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METSTRADE and RAI Amsterdam have announced that the Marine Equipment Trade Show (METSTRADE), which was scheduled on 17-19 November in RAI Amsterdam, has been cancelled. For NMMA members involved in the Canadian and USA Pavilions, or have questions about NMMA’s overall involvement with the show, please contact NMMA Canada President Sara Anghel, [email protected].

Organizers said due to the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak, their mission cannot be accomplished successfully, therefore they believe it is the right decision to cancel this year’s show. METSTRADE is scheduled to return November 16-18, 2021 in RAI Amsterdam.

“NMMA expects to support both the USA and Canadian pavilions at METS 2021. More details on renewals for 2021 will be coming soon,” noted Anghel.

RAI Amsterdam was ready to accommodate METSTRADE in a COVID19-secure way, fully in line with all health and safety guidelines.?The RAI has worked tirelessly to adapt all its facilities and protocols to enable events to be held in a safe, responsible and hospitable manner. However, given the uncertain worldwide situation organizers believe they cannot guarantee the high-quality show in 2020 with valuable face-to-face contacts with visitors which is expected from METSTRADE.

"We have worked towards a safe and successful METSTRADE with great dedication. The cancellation of the METSTRADE 2020 show has been a tough blow for my team and I, but listening to the multiple voices in the industry including the Exhibition Committee, ICOMIA, partners and the stakeholders this is the only right decision we could make," Niels Klarenbeek, Director Maritime METSTRADE said. "Our team is working together with our partners on different virtual ways to connect the leisure marine industry in these tough times.”

“RAI Amsterdam has been hit hard by the current global crisis. We have remained hopeful about the continuation of METSTRADE until the very end, but the global situation has not improved significantly," Bas Dalm, Executive Vice President Exhibition & Sales RAI Amsterdam added. "Although this decision hurts the entire leisure marine industry, it is the only right decision at this given moment.”