When Bill Gates was starting Microsoft, he had a vision that personal computers would one day play a significant role in people’s lives. But I don’t think that even he would have foreseen a future where they would be our only connection to the world (like it was for some time in 2021). Like many people, there were entire days this year when the only human interaction we had was through a screen.
In 2021, the pandemic has dominated our lives since day one. We’ve all had to adapt to a “new normal”. Most of us have lost someone known due to this pandemic. At the same time, this year was a reminder that our world is more connected than ever. 2021 was full of monumental events with global repercussions, including extreme weather events, the ongoing effects of the pandemic, and America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan among others. Every time you looked at the news, you were reminded of just how significantly something happening on the other side of the world could affect you at home. You can understand this by looking at how one container ship stuck in the Suez Canal for a week caused shipping delays around the world. It’s never been clearer that tackling big problems requires people working together across borders and sectors. It is here that our industry plays such an important role because it brings people together & helps to find solutions for issues across spectrums. On the other hand, the year 2021 also helped us learn that there is no substitute of physical events. Virtual is just an enabler, a friend to the world of physical events. While the discovery of Omicron variant is a threat & it’s troubling every time a new variant of concern emerges, but I’m still hopeful that, at some point in 2022, COVID-19 will become an endemic disease in most places.
I now head to the IEIA Open Seminar in Bengaluru to meet industry friends and colleagues. As IEIA Media Partner, we will keep you updated about the proceedings shaping up on-site. Our December issue is punctuated with stories of physical exhibitions happening around the world, along with exclusive interviews, insights and current trends in the industry. Throughout 2021, Exhibition Showcase has been on the forefront at projecting the industry to a wider audience through our various outreach platforms like print, web, newsletters, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube. I hope that you will appreciate our continued efforts and do share your feedback with me at raghav@exhibitionshowcase.com
I wish you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2022.
Happy reading!
