“in-cosmetics Global 2021 will be a hybrid event,” says Roziani Zulkifli

Premium Beauty News - The next in-cosmetics show will be a hybrid event. Can you tell us more about that?

Roziani Zulkifli - We know that nothing beats physical interaction, so, when face to face interactions do take place at the show, it will be the same as always but with the addition of health and safety precautions. This will ensure a safe experience for everyone involved whilst preserving the essence of the renowned event.

Firstly, the virtual platform will open on 13 September to allow exhibitors and visitors to begin connecting and scheduling meetings for when they meet in-person in Barcelona from 5-7 October. The true virtual experience will commence post-show on 11 October as the online platform will be open again to allow R&D professionals and suppliers to meet digitally, in case they didn’t get the chance to do so in person. In addition, there will also be lots of live and on-demand content in the form of webinars, demos, tours and sessions that will run over the following weeks. On 29 October, we’ll wrap up in-cosmetics Global and bid farewell until next year, where we’ll reunite the personal care industry once again in Paris!

Premium Beauty News - Will all exhibitors participate in both events (in person and digital)?

Roziani Zulkifli - Exhibitors will participate in both the virtual and physical events as those that enrolled for the in-person show also receive a virtual listing as part of their stand package. However, as some companies may not be able to make it to Barcelona, we’ve also provided the option to just attend virtually to ensure they don’t miss out on all of the invaluable networking opportunities offered.

Premium Beauty News - How both events will be articulated?

Roziani Zulkifli - The in-person event will be the primary way to source ingredients, make connections, and generate new business leads. But the virtual event will complement it by allowing visitors to catch up on anything they may have missed at the show and start conversations with exhibitors they didn’t have time to meet onsite.

Premium Beauty News - Do you already know how many exhibitors will attend this year?

Roziani Zulkifli - We currently have 500 exhibitors attending the show.

Premium Beauty News - What sanitary measures and restrictions will be implemented during the in-person event in Barcelona?

Roziani Zulkifli - The health and safety of visitors, exhibitors and staff remains our top priority, and so we’re working closely with local authorities and the Fira Barcelona venue to adopt a robust ‘Health & Safety 5-point Strategy’ and implement all necessary precautions.

The changes at in-cosmetics Global include an exhibition hall capacity of 1 person per 2.5m² and a one-way system to help maintain the government regulations of a minimum 1.5 metre social distancing. There will also be the highest standards of cleaning before, during and after the event, readily available hand sanitisers throughout the venue as well as increased ventilation to improve fresh air circulation.

As COVID-19 safety and security requires participation from everyone, all those attending the event will be expected to follow a number of hygiene measures such as wearing face coverings, maintaining physical distancing, and refraining from shaking hands. Exhibitors will also be reviewing the design of their stands to assist with these measures and will be required to clearly display the maximum capacity to prevent overcrowding.

Premium Beauty News - Next year the show will be in Paris. Any specific forecasts for this return to a normal (hopefully) show?

Roziani Zulkifli - We are very excited for in-cosmetics Global 2022, which will take place in Paris on 5-7 April, but our primary focus at this time is the event taking place this October in Barcelona! For over a year, in-person activity has been put on hold due to the pandemic which has resulted in a string of event cancellations and postponements in all industries across the globe. We are very proud of our transition to virtual events, but it is our physical events that we are renowned for, and their absence has only strengthened our belief in the need for face-to-face events. We’re working extremely hard to see the return of in-cosmetics Global in a COVID-19 secure format.