Despite repeated cancellations, ARBS 2022 is finally here.
The last ARBS Exhibition was held in May 2018 at the newly-renovated International Convention Centre (ICC) in Darling Harbour, Sydney.
ARBS 2018 was the first time the exhibition had been held in Sydney since 2010.
Today the three day event has returned to Melbourne and is set to showcase hundreds of new products and technologies.
Day one of the ARBS Exhibition has been a huge success with more than 200 exhibitors at the show. Organisers are expecting 7,000 visitors over three days.
It is hard to believe the ARBS Exhibition was initially scheduled to take place from 19-21 May 2020 but was postponed due to the global pandemic.
The decision to postpone was a difficult one. ARBS sent an email to exhibitors and sponsors.
The email thanked exhibitors and sponsors who 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.
After the initial disappointment had passed, ARBS announced the exhibition would be held in February, 2021.
Incredibly, the COVID 19 pandemic continued to create havoc across the globe with large parts of Australia enduring extended lockdowns.
There seemed to be no sign of relief and it soon became clear the ARBS Exhibition would have to be postponed yet again.
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."
Although the exhibition did not go ahead in early 2021, ARBS did 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,” ARBS organisers said in an email.
“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.
A return to normal took time and preparations were a challenge. “Bearing in mind that many large events are all scrambling to postpone and move to alternate options either later this year or early next year, venue space is in limited supply,” ARBS said.
Instead of moving to Sydney, organisers decided to stick with the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre for 2022.
Finally the long wait is over.