QHA_Review March_2021

NEWS
AHG EXPO POSTPONED
THE UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDING THE TYPES OF RESTRICTIONS AND QUARANTINE PROCEDURES EXHIBITORS
AND GUESTS AT THE MAX AUSTRALASIAN HOSPITALITY & GAMING (AHG) EXPO MIGHT ENDURE DUE TO POTENTIAL
COVID-19 OUTBREAKS, HAS UNFORTUNATELY SEEN THE EVENT POSTPONED UNTIL 2022.
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With 45 per cent of visitors to the event travelling
from interstate, along with 35 per cent of exhibitors,
proceeding with the event under such a cloud became
untenable.
In a statement released on the day the decision was
made, the AGH Board said it was a tough call to
cancel the event for 2021 which had been scheduled
to be held at the Brisbane Exhibition and Convention
Centre on March 10 and 11. Unfortunately the risk
profile for the event during this time of ongoing
uncertainty (specifically in relation to COVID-19
restrictions and border closures) was just too great.
The hard decision to postpone the Expo was made
to minimise any further negative impacts should the
decision be a forced one, closer to the event date.
The decision was made in collaboration with key
stakeholders’ best interests in mind – from both a
health and a commercial perspective.
There is a considerable cost in staging the event, both
financially and from a resourcing perspective. There is
also the health and safety of all visitors, exhibitors and
staff involved in the event to consider.
MAX Gaming Services Chief Operating Officer Paul
Carew, whose business is the major sponsor of the
Expo, said MAX would continue to support the event.
“Whilst we are disappointed to see an important event
like the AHG Expo cancelled, we acknowledge the
continued health and safety risk posed by COVID.”
“We remain committed to our ongoing partnership
and look forward to a successful return of the event in
2022.”
The AHG Expo is set to return in 2022 at the Brisbane
Convention & Exhibition Centre.