The GSMA will not refund exhibitors following the cancellation of the Mobile World Congress (MWC).
The industry's annual centerpiece was due to take place next week in Barcelona, but organizers pulled the plug earlier this month due to concerns over the coronavirus epidemic.
Several companies, including Amazon, Ericsson, Facebook, Intel, LG, Nokia Nvidia and Sony had already announced their withdrawal from the event. However, the GSMA was confident that the show would continue until the official cancellation on February 13.
Cancellation of MWC 2020
A press release from the GSMA indicates that organizers have concluded that the show was "impossible" to hold following recent events.
GSMA CEO John Hoffman said: "With due respect to the safe and healthy environment in Barcelona and the host country today, the GSMA canceled MWC Barcelona 2020 because of global concern over the coronavirus epidemic, travel and other circumstances make it impossible for the GSMA to host the event."
However, exhibitors will not be responsible for any compensation. The GSMA said the "unprecedented and uninsurable" situation means there will be no refunds.
"As a non-profit organization and organizer of an entire industry and related ecosystem, the financial implications of these circumstances are extremely important to the GSMA and we are grateful for your understanding and patience. Read an email sent to an exhibitor and seen by Mobile Marketing The same exhibitor was also informed that he would have to pay the catering bill for his planned presence at the event.
"As this is a case of force majeure, no refund will be given under clause 21.10 of our Standard Terms and Conditions for Exhibition, Advertising and Sponsorship."
The situation could be important for small organizations that allocate a large portion of their marketing budget to CMM and rely on airing to present their products and hold meetings with other members of the mobile ecosystem. .
Some companies will also have paid for transport, accommodation and exhibition stands, while resources would have been spent on creating demos and prototypes.
The GSMA told LaComparacion Pro that it was asking exhibitors for patience as it made proposals that could mitigate the potential consequences of cancellation and allow mutually beneficial relationships to continue. It plans to release more details at the end of March.
Via mobile marketing