EVENTIT to go ahead despite outbreak of COVID-19

EVENTIT, Scotland’s annual showcase for business event professionals, has announced it will go ahead as planned despite concerns around the coronavirus. EVENTIT begins 19 March at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, showcasing over 80 exhibitors across Scotland’s events industry. Judith Wilson, Director of EVENTIT, said: “Event professionals across Scotland are understandably anxious about the potential of event cancellations, however as leading event professionals, it’s our job to highlight that Scottish events are very much open for business and going ahead. “With the Scottish events and festival industry worth an estimated £3.5bn (USD$4.5bn) per year to the Scottish economy, it’s crucial that we show our true value by collaborating with and supporting events across the country during this unsteady time. With a recent increase in attendee bookings and ongoing support from our long-standing partners and exhibitors, we are hugely confident in producing a high-quality event for many industry professionals across Scotland and the UK.” Strict procedures will additionally be put in place to ensure that there will be no staff attending who have returned from an area affected by COVID-19. Organisers said that cancellation of the event will be the absolute last resort and attendees and exhibitors are encouraged to take advice from the World Health Organisation and Health Protection Scotland. 2020 sees the launch of EVENTIT’s largest ever education programme, with practical workshops and masterclasses and 50 engaging speakers from across the UK events industry.