Corona: "Planning for the second semester continues".

Expodata Live Kommunikation: What's going on in the live communications industry right now?

Nicolai Squarra: The decision by the Federal Office of Public Health to ban events with more than 1,000 people until at least March 15 has sent the entire industry into a veritable state of shock. For most companies in our industry, the FOPH's directive is tantamount to a professional ban. Hundreds of companies and thousands of employees are without work from one day to the next. Not only large events were cancelled. The mood also moved organizers of smaller formats, as a result of numerous cancellations by their guests or simply due to internal company precautionary measures, to cancel or postpone already planned events until further notice. For us, as for probably everyone in the industry, the consequences are tangible and above all measurable. Our order books are empty until mid-May and the industry has been forced to apply for short-time work in order to safeguard jobs.

The primary task now is to work with customers to find economically viable solutions in a spirit of partnership for the events that have already been canceled, to minimize financial damage, to ensure economic survival, and to introduce the right measures for this purpose. The latter is probably the biggest challenge at the moment, because no one knows how long the issue will continue to occupy us. We can only make assumptions and show confidence that we are on the right track. Personally, I am convinced that no improvement is to be expected in the next 3 months. On the contrary. The situation will get even worse in the coming weeks. However, amid all the negative headlines, we must never forget that even the worst crisis will eventually come to an end.

How has EVER experienced the event ban? Are there any cancellations from customers?

On the contrary. We are currently experiencing unbroken interest and, despite the crisis, have been able to show the new space to several interested event organizers in the past two weeks. Certainly with the great advantage that the pre-opening is not planned until the last quarter of 2020. The confidence of our customers that the crisis is only a snapshot is palpable and planning for the second half of the year continues. Personally, I also think this mindset is absolutely right, because anything else would probably be even more damaging to us and our industry than the virus itself. Fear and resignation have always been the worst companions.

What are the consequences of Corona on exhibition stand construction companies, event agencies, event locations like JED?

I won't pretend anything. In the short term, Corona will present us all with major economic and emotional challenges. The trade show and event business is on hold for the time being. In times of "social distancing", our business simply lacks a social basis. But better times will come again. That's for sure and probably the live moment will become more important than ever in the future. Our existence lives from interpersonal encounters. Sooner or later, no virus in the world will be able to change this fact.

The question, however, is how long it will take for this insight to sink in with everyone and how things will continue until then. The political signals that we as the Board of Expo Event have received in recent days offer hope. We are confident that our industry will receive financial help from the federal government in the short term. In this way, we will possibly be able to weather the storm. However, it is clear that we all have to bake small rolls for the time being.

What are the short-term prospects? 

As an entrepreneur, I see it as vital to create realistic scenarios for the future and to initiate appropriate measures. This requires knowledge and the courage to make even uncomfortable forecasts. In the past few days, I have been intensively studying the topic and have come to the conclusion that no one can really say until when the current state will last. Ultimately, these are subjective assessments that are always also shaped by hopes and fears.

Personally, I think that the development in the neighboring countries can serve as a good indicator. Unfortunately, this does not give much good hope in the short term. I think to hope for an end of the ban on March 15 would be very naive. The current speed at which the virus is spreading requires even more rigorous action by the FOPH than is currently the case. By late summer, however, the worst should be over. In the best case, this will be achieved by an appropriate drug or vaccine.

How does JED react to the current situation? What business alternatives to the core business are possible

As an eventer, I firmly believe in the live moment. We won't be able to remove it from our DNA just because of a virus, and we don't have it in mind. Certainly, in addition to our original plan, we have worked out an alternative that - should the crisis, contrary to expectations, last longer - will give us breathing room. This primarily concerns the opening date. However, we have deliberately filed this plan away in the bottom drawer, because I firmly believe that we as people and we as an industry will leave this crisis behind us in the near future and then live out with full dedication what constitutes our humanity: encounters, personally and in real life.

PS: Andreas Messerli at a glance