The International Housewares Association (IHA) has announced that the International Sourcing Expo sector (featuring many exhibitors from China) will not open at The Inspired Home Show 2020 (March 14-17 at Chicago’s McCormick Place). The decision is a result of the coronavirus outbreak and has been made after consultation with Chinese pavilion organisers and exhibitors.
“This decision was made to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of the industry from concerns about exposure to the virus,” said Derek Miller, IHA president.
The rest of The Inspired Home Show will continue as planned, featuring Dine + Décor, Clean + Contain, Wired + Well sectors as well as the Discover Design expo.
Show attendees coming from China will be subject to US customs and immigration policies that temporarily deny entry into the United States of foreign nationals who have visited China within 14 days of arriving in the US.
IHA will continue to follow the guidance of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and is working with the City of Chicago and McCormick Place officials on the development of precautionary measures to further reduce health risks at the Show.
The Inspired Home Show 2020 will feature 2,000 exhibitors from around the world, including 400 new companies exhibiting for the first time. More than 51,000 total attendees, including buyers from 130 countries, are expected.
For information on the show’s many events and presentations, its exhibitors and to register, see TheInspiredHomeShow.com.
Top: Crowds at the opening of Chicago’s 2019 show (previously known as The International Home + Housewares Show).
