The spread of COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, and its impact have been felt in nearly every corner of the globe and across every industry, and one location in particular has felt those ripple effects grow increasingly disruptive in the past several days.
Las Vegas, one of the world’s foremost trade show locations, has effectively ground to a halt in the wake of the pandemic and suggestions regarding large gatherings and events, upsetting the typically productive, always-on nature of the city.
Over the last days, MGM Resorts International announced that all of its Las Vegas properties will be closed until at least early May. Wynn Resorts has followed suit, and Caesar’s properties were not far behind.
So, what does it mean for the immediate future of the business typically conducted at these locales?
Online Presentation Preps for Increased Role
With physical venues – and the hotels meant to house attendees, even if the trade show is still officially set to take place – shuttering for an undetermined amount of time, online collaboration will be more important than ever.
Online options like videoconferencing, remote presentation, podcasts, online learning and more will likely be leaned upon to step up and fill the role typically occupied by in-person conferences, sessions and other traditional avenues.
Though these communication methods require different preparation and attention to detail than face-to-face avenues, they’re no less capable of delivering your message and achieving your goals. In fact, these online, remote options are often more agile and, with the right platform, able to reach wider, unique audiences.
Be on the Lookout for Rescheduling Opportunities
Though these shows may not proceed for the time being, many might be attempted in some capacity at a later date. Despite the uncertainty surrounding operations at the moment, it’s more critical than ever to be agile and ready to adapt to changing plans as best you can.
There also may be avenues leading toward the sharing of ideas and the enabling of future in-person meetings between partners and potential partners meant to attend these canceled events. If you can leverage social channels to find out which connections there might have been to be made at your canceled trade show, you can begin laying the groundwork now for a prosperous relationship once more normal operations resume.
Make Attempts to Be Flexible with Cost Savings
While trade shows are profitable enterprises for many businesses, not traveling to shows that have been canceled in the wake of the pandemic could free up resources able to be leveraged for initiatives that typically take a backseat to these events.
Spend this period of more remote operations focusing on how you can use these resources to develop online-friendly initiatives, streamline internal operations, support employees needing to work remotely, and more.
With the proper attention to detail and proactivity, you can not only weather this period of uncertainty, but come out stronger on the other side.
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