The salon sector sues the Belgian state

The trade show sector still did not receive a prospect at the time of the last Security Council.
In the meantime, the situation is becoming more critical for most exhibition complexes, event organizers and suppliers.
The next Security Council will take place on July 15.
By means of this quotation, the professional federation Febelux and 5 eminent members of the trade show sector seek to convince politicians to allow this sector to get back to work safely from August 1.
Federal Minister De Crem and Prime Minister Wilmès were summoned to court this Friday, July 3, 2020 by Febelux, EasyFairs (Flanders Expo, Antwerp Expo, Nekkerhal, Namur Expo,…), Kortrijk Expo, The Fair Experts (Matexpo,…) , Fisa Livecom (Batibouw, Cocoon,…) and BeMatrix.
The main objective of the citation is the deletion of the objective "seated" in the Ministerial Order of June 30, 2020 concerning the relaxation of measures against the coronavirus.
This Ministerial Order allows requests to be made again from August 1 to organize events for more than 800 people, but limits these events to a "seated" audience.
This de facto excludes lounges (as events involving travel).
Congresses and seated concerts are now authorized, and shopping centers, markets and fairs have been able to reopen, but not the salons!
Regarding the salons, no reopening date has even been set.
There is total uncertainty.
Risk of job losses and massive bankruptcies therefore, all the players in the chain of this economically important sector risk going bankrupt.
Exhibition hall operators, organizers and suppliers have been out of business since March 11, and the outage is now threatening to last until the end of the year, if not longer.
Ann Pelgrims, Association Manager at Febelux, the professional federation for the trade fair and congress sector, confirms: “The sector is heading towards massive job losses and bankruptcies.
Meanwhile, neighboring countries have already reopened the sector, or set a reopening date, which could have the effect that some Belgian trade fairs may disappear (permanently?) Abroad. ”

The salon sector had nevertheless adopted a constructive position since the start of the coronavi crisis
rus, and had worked with the Events Sector to develop the Covid Event Risk Model, which was made available this week by the authorities to enable the organization of controlled and safe events.
An Exitprotocol Events had been approved, and provided that salons would also be allowed to use it, but the word "seated" was slipped into the Ministerial Decree.
The absence of a deadly horizon for the sector Where the other economic sectors are already reopened (shopping centers for example), or at least have a 'horizon' (like concert halls), the trade show sector n has no vision of a reopening date yet.
Against all expectations, the Security Council, and apparently above all the Belgian Government, did not endorse the reopening date of September 1, 2020.
Dirk Van Roy, CEO of EasyFairs Belgium says: “The lack of a horizon is deadly for the trade show sector, in particular due to the preparation time required to organize a trade fair.
There is no certainty that trade fairs planned for this year or early next year can take place.
It is obvious that it is impossible to find exhibitors for a fair whose very behavior is uncertain.
Under these conditions, there is no need to incur advertising costs.
All of this risks imploding the entire salon industry. ”
Fundamental principles violated.
On the basis of these elements, we asked our lawyer to bring the Belgian state to court, because we are of the opinion that the Belgian state did not act co
rrect and violated a number of fundamental principles.
The State does not respect:

• the principle of equality and non-discrimination, namely vis-à-vis shopping centers and concert halls
• the principle of legitimate expectations, since it was not originally intended that only "seated" events would be authorized
• the principle of proportionality and the principle of reasonableness, vis-à-vis commercial counterparts and concert halls
• freedom of trade, especially since trade fairs are again allowed in neighboring countries

The most telling point concerns the violation of the principle of equality.
Showrooms and shopping malls are quite comparable from a coronavirus perspective.
In most cases, these are separate buildings, which often have several entrances and exits, and around which there are large car parks.
Inside, there are wide corridors, along which are located stores / exhibition stands, which are freely accessible to visitors.
It is often possible to eat (snacks and drinks) in one as in the other building.
Both the shopping centers and the exhibition halls are of such a size that it can accommodate more than 800 people.
There is therefore no reasonable justification for treating shopping centers and exhibition halls differently.
The quote also adds that showrooms actually make it easier to avoid contamination than shopping malls.
In addition, in the events sector, the exhibition halls are certainly no worse than the concert halls, where everyone has to pass at the beginning and the end of the concert in sometimes narrow corridors. .
Total lack of perspective.
It goes without saying that the trade show sector is already suffering greatly after months of being banned from operating.
The uncertainty he now faces and the complete lack of perspective as to a possible reopening date may be even worse.
Because of this lack of horizon, both exhibitors and customers are discouraged, and the costs of preparing the trade fairs - both in terms of stand design and from an advertising standpoint - may be unnecessary.
Frédéric François - CEO Fisa - explains: “We are not asking for money.
We just want to be able to start working safely again.
Given the lack of prospects, we have already had to decide to cancel the 2020 editions of the Cocoon fair and the Brussels Food fair.
The holiday fair and Batibouw are also likely to disappear from the calendar if we still do not have a clear perspective by July 15.
These fairs are important not only for us as organizers, for Brussels Expo and for all suppliers, but also and above all for the sectors they serve.
Construction companies reach up to 40% of their annual turnover thanks to Batibouw, according to our latest survey of exhibitors. ”
The citation aims to oblige the Belgian State to take a decision no later than July 15, 2020 concerning the fate of the salons, and this by means of a Ministerial Order whose violation would result in the payment of a penalty payment of € 100,000 per day delay.

Who are the applicants and what motivates them?

Febelux is a representative organization of venue operators, trade show organizers and exhibition providers.
The corona crisis is the biggest challenge the salon industry has experienced since the Second World War.
The unreasonable and illegal treatment which the Belgian State imposes on ‘its’ sector prompted Febelux to take an initiative.
Easyfairs Belgium is the largest room operator (Flanders Expo, Namur Expo, Antwerp Expo and Nekkerhal Mechelen) and exhibition organizer (Horeca Expo, Bisbeurs and Art Brussels).
So far, 5 shows have been canceled, and 14 are at risk.
Kortrijk Xpo is one of the largest hall operators in the country, and also organizers of many trade fairs, including Architect @ Work and Velofolies.
As a result of the confinement, no trade show has been organized for months in the Courtesan halls, and its own trade shows have been canceled (such as the Tavola lounge for example) or are in danger of being canceled.
All of this has a serious negative financial and economic impact on Kortrijk Xpo.
The Fair Experts is an organizer of fairs, of which Matexpo is the most important. ‘We are real estate’ has already been canceled, and Demo Days (September 5-6, 2020) and Techni-Mat (October 7-8, 2020) may also be canceled.
The lasting uncertainty that hangs over the fate of the trade show sector, and more particularly over the fate of trade fairs that it organizes itself, jeopardizes its 2020 turnover, according to its accountant Geert Dupont.
FISA is a very important trade fair organizer in Belgium (Batibouw, Cocoon, Food Fair and the Holiday Fair).
Several shows, including Cocoon and the Food Show, have already been canceled. The holiday lounge is in danger. BeMatrix is ​​a designer and producer of an innovative construction system for stands and the event sector, and is therefore also a supplier to the trade fair sector. Following the cancellation of all the salons in the country, this clientele has shrunk, which has a significant financial and economic impact in its head, according to its accountant Leslie Wallaeys.