Neighbor News
Trade Show Workers Need Support – and Industry Recovery
A year after pandemic shut down convention and trade show industry, companies and workers continue to suffer as closures linger
Brookfield, Wis. – March 2021 marks a full year since the coronavirus pandemic completely shut down the convention and trade show industry, an industry employing millions of workers. Convention centers have remained closed across the U.S., surrounded by hotels and businesses suffering the same fate.
Captivate Exhibits has not sold one new display since March 2020. The company pivoted into a full line of personal protective equipment (PPE), permanent installations of Corporate interiors and environments and launched Enclave Outdoor Structures, its new line of sturdy outdoor buildings offering separate, high-end backyard living space for home offices, she-sheds, man-caves, art studios, pool houses and much more. Unfortunately, it still had to furlough or lay off over 60 percent of its personnel.
“COVID-19 literally brought our industry to an immediate halt,” Richard Magliocco, President of Captivate Exhibits. “We have never experienced an industry-wide shut down of this magnitude. Our industry needs to reopen so all its businesses, and their employees, can get back to work.”
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A multitude of industries depend on conventions and trade shows: hotels, restaurants, expo centers, arenas, theme parks, stadiums and airlines. Conventions bring billions of dollars in revenue to cities, states, and the federal government through taxes and fees.
Most government bailouts have covered the businesses promoted by conventions and trade shows. Yet, convention and trade show workers are not included.
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The unemployed represent union workers from many unions: trade show installers, Teamsters, trade show electricians and plumbers, stagehands, riggers, and audiovisual technicians. All live event workers!
COVID-19 is serious. However just as serious are the challenges facing these workers: feeding their families, losing medical insurance, threats to pensions, and the real possibility of homelessness. The live event industry faces these issues, and it's getting worse. Workers in this industry are not minimum wage workers - they are trained skilled labor. The live event industry needs help and support now.
Once the go-ahead signal is given to convention centers to reopen, the industry will enforce and adhere to safety protocols. Programs are in place to safely reopen convention centers and other venues, and return life to our economies. Until this time, though, the industry needs proper legislation that considers this unique situation and keeps millions of Americans from facing poverty, homelessness or worse.
More information about Captivate Exhibits is available by calling (262) 432-8410 or visiting www.CaptivateExhibits.com.