August 12, 2020
Onboard Hospitality and the International Flight Services Association (IFSA) will jointly host a ground-breaking, interactive online air transport industry trade show, Onboard Hospitality-IFSA Virtual Expo, which will be co-located with FTE APEX Virtual Expo in December 2020.
Onboard Hospitality-IFSA Virtual Expo will enable the industry to connect and engage at a time when attending in-person events is impossible. The launch of this pioneering virtual trade show follows the cancellation of IFSA EXPO, which was due to take place in San Diego in October but had to be cancelled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
During two live show days on 8 and 9 December 2020, online attendees will be able to browse the virtual exhibition and visit booths, attend live video calls and product demos, watch real-time and on-demand conference content, and network with fellow attendees in the digital Networking Lounge. The event will be open 24/7 to support all regions and time zones.
Then, for a period of 30 days delegates will be able to access the Virtual Expo portal at any hour of the day to re-watch conference sessions and supplier pitches. They will also be able to revisit the exhibition hall to continue to learn all about the products and services that can help them overcome today’s challenges, reinvent their business, and thrive in the post-COVID-19 world.
This free-to-attend Virtual Expo has been designed to attract buyers of inflight passenger comfort and catering products and services, which will be showcased in the dedicated ‘Inflight’ exhibition hall. Meanwhile, the virtual conference programme will include a raft of content tailored to the Asia-Pacific, EMEA and Americas regions, covering the most pertinent topics including IFEC, World of Content, Interiors, Service & Catering, Comfort & Amenities, and Retail. The theme of the event is “Transforming air transport post-COVID-19”.
The event will be segmented into four halls: Airport, Ancillary, Startups and Inflight. Inflight will encompass IFEC, World of Content, Interiors, Service & Catering, Comfort & Amenities and Retail.
This large-scale virtual trade show, which brings together the International Flight Services Association (IFSA), Onboard Hospitality, Future Travel Experience (FTE) and the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX), will provide a one-of-a-kind platform for the industry to come together en masse at a time when collaboration is needed more than ever before.
Onboard Hospitality’s editor Julie Baxter, said: “The opportunities to meet face to face this year have been sadly curtailed by COVID-19 but at the same time we have all become much more familiar and engaged with virtual ways to connect. We have been committed throughout the pandemic to keeping the conversations going, and partnering with IFSA for this ground-breaking, interactive global online industry trade show is a natural next step. The Onboard Hospitality-IFSA Virtual Expo will replace the San Diego event and be fully supported by the next issue of our magazine to ensure maximum value for those who get involved.”
The announcement follows news earlier this month that Future Travel Experience and APEX are partnering for a virtual trade show to replace face to face events both had planned for later this year.
Future Travel Experience Founder & CEO Daniel Coleman said: “We are incredibly excited to host this truly dynamic and global virtual event, and we are looking forward to offering much more than straightforward webinars, which have become commonplace in recent months. The industry wants more than that now and FTE APEX Virtual Expo co-located with Onboard Hospitality-IFSA Virtual Expo will provide the sector with a large-scale digital trade show that will creatively offer real engagement, networking and business development opportunities for everyone involved.”
APEX/IFSA CEO Dr. Joe Leader commented: “These integrated Virtual Expos will act as a beacon for our industry’s recovery and bring global stakeholders together en masse to inspire one another. As we polled our airline and valued supplier members worldwide, we discovered key aspects that will most help our industry. Our stakeholders want to connect and engage to share ideas, propositions, visions and learnings.”
Onboard Hospitality’s publisher, Sue Williams, said: “We here at Onboard Hospitality are delighted to be working alongside FTE APEX to launch the Onboard Hospitality-IFSA Virtual Expo. This Virtual Expo will give our suppliers and caterers a great opportunity to display their innovative ideas and promote them to the industry to help it ride this crisis.
“We are here to help; please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to supporting you all and bringing us all together again.”
For further help and advice on the opportunities offered by this event please contact Craig McQuinn who will be happy to talk you through the vision and execution.
