The IPAF Summit & IAPAs scheduled to be held in London, U.K., March 18, 2021, will go ahead as a purely digital event, with delegates joining online from around the world.
IPAF management made the decision to allow maximum certainty for those wishing to attend during the ongoing pandemic.
Event organizers, the International Powered Access Federation and KHL Group have announced they have jointly taken the decision to host the showcase event as a digital online-only platform as uncertainty persists surrounding measures to slow the resurgence of the virus over winter 2020-21.
“While we hope the pandemic is under control by March, continuing international travel restrictions, as well as local regulations in the U.K. concerning the number of people allowed to gather indoors, mean those hoping to attend in person cannot plan with the degree of certainty required with just five months to go until the event is scheduled to be held,” said Peter Douglas, CEO & MD of IPAF.
“At the same time, we are all now used to a new way of working, joining in meetings, hosting webinars, workshops, and roundtable discussions online via platforms such as Teams or Zoom,” Douglas added. “We have seen how effective these can be when international travel and physical gatherings have proved impossible.”
Murray Pollok, editorial and events director for KHL Group, said, “We have already moved the planned date of the IPAF Summit & IAPAs twice, and do not wish to face the possibility of another postponement in Q1 2021. Bringing the event into the online realm opens up some interesting opportunities for delegates.”
Pollok added, “We will still be able to offer a high-quality series of speakers and announce the winners of the various IAPAs categories effectively online. In fact, we are confident hosting the event digitally will allow more people from around the globe to join than would have been the case with a physical event, so the possibilities are quite exciting.”
Pollok said that attendees understand why IPAF and KHL Group have come to the decision. “We hope those who had already booked to attend will appreciate the clarity and maximum advanced notice that this brings, and that those planning to join in person will still wish to participate online in what promises to be a great digital event,” he said.
IPAF’s Douglas said that anyone who was booked to join us for the event will be able to request a refund, and that IPAF advises anyone who reserved hotel accommodation at the venue to contact the Millennium Gloucester directly to discuss cancellation in line with the hotel’s standard policies.
“The annual IPAF Summit & IAPAs is a highlight of the worldwide powered access events calendar, we sincerely hope that those planning to attend will log in to join us for the first ever edition of the event in the virtual realm,” said Douglas. “It certainly promises to be an intriguing and engaging highlight of the 2021 events calendar.”
For further information, program, speaker announcements, and details about how to secure a place at the first ever online IPAF Summit & IAPAs, visit www.iapa-summit.info.
For details about sponsorship opportunities, contact faith.cobaine@ipaf.org.
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