MCH Group has canceled its Baselworld 2021 show, which had been scheduled for Jan. 28 to Feb. 2.
“Together with the exhibitors and visitors, we are working intensively on clarifying and discussing the requirements and options for new platforms,” said Michel Loris-Melikoff, managing director of Baselworld. “We will be taking a decision on possible follow-up formats by the summer and will then provide information on the new concept and scheduling.”
Five major watch brands jointly announced in mid-April that they wouldn’t be participating in the 2021 event. Instead, Rolex, its sister brand Tudor, Patek Philippe, Chanel and Chopard said they were planning their own show with the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie.
MCH Group also announced that it had reached a settlement with exhibitors for the canceled Baselworld 2020. That show was called off due to the COVID-19 crisis, and a controversy over refunds ensued.
“I welcome the constructive attitude of the representatives of the MCH Group, which has enabled us to find a balanced solution,” said Hubert J. du Plessix, president of the Swiss Exhibitors’ Committee. “I would also like to thank Patek Philippe, Rolex, Tudor, Chanel, Chopard, Hublot, Zenith and Tag Heuer, who, in a spirit of solidarity with the sector as a whole, have agreed to a lower refund so that the other exhibitors can benefit from better conditions.”
Bernd Stadlwieser, CEO of MCH Group, said: “We are pleased to have worked together and, in just a short time, found a solution that is acceptable to everyone. In the light of the large loss of revenue due to COVID-19 and our responsibility to all our stakeholder groups, this solution marks the limit of what is possible for us. With the amicable settlement for Baselworld 2020, we can now concentrate fully on the future.”