Printing United 2021 has been cancelled, with the show’s long-awaited return following its debut edition in 2019 now to take place during October 2022 in Las Vegas.
The event was due to run 6-8 October in Orlando, Florida, but with cases spiking and the Delta variant of Covid-19 causing problems more widely across the US and elsewhere in the world, the organising body, Printing United Alliance, took the decision to cancel the event.
Citing the ‘ability to deliver a successful trade show event for all involved’, the Printing United Alliance board of directors actioned a plan to cancel the event as it became ‘significantly hampered’ due to growing uncertainty and a spike in Covid-19 cases resulting from the Delta variant. The result was a ‘depressing effect’ on registration and exhibitor participation, as Printing United Alliance CEO Ford Bowers detailed.
‘We conferred with dozens of exhibitors from all segments and sizes, regularly monitored attendee sentiment, and the weight of opinion supported the difficult decision to cancel this year’s show.
‘We want to sincerely thank our vast industry partners – including exhibitors, members and attendees – for their collective support during this ever-changing landscape and time.’
Having debuted in 2019, the Printing United expo was lauded as a meeting point for various segments of print, and for facilitating convergence and collaboration. This preceded the Covid-enforced trend of pivoting.
The 2020 edition of Printing United was subsequently cancelled as Covid-19 raged, and moved online. Hopes had been high of a return to an in-person event, and not that long ago too, although the quickly changing landscape has required the cancellation of Printing United 2021.
Other examples of 2021 autumn print industry events being cancelled or postponed include Dscoop Edge Fusion in San Diego, and Packaging Innovations in London, which has been pushed back from late September to early December 2021.
Printing United 2022 will take place 19-21 October, 2022 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Printing United president Mark J. Subers said, ‘One of our contributions to the industry is providing a best-in-class trade show. In an instance such as this, we set aside our own financial considerations when we cannot be sure that the ROI for the exhibitors and the attendee experience is exceptional.
‘In 2022, we will continue to execute nothing short of an exemplary event experience for all involved.’
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