The Brewers Association has postponed registration for next year’s Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America until early 2021, according to an update on the conference website.
“We are working hard, having ongoing conversations with the host city of San Diego and paying close attention to information regarding the evolving nature of this pandemic, and how it affects live events such as ours,” the BA wrote. “We stand ready to host the event if it can be done in a safe manner.”
CBC is scheduled to take place March 29 through April 1, 2021, in San Diego.
The Context: The 2020 edition of CBC, BrewExpo America and the World Beer Cup was slated for April in San Antonio, Texas, but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual event typically draws 13,000 beer industry professionals from across the world. The BA announced the cancellation on March 12, the day after the National Basketball Association, National Hockey Association and Major League Baseball put their seasons on hold.
At the time of the cancellation, COVID-19 cases in the U.S. had just reached 1,300 and 40 people had died from the virus, mostly in Washington state. As of press time, there are 11.4 million confirmed cases and almost 250,000 deaths in the U.S.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention deems “large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and attendees travel from outside the local area” to be of the “highest risk.”
California currently requires gatherings be limited to individuals from no more than three separate households, which makes large-scale events impossible. As of press time, the state’s cases of COVID-19 totaled 1,047,789, with 18,360 deaths from the coronavirus.
The Pivot: With an in-person CBC off the table, the BA shifted most planned presentations online over several weeks in April and May. The 40 presentations from 70 presenters were live streamed for free.
What’s Next: Registration for the 2021 edition of CBC is slated to open in mid-January, but BA marketing director Ann Obenchain told Brewbound that could change as the situation develops.
“Between now and then, likely early December, we’ll have some more tangible information on Craft Brewers Conference,” she said.
The BA has surveyed exhibitors, and will survey members in mid-November, according to the CBC site.
ConferenceDirect, the BA’s travel booking parner, is accepting reservations for San Diego hotels during the conference, with the following cancellation policies:
“All reservations are subject to the following cancellation fees, per the date of cancellation.”
- If your reservation is canceled between February 2, 2021 – February 17, 2021 by 11:59pm EST your credit card will be charged $100.
- If your reservation is canceled between February 18, 2021 – March 1, 2021 by 11:59pm EST your credit card will be charged $125.
- If your reservation is canceled between March 2, 2021 – until your reserved hotel’s cancellation window your credit card will be charged $150.00.