100% Optical 2021 has been cancelled.
The show had been due to take place at London ExCeL from 8-10 May, but a one-day virtual event in May is being planned instead. The next live event has been slated for 29-31 January 2022.
Director of 100% Optical, Nathan Garnett, said: “With restrictions likely to stay with us for longer than we had all hoped and anticipated, we feel it would be better for all of our loyal and supportive delegates, clients and partners to postpone the event.
“We want to come back with a bang. We have the backing now of all the major optical bodies, so I can assure you we will all be pulling together to make 100% Optical 2022 a truly effective trade show for the industry to help recover from this terrible pandemic.”
Henrietta Alderman, outgoing chief executive of event partner the Association of Optometrists, commented: “We know this is the right decision for visitors and exhibitors. We know that the year ahead will still challenge us, but through our continued partnership we are confident that the next event will be our best yet.”
ABDO general secretary, Tony Garrett, told DO Online: “Whilst it must have been a difficult decision to move 100% Optical from May, it is clearly the right one. The sector can now concentrate on January 2022 and make sure that the show is a huge success. We at the Association of British Dispensing Opticians look forward to fully supporting it.”