For Exhibitors

Odyssey Expo 2021 will bring together industry-leading suppliers and diemaking, diecutting and print finishing businesses. Join more than 1,600 attendees in Milwaukee to reach decision makers in converting, folding carton, corrugated, foil stamping, embossing, binding and more.

As an exhibitor, you are well aware that planning for Odyssey Expo starts a long time before the event. After presenting 10 successful Odysseys, our well-honed checklists, timelines and “to do” lists were effective and streamlined. We confidently anticipated new challenges and offered solutions that provided you, our exhibitors, with the utmost in value.

Unfortunately, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the events and trade show industry has been cataclysmic, upending normal operations and activities. Planning an in-person event has become a moving target, with information changing daily. There’s really no way to know what the future holds, leaving everyone guessing what the situation will be in May 2021.

Fortunately, our staff has over 80 years of combined planning experience. There isn’t a problem we haven’t solved. We’re guided by a capable and well-seasoned Odyssey Planning Committee, many of whom have been with us since its inception in 1999. Together we are developing a number of scenarios which can be implemented depending on the needs at that time. We know that our best approach is to follow the news, listen to health experts and remain flexible. If we have to modify or change the layout, meeting room space, registration area, social distancing, etc., we are fully prepared to do so.

We also recognize that the value of Odyssey is its mix of education, networking and commerce. If health and safety circumstances do not improve as much as anticipated, we will consider holding a hybrid event, with a combination of in-person activities and online streaming. If this ultimately proves impossible, we may move to an online-only format in order to deliver the quality education our attendees have come to expect, during which we anticipate providing online opportunities for sponsor demos and visibility.

However, please understand that we feel a deep responsibility toward our exhibitors who support the show. If it turns out that we cannot provide the one thing you trust us to deliver—namely, a high-quality hosted-buyer program—then we will cancel the show and offer refund options. We would not, in good conscience, ask our exhibitors to continue to invest money against which they may not get a return. We do not anticipate postponing the 2021 show to another month or year, so as to avoid date conflicts with other industry events. We would continue planning for the following Odyssey Expo in 2023.

It is impossible to predict what changes will occur between now and May. What won’t change is our commitment to keep you informed. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at exhibit@OdysseyExpo.org with your questions.