Difficult but unavoidable, the decision to move the 50th edition of MIDO to 2021 was made by the Management Board of the leading global eyewear trade show.
[perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”MIDO President Giovanni Vitaloni” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”16″]The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Italy and its swift spread to the rest of the world, along with doubts about when the crisis will normalize globally, have forced us to make the painful, but crucial, decision to safeguard exhibitors and visitors, buyers and stakeholders, staff and everyone involved in the organization, management, and operation of the show.
The 50th-anniversary edition is being moved to 2021 and we are convinced it will bring a new lease on life to the eyewear industry in Italy and abroad. Our focus, and that of all industry professionals, is to inject new vitality into a healthy economic system that – although slowed by the public health crisis – has never lost its driving force.[/perfectpullquote]
As you are aware, over the last few weeks, the COVID-19 public health crisis in Italy and around the world has continuously worsened. After the USA, Italy has been hardest hit and will soon be forced to come to grips with the colossal social and economic damage incurred. The global expansion of the crisis and its duration far beyond expectations for an end to contagion, make quantifying the damage nearly impossible.
As uncertainty surrounding the pandemic continues, it is difficult to imagine that the conditions exist to optimally stage an exhibition like MIDO in 2020, which requires the efforts of a complex organizational machine and involves international travel and large-scale investments.
Fueled by optimism and a positive attitude, and hoping the outlook would improve, we have worked energetically to maintain the new dates for the show. Today, however, we made the difficult decision to further postpone MIDO 5Oth Edition.
Another choice we had hoped we would never have to make but, once again, our sense of responsibility prevailed over business concerns, making it our first priority to safeguard you, exhibitors, buyers, stakeholders, our staff and all the people involved in organizing, managing and running the event.
The 50th edition of MIDO will be held Saturday, February 6 to Monday, February 8, 2021 at Fiera Milano Rho. We are confident this 50th edition will be much more than the celebration of a milestone anniversary.
Working together, we can make MIDO 2021 the premier event in revitalizing the Italian and international eyewear sectors, the ideal venue to breathe new vitality into a healthy economic system that – although slowed by the horrendous effects of the current health crisis – has never lost