Following the announcement that the Swatch Group will leave Baselworld in 2019, the fair, despite regretting the defection of one of its biggest exhibitors, is announcing numerous novelties for next year. René Kamm, CEO of MCH Group, said: 'We are very sorry about the decision of the Swatch Group. The cancellation is all the more surprising for us because this news comes at a time when the new management has arrived with a new team, a new spirit and many new ideas. Michel Loris-Melikoff, the new Managing Director of Baselworld as of 1 July, confirmed the transformation of the show into a marketing, communication and events platform: "Many new formats and ideas will be presented and implemented. The management also responded to the report in the Sunday edition of NZZ, which claimed that exhibitors had not been informed about the new concept, claiming that the Baselworld management meets regularly with a national and an international exhibitors' committee. A number of ideas had already been presented to the Advisory Committee at the beginning of May and the concept in rough form was presented to the Swiss exhibitors' representatives at the end of June; the second concept was then presented to the World Committee on 4 July. A senior Swatch Group executive was present at both committee sessions. "I received various inputs which were accordingly taken into consideration. All our ideas are conceived in close coordination with our exhibitors."
"Of course," he added, "the cancellation of the Swatch Group from Baselworld is very regrettable for us. However, we are convinced of our new concept and we will implement it together with the other key players in the industry," emphasising that the other major Swiss brands will also participate in Baselworld in 2019. "We want to conduct the fair in 2019 in the best possible way, with a new style and a new way of thinking. With this in mind, I hope that a successful edition of Baselworld in 2019 will motivate Swatch Group to participate again in the future."
