Delta Variant Shrinks CEDIA Expo, Pauses HTSA, Pushes Axpona, and Alters Azione

The Delta variant of the COVID-19 global pandemic has hit event planners for the residential AV technology industry right when things seemed to be headed back on track.

For the past two weeks, CEDIA Expo planners have watched the Delta variant drive down the event’s already smaller than usual exhibit floor shrink from about 250 exhibitors to less than 100 for an event still on track to be held in Indianapolis September 1-3.

This week, the high-end audio show, Axpona, which had been scheduled for the end of October announced that they would be rescheduling for April 22-24, 2022 in the Renaissance Schaumburg, outside of Chicago. That’s the traditional time for that show, but they had hoped to sneak a fall event in so as not to miss 2021 altogether. So much for that plan.

Earlier this week, the Azione Unlimited buying group’s fall conference planners announced that its Nashville, TN, event would be held, but with much stricter health protocols due to the Delta variant. To attend the September 22 “Nikhedonia in Nashville,” Azione attendees must bring one of the following: A vaccine card with all doses or proof of negative results from a professional testing facility (CVS, Doctor, etc.) within 72 hours of arrival. You will not be allowed to enter our event without one of those items on your person.

And, then, the biggest bombshell of the week: An announcement from the HTSA buying group that it had decided to suspend all live, in-person group events for the remainder of 2021 due to the Delta variant. This includes their previously announced 2021 Fall Members Conference scheduled to take place in Dallas, TX, in October.

HTSA thanked everyone for their continued support of and wished good health until we meet again.

That’s just about all you can say these days. Unfortunately, what we thought was our back-to-business Fall of 2021, has turned into quite a mess.

Get vaccinated, mask up, and be safe out there.