Euro trade shows collapse under Covid

A third major European furnishing trade show has cancelled its January opening as a Covid-19 surge take hold in Germany.

Furniture fair IMM Cologne is the latest casualty and follows the postponent of Domotex, the world's biggest flooring show in Hannover and of Frankfurt's Heimtextil.

Germany is in the grip of a fourth Covid wave. More than 70,600 infections were reported on Thursday within the last 24 hours. The 7-day incidence stood at 422.3 cases per 100,000 people. Fears over the Omicron variant making the situation worse had led to strengthened restrictions across the country.

IMM Cologne was due to open on January 17 but organisers announced yesterday: ""Following consultation with numerous exhibitors, industry representatives and trading partners, there is no question of participation on the part of German exhibitors or exhibitors from the German-speaking region."

Heimtextil" organisers commented: "Due to the extreme escalation and deterioration of the pandemic situation in Germany within a very short period of time, the date of Heimtextil right at the beginning of the year, in the second week of January, cannot be kept." The show was scheduled for January 11-14.

Flooring fair Domotex was to open on January 13.  Sonia Wedell-Castellano, Global Director DOMOTEX, Deutsche Messe AG, commented on November 22: "What was considered a realistic and promising Re-Start scenario a month ago, and was also well received by the market, has proven to be no longer feasible in recent days."

The Domotex organisers are still considering rescheduling the event to a later date in 2022.