EUHA 2020 cancelled
crisis
The coronavirus crisis has claimed its biggest audiology events victim to date: the organisers of the annual EUHA congress have accepted the virtual "impossibility" of going ahead with the 2020 gathering in Hannover, today announcing its cancellation.
In a letter to delegates, exhibitors, and lecturers signed up for the planned October 7 Congress, the European Union of Hearing Aid Acousticians (EUHA) and the German Hearing Aid Industry Association (BVHI) say their efforts to hold the event against all obstacles created by the crisis have tumbled before the "top priority" of the "health and safety of people with impaired hearing, customers, and staff members."
"According to expert opinion, large conventions continue to be associated with considerable health risks that can be avoided. At this time of continuing uncertainty and in light of prevailing travel restrictions, whose end is difficult to anticipate, early planning for participation in the Congress, be it as an exhibitor, lecturer, or as a delegate travelling to Germany from worldwide destinations, is made more complicated, if not impossible," reads the letter.
The event will be rescheduled for 2021 at a date still to be decided. "As is the case for other economic sectors, our industry is adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. However, it is with hope and optimism that we look forward to a promising future," say the EUHA Congress organisers.
In addition to exhibitors being notified of cancellation, "All those who have purchased a ticket for attending the Congress will be given a refund; any vouchers issued are redeemable for an additional period of twelve months after the date of expiry," says EUHA.
In the absence of the Congress, EUHA is increasing the focus on its 2020 digital learning programme, and it plans to convert the "Future Friday" format introduced at EUHA 2019 into an online feature to discuss, future trends, products, and technologies. More information is set to be released on this programme.
Source: EUHA/BVHI
