Washington, D.C. — The Plastics Industry Association says it will not be able to return the first half of deposits paid by exhibitors and has decided not to have a virtual NPE2021 show.
The association, which owns the NPE trade show, disclosed those developments in an email that went out to exhibitors late in the afternoon Jan. 22.
The Washington-based association told exhibitors that because there are "significant ongoing expenses" that it incurs in planning the huge triennial trade show, it cannot return the first 50 percent of deposits exhibitors would have already paid.
"The first 50 percent of exhibitor deposits have been invested in the myriad expenses required in the advance planning stages of the show, as well as to support ongoing operations for [the association], and therefore cannot be returned," the group said in its email.
Association leaders had been saying for several weeks, since they announced Jan. 5 that they were canceling the in-person part of the show because of the coronavirus pandemic, that they may not be able to return deposits.
The show had been scheduled for May 17-21 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
As well, the email from CEO Tony Radoszewski said that the association leadership decided not to have a virtual version of NPE2021. It had previously planned a virtual version to run alongside the in-person portion.
"The member-run NPE Sales & Marketing and Executive Committees and the Officers of the ... Board of Directors, after evaluating all the factors and commitments involved in staging a virtual event, decided not to pursue a virtual show in 2021," Radoszewski wrote. "We will, of course, continue to explore all feasible options for an industry event that would serve to help strengthen the industry, our members, and the association."