The decision was a result of discussions between Messe München and top industry representatives as well as the Advisory Board. The organisers said that despite the pandemic the booking level for the April date was high. However, through discussions with customers, they saw a growing recognition that the initial date involved too many uncertainties in view of the global pandemic.
“The prevailing opinion was that it is currently difficult to assess whether worldwide travel—which is crucial for the success of the trade show—will be largely unhindered again in a year's time,” said Messe München. “Especially global exhibitors, who expect customers from all over the world to attend bauma and make correspondingly high investments in stand construction, logistics and hotel capacity, advocated a postponement. They saw the decisive benefit of the trade show—namely to bring together the entire industry and to be a hub for all markets—as being jeopardized if the April date were to be adhered to.”
The organisers said that the decision had to be made now, considering the long planning times associated with the trade fair for exhibitors and organisers. They added that the announcement to postpone the show, provides exhibitors and visitors a secure planning basis for preparing the upcoming bauma.
Klaus Dittrich, chairman and CEO of Messe München: “The decision to postpone bauma was not an easy one for us, of course. But we had to make it now, before the exhibitors start planning their participation in the trade show and make corresponding investments.
“Unfortunately, despite the vaccination campaign that has been launched around the world, it is not yet possible to predict when the pandemic will be largely under control and unlimited worldwide travel will be possible again. This makes participation difficult to plan and calculate for both exhibitors and visitors. Under these circumstances, we would not have been able to fulfill our central promise that bauma, the world's leading trade fair, represents the entire spectrum of the industry and generate international reach like no other comparable event. After all, bauma’s last edition welcomed participants from over 200 countries around the world. Hence, the decision is consistent and logical.”