Bangkok, Thailand – Stubborn flooding in Bangkok threw the November trade show calendar at the city’s largest convention venue into turmoil with at least five trade shows rescheduled. The Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) announced the events had been pushed to late November and December. The postponed events and their new dates are:
· TFBO 2011 & TRAFS 2011, November 24-27
· Bus and Truck, December 15-17
· in-cosmetics Asia 2011, December 14-16
· METALEX, December 21-24
· Thailand Health & Beauty Show 2011, December 31-January 1
“We had no option but to postpone in-cosmetics Asia because, as organizers, we were unable to guarantee the delivery of a quality exhibition,” said Sarah Gibson, event manager for in-cosmetics Asia 2011. “Having reached the decision to move the dates, we are now working closely with our exhibitors and visitors to deliver a successful event in December 2011.”
Gibson said she and Reed Exhibitions were “keen to keep the show in Thailand” and that weather-related transportation disruptions would force them to delay the show to the end of the year.
BITEC remained out of harm’s way at the end of October; however rising waters had bogged down Bangkok’s main airport as well as roads throughout the region.
Chainarong Limpkittisin, managing director of Reed Tradex Co., Ltd., sent a letter to METALEX attendees announcing the rescheduling of the show to the days before Christmas promising to accommodate visitors from North America and Europe. ““What we will do is to try and ensure, if you are intending to leave earlier to be home in time for Christmas, that we try to get you to see as many of your key customers as possible in the first two days of the show,” he said. “Additionally, we will be happy to provide support in stand manning for those without local staff or partners.”
The co-located Bangkok International Gift Fair 2011 and Bangkok International Houseware Fair 2011 (BIG+BIH October 2011) ran as scheduled October 18-23.
Bangkok has faced a growing flooding threat this Fall due to a long-running spell of heavy rains that have caused rivers throughout Thailand to rise. Thai officials said October 31 it would take another 10 days to clear the flood waters out of the city.
Reach Sarah Gibson at +65 6400 0902 or sarah.gibson@reedexpo.co.uk; Chainarong Limpkittisin at +66 2686-7299 or rtdx@reedtradex.co.th; BITEC Sales Director Duangrat Thatsanaprasert at +66 2 749 3939, x3144, or duangratt@bitec.co.th
