Nov 2, 2020

Surf Expo plans January 2021 in-person show

Surf Expo, a watersports and beach lifestyle tradeshow announced that its upcoming Jan. 6-8, 2021 show will take place in Orlando, Florida. The show will be located in the West Concourse of the Orange County Convention Center, a shift from the North/South Hall where the show has been held previously.

“Our top priority is to reunite the industry together safely. Our team is committed to creating an experience where we can safely and effectively conduct business,” said Roy Turner, show director and senior vice president for Surf Expo.

The West Concourse will provide space for social distancing plus multiple entry and exit points to the show floor, a more favorable floor plan, and easier move-in and move-out for exhibitors. At around 120,000 net square feet, the reduced footprint will allow for approximately 420 exhibitors with increased aisle space for distancing.

While attendance is expected to decrease somewhat due to travel restrictions and store closures, the overwhelming response from retailers is that they need inventory, and want an in-person show. Retailers from all across the U.S. and the Caribbean are registered to attend, including: Hi Tech Surf Sports, Sun Diego, K-Coast Surf Shop, Archie’s Surf Shop, Coastal Edge, and Red Sail Sports.

“I am looking forward to attending Surf Expo to see vendors in person and to be able to touch and feel product. Zoom calls have worked, but it doesn’t replace the in-person contact,” Allyson Catanzaro, buyer and boutique manager at La Playa Beach and Golf Resort in Naples, Florida said.

The January 2021 show will be the first gathering of the industry since its January 2020 Surf Expo. Events will include the annual Florida Shape Off board shaping competition, live seminars, fashion shows, the Surf Expo Industry Party and happy hours.

“Our focus will be to conduct the show with safety at the forefront.  A comprehensive preparedness, prevention and response plan is in place, based on guidance issued by the by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and federal, state, and local governments.  This plan is our commitment to providing assurance and confidence that our events have health and safety as our number one priority,” added Roy Turner.

All information about health and safety is available on surfexpo.com, which will be updated as we move closer to the show.