World of Wood 2020 Will be Held as Virtual Meeting due to Coronavirus

The 2020 World of Wood Convention is being reimagined as the first Virtual World of Wood Convention from April 1-3, the International Wood Products Association (IWPA) announced.

Escalation of the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), which the World Health Organization has characterized as a pandemic, has led to  concerns being raised by attendees, exhibitors, and speakers who have been prohibited from traveling due to government travel advisories and bans as well as employer restrictions on attendance at large meetings, among other reasons. In response, IWPA has decided to transition from its industry gathering in Savannah, Georgia, to a virtual event.

“The well-being of attendees and our community is our number one priority. We have been closely monitoring the progression of the coronavirus and it is with deep regret that we announce that the 2020 World of Wood Convention will not take place in Savannah,” IWPA president Kenny MacMaster of Argo Fine Imports said. 

IWPA Executive Cindy Squires said that IWPA will be able to deliver the value of World of Wood attendance utilizing video conferencing tools. “While we are disappointed that our attendees won’t be able to come together in Savannah, transitioning to a Virtual World of Wood on the same dates that they were scheduled to be in Savannah will allow them to access industry-leading business intelligence and critical information remotely,” said Squires.