The ARBS Exhibition has been postponed for a second time and will now be held from April 27-29, 2022.
Originally, the exhibition was going to be held in May this year but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic until February, 2021.
In an email to exhibitors, ARBS organisers said: “We regret to advise we have made the very difficult decision to postpone the ARBS exhibition for a second time. It now appears certain that we will not be able to go ahead with the 2021 exhibition in February due to ongoing restrictions on gatherings, closed international borders and very limited travel permissions nationwide.
“Due to the unknown outcome and the need to ensure the safety of all our participants long term we have decided to circumvent any further effects of the virus by moving ahead to our next planned edition of ARBS in 2022.
“However instead of moving to Sydney we will continue in Melbourne and hold the next exhibition from April 27-29, 2022 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.”
ARBS thanked exhibitors and sponsors who have remained supportive through these “unprecedented times” and said refunds will be provided for all bookings over the next couple of weeks.
“We ask that you be patient while we condense many months of admin work into a relatively short period of time. We will systematically be in touch with everyone to obtain bank details for your refund payment, so please wait until we contact you for details,” the email said.
Although the exhibition will not go ahead in early 2021, ARBS will bring two major components of the event to life online, specifically the ARBS Awards ceremony and the ARBS seminar program.
“All entries to the ARBS Awards have already been judged and finalists have been announced and we are getting ready to bring you our online ceremony with all the fun and fanfare we can assemble virtually,” the email said.
The most popular speaker sessions planned for ARBS will be available online to provide industry with the latest updates and information usually presented at the exhibition.
“We are desperately hoping things can get back to normal soon and we can welcome you back to the biggest and best networking event on the HVACR and building services industry calendar,” the email said.