“The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis.’ one brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger–but recognize the opportunity.”
John F. Kennedy
Over a half a century later, these words are even more accurate now.
The world has changed abruptly. And with it, hopefully, we are becoming smarter and more flexible and, taking advantage of the opportunities.
The exhibit industry is a fine example of being creative and adaptable during this pandemic.
Around the world, countries are slowly returning to normal with the opening of other businesses, large and small, albeit with safety protocols in place.
The resumption of familiarity with leisure and business will increase travel too.
Tourism is beginning now with Italy and Spain reopening, including their museums.
Trade shows will resume as well, in time.
As of this post, Canada will invest $30 million to promote national tourism because of the closure of the country’s borders due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. This is good news for the trade show industry. Local shows will begin using portable displays.
Airlines are seeing numbers of travellers increasing faster than predictions, especially with the new sanitary measures in place.
Hotel chains, too, as well as Airbnb, are launching new cleanliness and hygiene measures to give guests peace of mind when staying at their establishments. And the trade show exhibit industry is ready with additional “walls and partitions” to help adapt spaces to the health crisis protecting sales teams and clients.
These portable and lightweight panels will help people to maintain social distancing.
Portable partitions can even be used in elevators to allow more people access at one time.
An additional benefit of these walls is increased “branding and messaging opportunities.”
Companies can also take these portable walls to their trade shows to act as social distancing separators. There are even curved fabric enclosures to create small offices.
New antimicrobial fabric displays are now also available to aid with further protection. These units will help you to adhere to social distancing while combining sculptural wall designs that will help you establish risk-free environments.
Bannerstands, too are now offered with clear panels that can be used as separators for social distancing, with the additional feature of being able to be imprinted with a message or logo.
Let us not forget to have a hand sanitizer station at each booth to help protect staff and visitors. These units will also encourage visitors to stop by your booth. What a new world it is where now we are offering hand sanitizer as “swag”?
During this global reset, let us remind and reassure each other that the changes back to normalcy are beginning and will return soon. Once again, we will hug our children, have dinner with friends, and return to concerts and trade shows. The world will have learned many positive things during this pandemic.
Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
And we will succeed in finding a vaccine to this “impossible virus” and return to good times again.