No refunds for NPE2021 exhibitors; fees to be applied to 2024 show

The Plastics Industry Association will issue nonrefundable credits for its NPE2024 trade show to exhibitors who had put down deposits for space for the 2021 event, which was canceled due to a COVID-19 surge.

The Washington-based trade group announced its disposition plan in a livestream March 1.

"We are pleased to communicate that the ... board of directors has authorized the following: All payments on a company's account for NPE2021 exhibit space are to be applied as a nonrefundable credit to the company's account for NPE2024 exhibit space," Tony Radoszewski, association president and CEO, said in a news release following the invite-only online meeting.

Exhibitors had been wondering what would happen with their booth deposits since Jan. 5, 2021, when the association canceled NPE2021, which had been set for May 17-21.

At that point, exhibitors had made half or full payments to rent space at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

The trade group told exhibitors that because there are "significant ongoing expenses" that it incurs in planning the huge triennial trade show, it could not return the deposits.

Officials of auxiliary equipment maker Novatec Inc. had paid about $50,000 as a deposit for a $100,000 booth. Novatec President and CEO Conrad Bessemer said in a phone interview that a credit toward the 2024 event is a "fine" resolution.

Bessemer added that the association has received an insurance settlement that allowed it to apply deposits for the canceled NPE2021 to the 2024 event. Association officials have not revealed terms of that settlement.

"I'm glad they got it done. We're just eight to 10 months away from having to put down a deposit for 2024 because the space draw will be at the end of this or early next year. So I think most people will go for this," Bessemer said.

Bessemer generated headlines in December 2020 when he wrote a letter to the Plastics Industry Association pulling Novatec out of the NPE2021 show, warning that it could become a COVID-19 superspreader event. The trade group's response to that letter was the first hint that the show could be canceled.

In the 5-minute, March 1 livestreamed announcement, Radoszewski thanked NPE exhibitors for their "patience, understanding and support" to wind down the event.

"Without our exhibitors, there is no NPE, and it was necessary for us to take the time to carefully address those complexities to best serve our stakeholders' interests and to ensure that NPE remains a strong avenue for showcasing your products and services in the future," Radoszewski said.

Glenn Anderson, the association's vice president for industry relations and member engagement, and Steve London, president of Bekum America and chair of the association's NPE2024 trade show, also spoke. They laid out some of the time line for the next event.

Exhibitor applications and contracts will be available in August.

"When you submit your NPE2024 exhibit space application, the current balance of your 2021 exhibit space funds will be applied as a non-refundable credit toward your company's NPE 2024 exhibit space," Anderson said.

Exhibitors aren't obligated to purchase the same amount of space as they did for NPE2021 to receive the credit toward NPE2024 exhibit space, Anderson added.

The exhibitor applications are due back to the association by Dec. 2 to be eligible to participate in the NPE2024 space-draw lottery, which determines the booth selection order.

"Plans are also underway for a live in person NPE2024 space draw scheduled to be held in the first quarter of 2023 in Orlando, Fla., just over a year away," London said.

The space draw is an opportunity to bring the industry together to network among colleagues, meet NPE service providers, and jump start booth planning and promotional campaigns, London added.

A concierge service will be available for companies that can send a representative to the live space draw, London also said.

"Perhaps the best news we can share with you today," said London, "is that we can now move on from the NPE2021 cancellation and focus fully on making NPE2024 ... the most amazing showcase for our industry the marketplace has ever seen."

The livestreamed announcement did not include any audience engagement. London said questions about NPE2024 should be emailed to [email protected].