, energy and passion into staging them."
The exponential increase in the number of infections worldwide in a short period of time, and the accompanying developments and decisions that are clearly outside the organizer's sphere of influence have led to a significant deterioration in the general conditions and necessary prerequisites for holding the four trade fairs as major events of international relevance at the end of January and in mid-February 2022. These developments include the classification of Germany as a high-risk area and the associated travel warnings and international and intercontinental travel restrictions in countries such as India, Japan and the United States, as well as the corresponding quarantine obligations. Equally important are the steadily rising infection figures and the accompanying urgent appeal, among others by the Robert Koch Institute and the expert council of the German Federal Government, to continue to reduce contacts to a minimum and to cancel all major events.
At present, there are even further international fears that the critical infrastructure will not be maintained due to the highly contagious Omicron variant. The majority of exhibiting and visiting companies at Christmasworld, Paperworld, Creativeworld and Ambiente are currently reacting to this overall situation with travel and trade fair attendance bans for reasons of duty of care toward their employees to protect them from health risks. The global willingness to travel has also seen a drop-off.
There are no plans to postpone the event. Braun explains: "Since the trend-oriented order cycles of the international consumer goods industry require an annual event at the beginning of the year, a shift to the second half of the year would not meet the needs of the exhibiting companies and visitors."
Information on the planning of the Frankfurt consumer goods fairs for 2023 will be announced at the beginning of February 2022.
