(Pictured L-R: Hervé Sedky, Reed Exhibitions Americas president; Rich Russo, industry vice president, National Hardware Show; and Bill Miller, American Gaming Association president/CEO)
Reed Exhibitions, along with their partners, the American Gaming Association and the NHS, formally announced today the 2020 cancellations of the National Hardware Show, originally scheduled for Sept. 1-3 in Las Vegas and the Global Gaming Expo, originally scheduled for Oct. 5-8 in Las Vegas.
National Hardware Show Statement:
“Over the last few months, the National Hardware Show has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on members of the global hardware and home improvement community. Originally slated to open its doors in May, the show was originally postponed to September. However, as we continue to make the safety of everyone at NHS our top concern, and looking at the continued impact of COVID-19 on our customers and industry, NHS has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 event. Instead of an in-person experience, NHS plans to host a virtual tradeshow dedicated to providing education and support that recognizes and addresses the direct and essential needs of the hardware industry, later in the year.”
“The hardware industry has been greatly impacted by the global pandemic and hundreds of our international exhibitors have been forced to cancel their plans to participate in NHS due to market conditions and continued travel restrictions,” explains Randy Field, group vice president, Reed Exhibitions. “At the NHS we pride ourselves on being the leading industry gathering place and while we recognize and appreciate how important the show is to the community, we believe it is the right decision to transition it to a virtual experience for 2020. Following the May postponement, we prioritized making NHS Connects the place for the hardware and home improvement community to come together to source information. It will soon be where connections, direct appointment setting, and virtual product showcases will debut. We will also be adding a virtual tradeshow component to this digital platform that enables networking and we look forward to utilizing that platform to allow business to continue. We seek to encourage attendees, exhibitors and all of the NHS community to explore the platform and utilize it until we meet again in person in 2021.”
Rich Russo, industry vice president, National Hardware Show, says, “Our entire team is dedicated to supporting all of our customers and partners. We are passionate about providing new options such as NHS Connects and look forward to continuing business virtually and creating innovative experiences for when we can hold an in-person event in 2021. We are re-imagining the entire physical tradeshow, so look forward to new initiatives, new pavilions and neighborhoods, and a complete transformation of NHS for 2021.”
Global Gaming Expo Statement:
The show organizers for the gaming industry’s top global event are committed to facilitating economic, education and networking opportunities for the global gaming industry through a series of virtual G2E events throughout the rest of the year to better reflect the current environment. The next in-person edition of the Global Gaming Expo will take place October 4-7, 2021, at the Sands Expo and Convention Center.
“In light of continued uncertainty around a viable marketplace at a physical G2E show, global travel restrictions, and currently unknown guidance on large public gatherings this fall, we have come to the unfortunate conclusion that we simply cannot hold an in-person G2E this year,” says AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Health and safety have always been our top priority and the uncertainty created by the ongoing pandemic makes this the prudent decision ahead of critical deadlines for exhibitors planning to participate.”
For 20 years, G2E has welcomed nearly 30,000 attendees annually from across the globe, including executives representing key industry partners such as the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers, as well as the world’s top casino operators, sports betting companies, and FinTech and digital payments facilitators, among others.
“We arrived at this decision after thoughtfully engaging with national, state, and local public health authorities, as well as exhibitors and buyers who have shared industry observations and priorities. Ultimately, it became clear that proceeding with an in-person gathering simply was not feasible,” says Hervé Sedky, Reed Exhibitions Americas president. “It is our commitment to use G2E’s platform, as the leading convener of the global gaming community, to continue to deliver unparalleled education content, inspiring collaboration, and innovative ideas as the industry readies for continued growth.”
Miller adds, “As the country works to reopen, the American gaming industry continues to adapt and provide the safest possible experience for our employees and customers while continuing to support the communities in which we operate. We look forward to the moment when we can convene together again with our colleagues from across the world and celebrate the resilience that our industry is known for.”
The event organizers will announce plans for virtual events and education in the near future.
The National Hardware Show celebrates a rich history spanning 75 years of serving the home improvement marketplace. From its early beginnings in New York during the post-World War 2 housing boom and eventual move to Chicago in the 1970s, to today’s current location in Las Vegas, NHS continually evolves through the industry’s involvement, commitment and passion to improving quality of life through their homes and beyond. Today, NHS is the place for global manufacturers, associations, organizations and the media to get an unfiltered view of the industry, hands-on experiences, and access to the latest innovations and retail trends to enhance their business. For the most up-to-date information and details for the 2020 National Hardware Show Virtual Event, visit www.nationalhardwareshow.com or call our Customer Service team at 888-425-9377 or 203-840-5622.
Global Gaming Expo, the largest gathering of global commercial and tribal gaming professionals in North America, showcases the latest developments in gaming technology and features new educational content that is fast-paced and actionable. Attendees experience firsthand the new products and innovative technologies showcased on the expo floor. G2E has everything you need for your casino floor and across your entire operation—from traditional casino fare to non-gaming amenities and digital products—G2E is where business growth is accelerated. For more info, visit www.globalgamingexpo.com
The American Gaming Association is the premier national trade group representing the $261 billion U.S. casino industry, which supports 1.8 million jobs nationwide. The AGA members include commercial and tribal casino operators, suppliers and other entities affiliated with the gaming industry. It is the mission of the AGA to achieve sound policies and regulations consistent with casino gaming’s modern appeal and vast economic contributions. For more info, visit www.americangaming.org
Reed Exhibitions is a leading global events business. It combines face-to-face with data and digital tools to help customers learn about markets, source products and complete transactions at over 500 events in almost 30 countries across 43 industry sectors, attracting more than 7 million participants. Our events, organised by 35 global offices, leverage industry expertise, large data sets and technology to enable our customers to generate billions of dollars of revenues for the economic development of local markets and national economies around the world. Reed Exhibitions is part of RELX, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. For more info, visit www.reedexhibitions.com.
