SISO welcomes CDC relaxation of restrictions and news of shows returning Stateside

The Society of Independent Show Organisers (SISO) has described the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) decision to recommend that fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear masks or physically distance indoors or outdoors is “a reason to celebrate”.

SISO’s newsletter update also highlighted the 1.45 billion vaccine doses administered across 176 countries (as of 16 May), and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine being approved for use in children aged 12-15 in the US.

Events have been returning across the US in recent weeks, and convention centres and cities (like Washington, DC, Chicago, and New York) are reopening soon.

In June, Informa Markets is set to produce World of Concrete at the new West Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

SISO and UFI have released a Case Study: Jewelers International Showcase.

On 22, March, Reed Exhibitions USA got back into the live face-to-face (F2F) channel when it safely opened the trade-only Jewelers International Showcase (JIS) at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The event attracted nearly 3,000 buyers and 170 exhibitors from across the US. In their White Paper, SISO and UFI take a deeper dive into how the event was produced safely. SISO was on the ground in-person to interview RX show staff and the executive team, key CVB staff, the Miami Beach Mayor, the convention centre GM, contractors, exhibitors and attendees.

Other recent SISO/UFI White Papers which describe on how SISO members have successfully produced events during the pandemic. Since October, SISO has published six case studies for members to use as a playbook for how others are forging ahead during these uncertain times.

Planning is also underway for the SISO Summer Conference, which will be held 24-26 August at the Omni Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.