Baselworld 2021 est Mort, Vive Baselworld 2021

MCH Group and exhibitors looking for new formats

May 07, 2020

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This morning, we received the news that Baselworld 2021 that was planned in from the 28th of January till the 2nd of February 2021, will not take place.

We reported repeatedly on Baselworld in the last few months, but this morning we received another update worth sharing with you. The Baselworld organization let us know the following, in full:

The MCH Group and representatives of the exhibitors at Baselworld have reached agreement on the settlement for the cancelled Baselworld 2020. In collaboration with the Swiss Exhibitors’ Committee, an amicable solution has been drawn up, unanimously approved by the Comité Consultatif and also supported by industry associations.

“I welcome the constructive attitude of the representatives of the MCH Group, which has enabled us to find a balanced solution”, says Hubert J. du Plessix, President of the Swiss Exhibitors’ Committee. “I would also like to thank Patek Philippe, Rolex, Tudor, Chanel, Chopard, Hublot, Zenith and Tag Heuer, who, in a spirit of solidarity with the sector as a whole, have agreed to a lower refund so that the other exhibitors can benefit from better conditions.”

Bernd Stadlwieser, CEO of the MCH Group, stresses: “We are pleased to have worked together and, in just a short time, found a solution that is acceptable to everyone. In the light of the large loss of revenue due to COVID-19 and our responsibility to all our stakeholder groups, this solution marks the limit of what is possible for us. With the amicable settlement for Baselworld 2020, we can now concentrate fully on the future.”

The MCH Group has taken the decision not to hold Baselworld 2021 that had been planned for 28 January to 2 February 2021. “Together with the exhibitors and visitors, we are working intensively on clarifying and discussing the requirements and options for new platforms,” says Michel Loris-Melikoff, Managing Director of Baselworld. “We will be taking a decision on possible follow-up formats by the summer and will then provide information on the new concept and scheduling.”

As always, the most important message is in the tail. I am looking forward to seeing what the new platforms or follow-up formats will look like. And hopefully, but I don’t cheer before I see the new ideas, the greedy behavior will be gone. It is not the time for that.

Especially the independent and smaller brands will have a new platform to showcase their new watches, in a way that it also makes (economical) sense for them to do so. As Baselworld speaks explicitly about canceling the show for the planned dates, I am sure they will do something in 2021 nevertheless. I wouldn’t mind them using the Baselworld name, it is just the format and business model that needs to be updated.