Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, which was originally scheduled to take place in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., in March and was postponed to 22 to 24 September, 2020, has been canceled.
The event’s organizer, Diversified Communications, said the COVID-19 crisis has made holding the event this year untenable.
“It is with great disappointment that we have to bring you the news that we will not be able to meet in person in 2020,” Diversified Group Vice President Liz Plizga said in an email to exhibitors.
There have been more than 9.3 million infections and 479,000 deaths from COVID-19 globally, of which, 2.3 million and 120,000 have occurred in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University. Diversified has been monitoring the progress of the coronavirus globally, and with significant outbreaks still occurring in the U.S., the company’s ability to execute the event couldn’t be assured, Plizga said.
“Despite some re-opening measures nationally and locally, there are still far too many uncertainties about the impact that COVID-19 will have on travel and mass gatherings this September,” Plizga said. “Accordingly, it is impossible to hold an event that would provide an experience our seafood community would find valuable.”
Plizga said Diversified is now focused on the 2021 edition of Seafood Expo North America, which is scheduled to take place 14 to 16, March, 2021 in Boston.
“We’d like to let the seafood community know how well the 2021 edition is shaping up. Right now, our renewal rate is already at 82 percent,” Plizga said. “We are excited to discuss the opportunities with exhibitors to continue to build business and reconnect with the seafood buying communities going forward and for the 2021 edition.”
Plizga said Diversified was grateful to the seafood community for bearing with the scheduling changes that have occurred as a result of the COVID-19 situation.
“We thank everyone in the industry, our vendors and partners for their continued support while navigating these difficult times,” Plizga said. “We are determined to provide a valuable and safe business platform for the industry, and we look forward to bringing the seafood community back together in Boston in March 2021.”
