ROSEMONT, IL (Feb. 6, 2020)—Due to the Coronavirus outbreak and after consultation with Chinese pavilion organizers and exhibitors, the International Sourcing Expo will not open at The Inspired Home Show 2020, the International Housewares Association announced today. This decision was made to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of the industry from concerns about exposure to the virus, said Derek Miller, IHA president.
The rest of The Inspired Home Show, to be held March 14-17 at Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center, will continue as planned with the Dine + Décor, Clean + Contain, Wired + Well and Discover | design expos showcasing the latest and most innovative home and housewares products to key, specialty and independent retailers and distributors, Miller said.
Show attendees coming from China will also be subject to U.S. customs and immigration policies that temporarily deny entry into the United States of foreign nationals who have visited China within 14 days of arriving in the U.S.
IHA will continue to follow the guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and is working with the City of Chicago and McCormick Place officials on the development of precautionary measures to further reduce health risks at the Show.
The Inspired Home Show 2020 will feature 2,000 exhibitors from around the world, including 400 new companies exhibiting for the first time. More than 51,000 total attendees, including buyers from 130 countries, are expected. Additional information on Show events, exhibitors and attendee registration is available at TheInspiredHomeShow.com.
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The International Housewares Association is the 82-year-old voice of the housewares industry, which accounted for (US)$394.3 billion at retail worldwide in 2018. The not-for-profit, full-service association sponsors the world’s premier exposition of products for the home, The Inspired Home Show, IHA’s Global Home + Housewares Market (TheInspiredHomeShow.com), and offers its 1,400 member companies a wide range of services, including industry and government advocacy, export assistance, industry and consumer trends through the IHA Market Watch, executive management peer groups, a B2B community at www.housewares.org, group buying discounts on business solutions services and direct-to-consumer engagement through TheInspiredHome.com.
