While Australian gift fairs are being postponed to later dates due to Omicron, the same is happening overseas with Maison&Objet (M&O) Paris delaying its popular décor and homewares event by two months.
Originally slated for January, the trade fair will now commence on 24 March till 28 March 2022 as the French Government put a 2,000 person limit on major events which would impact M&O, the organisers say.
“Most countries have been facing a new wave of Covid, reinforced by the rapid expansion of the Omicron variant. Impacted by this surge, many companies among the 1,700 companies that have confirmed they will attend, indicate that they don’t want their employees to take risks and are now alerting to the disruptions they are experiencing in their operations.”
Indeed, just like in Australia many companies are struggling with staff shortages due to employees having to isolate after contracting the virus.
“The obligations of compliance with isolation rules, even when people are vaccinated, and the numerous work absences are in fact starting to seriously disrupt the functioning of their services, supply or production circuits.
“Moreover, facing the peak of contamination, several countries are currently taking restrictive measures regarding international travel, measures which are now delaying or discouraging some visitors from confirming their attendance.”
Maison&Objet In The City, an event organised to support the fair and offering a journey of discoveries in the heart of Parisian showrooms, will be held from 23 to 28 March 2022.
