MGM Resorts anticipates a return of large groups to Las Vegas in the third and fourth quarters, said CEO Bill Hornbuckle on a Q2 call Wednesday. "Feedback from meeting participants has been very positive," but MGM continues to believe a "full convention business recovery will be a post-2021 event," culminating with a return to pre-pandemic convention business levels in the second half of 2022, he said. NAB Show 2021 Oct. 9-13 and CES 2022 Jan. 5-8 remain on course for returning as in-person events at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The recent surge in COVID-19 cases and "subsequent actions" taken by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local regulators to stop the spread, including reimposed Las Vegas mask mandates, are reminders that the pandemic "is not completely behind us," Hornbuckle said.
Live Nation Entertainment is seeing the “pent-up demand” for live concerts “play out as artists and fans are eager to reconnect in-person,” said CEO Michael Rapino on a Q2 call Tuesday: June was Ticketmaster North America's fourth best month in history for"transacted ticket volume,” he said. All of Live Nation’s “leading indicators” suggest “a roaring era for concerts and other live events” in 2022, he said. Its “pipeline” is showing double-digit growth in show count and ticket sales “relative to 2019 levels,” he said. “In some cases, our pipeline is so strong, we are extending our planning into 2023 and even beginning to discuss tours that extend to 2024.” With the surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant, Live Nation is “seeing is a shift to increasing requirements for entry” at concert venues, said President-Chief Financial Officer Joe Berchtold. Last weekend’s Lollapalooza 2021 festival in Chicago was “very successfully done,” he said. It’s estimated that more than 90% who attended were fully vaccinated, “which I think was a great signal in terms of peoples’ commitment and support of being vaccinated in order to go to these shows,” he said. “My expectation is that we will see that continue.” The “great news” is that the “discussion” is about the vaccine and testing requirements to hold events, he said: “Not hearing discussions, certainly in the U.S. or the U.K., about impacting those shows to any scale.”
This month's New York Auto Show was canceled Wednesday due to concerns over the COVID-19 delta variant “and the increased measures announced recently by state and local officials to stop its spread,” said show organizers. When planning began for the Aug. 20-29 show at the Javits Convention Center, "we were increasingly excited at the prospect of hosting the event as the number of vaccinations in New York continued to climb and mask-wearing reduced the spread in the City,” they said. “All signs were positive, and the Show was coming together stronger than ever, but today is a different story,” it said, referencing Mayor Bill de Blasio's (D) announcement Tuesday that proof of vaccinations will be required for restaurants, theater, gyms and other indoor venues starting Aug. 16. The show is planning to return to its regular slot in April.
The COVID-19 pandemic and its “dramatic shift” to work from home sent the volume of pages printed from home or office devices plummeting 14% in 2020 from 2019, reported IDC Tuesday. IDC canvassed about 4,700 full-time employees whose work location was affected by COVID-19, finding about half the pages printed by office workers working from home during the pandemic were work-related documents, it said. "Pages printed at home will not offset declines in offices as organizations and governments continue to pursue paperless initiatives and digital transformation agendas," said IDC analyst Ilona Stankeova.
Broader acceptance of COVID-19 vaccinations is “the key to further economic recovery, reopening and rebuilding,” said National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz Tuesday. “With the outlook for the global economy continuing to hinge on public health, vaccine numbers are extremely important,” he said. “The economy has heated up along with the summer temperatures,” said Kleinhenz. U.S. GDP surpassed its precrisis peak in Q2, and “vigorous growth is expected throughout the rest of the year,” he said. But the pace of vaccinations “has slowed considerably,” and fears of COVID-19's Delta variant are “likely weighing on confidence,” he said. There’s no evidence fears of the Delta variant have yet “impacted consumer behavior,” he said.
Public attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the physical workplace vary by the type of in-person work environment, a Gartner survey found. It canvassed 346 U.S. consumers in June, finding people were far more forgiving about vaccine requirements in a healthcare setting (58%) than in a regular office (35%), said the company Thursday. A “significant minority” (25%) were opposed to vaccine mandates in any setting, it said. Gartner analysts cautioned that the survey sample was “broad,” and that many respondents didn’t actually work in the settings about which they cast opinions. Vaccines are “clearly a divisive issue and mandating them could be problematic for companies for a variety of reasons,” said analyst Chris Audet.
The ATSC NextGen Broadcast Conference “is shaping up to be a robust and exciting event” Aug. 26 at the Reagan Building in Washington, but “we also realize that the news about the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is at the top of most of our minds,” the association emailed members and conference registrants Friday. ATSC's members-only annual meeting precedes the conference on Aug. 25. The District of Columbia requires masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status, except when eating, in an order that was to take effect Saturday. “The health and safety of our attendees is a top priority for ATSC and the conference planners,” the group said. “We will continue to monitor the situation while accepting reservations for both in-person and live-streaming attendees.”
IRobot entered Q2 with $17 million in orders it couldn’t fill due to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions, said CEO Colin Angle on the company’s Thursday earnings call. Revenue for the quarter ended July 3 rose 31% to $365.6 million, on “healthy demand” from North American retailers and retail and distribution partners in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said the company. Premium robots generated 82% of sales. The company lowered gross profit guidance by $3 million to $609 million-$642 million and operating income by $43 million to $37 million-$67 million. “Despite solid results over the past two quarters, our full year outlook has eroded as the shortage in semiconductor chips will leave us unable to completely fulfill anticipated second half demand,” said Chief Financial Officer Julie Zeiler. Inventory levels at year-end “will be unusually low” relative to normal, Angle said. “It only takes one component to stop you from building a robot.”
Fully vaccinated individuals won't be required to wear face coverings at the ProSource Summer Conference next week at La Cantera Resort in San Antonio, the buying group emailed registrants Thursday. ProSource will use the honor system and won't require proof of vaccination, it said: “By not wearing a face covering, you certify that you are fully vaccinated and that other guests in the area can rely on that as a truthful statement.” ProSource asked that attendees “respect that individuals may choose to continue using face coverings based on their personal preference. We will rely on our guests to accurately follow the guidelines based on their vaccination status.” Attendees will be temperature-screened at registration, along with numerous other health and safety protocols, it said.
NAB estimates 85% of NAB Show participants are vaccinated against COVID-19 or “intend to be” by opening day Oct. 9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, emailed the association Sunday. The coronavirus is “the elephant in the room” as planning progresses for NAB’s first in-person Las Vegas show in 30 months, it said. “So many of us are ready to get back to seeing products in 3D and not 2D, back to face-to-face interactions, back to NAB Show,” it said. “The excitement is palpable. But, after a global pandemic, it can also be a little scary.” The World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, the same day NAB canceled its Las Vegas show for that following month (see 2003110036). The WHO status remains. NAB Show will continue to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Clark County, Nevada, authorities on masks and other protocols, its website said. For those fully vaccinated, it’s “your choice” to wear a mask, it said. If not fully vaccinated, “please mask up.” The show is setting meeting rooms and "floor theaters" at 75% capacity, and is recommending exhibitors enforce 3-feet of social distancing in their booths. The level of COVID-19 "community transmission" was "high" for the week ended Friday, said the CDC. It reported that 40.6% of the county's population were fully vaccinated, compared with 49.1% nationally.