Commercial UAV Expo Americas 2020 Goes Virtual

2020 could be lining up to be the year you get to go to every conference you ever wanted to attend.  Today, Commercial UAV Expo Americas announced that the event, scheduled for this September, will be entirely virtual.

The lineup of speakers and sessions-  including FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson – is still impressive.  And without the cost of a trip to Vegas, this year Expo content is even more accessible for the industry.

June 2, 2020 – Portland, Maine, USA – Commercial UAV Expo Americas 2020 is going virtual, according to event organizer Diversified Communications. “Due to ongoing health and safety concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the commercial drone community we serve have made it clear that it would be impossible to hold the live event as originally planned.  In the interests of ensuring our community still has an opportunity learn from and connect with each other, we have reimagined Commercial UAV Expo Americas as a fully virtual event taking place September 15-17, 2020,” said Lisa Murray, Group Director at Diversified Communications, organizer of Commercial UAV Expo Americas. These are the same dates the live event had been scheduled for in Las Vegas.

Details will be forthcoming, but the content will include keynotes, panel discussions, and presentations with interactive Q&A and chat features; an AI-powered networking component; virtual exhibits, and demonstrations by UAS solutions providers. “We have stayed in close contact with our customers over the last few months.  A huge thank you to all of them.  I cannot say enough about their support and collaboration with our team during this time.  What is clear is that they want and need the business networking and education normally provided by our event, but travel bans and other restrictions were going to prevent them from attending.  We decided to put a stake in the ground and make immediate plans to ensure the broadest participation possible by making the event virtual now.  Where a virtual event may not have appealed to many just a few months ago, the world has changed.  People are yearning for connections and education.  We are excited to offer the key benefits they expect from us: critical, timely education delivered by industry leaders, opportunities to network and engage with peers, and the ability to learn about the newest technology in the space,” said Ms. Murray. She added that the content will naturally address how the industry has responded to the pandemic, as well as the associated opportunities and challenges.

FAA Administrator Stephen M. Dickson, an aviation professional with nearly 40 years of experience, will Keynote the virtual event. Dickson leads an agency responsible for the safety and efficiency of the largest aerospace system in the world. “We are thrilled that Administrator Dickson will be addressing the audience at such a critical time for the drone space,” said Ms. Murray.

Additional information about the event will be announced, but commercial drone solutions providers will have the opportunity to host virtual exhibits, conduct one-on-one meetings, provide product information, share videos and more—all virtually. “We are investing in a robust virtual platform that will deliver high value to companies already signed on for the in-person event.  We expect going virtual will naturally attract new companies, further enhancing the array of products and services on offer and attracting new buyers who may not have attended a live event but are more than ready to attend virtually.” said Ms. Murray.

“So much has happened in the drone space since the last edition of Commercial UAV Expo Americas,” said Ms. Murray. “People need an update on the latest developments and the impact on their business.  While restrictions on travel are in place, restrictions on business are not.  We are dedicated to bringing major stakeholders together to continue to move the industry forward during a particularly important time for drone industry expansion.”

Return to a Live Event in 2021

In 2021, Commercial UAV Expo Americas will take place September 7-9, 2021 at the Mirage in Las Vegas,” said Ms. Murray.  “We look forward to the opportunity to connect in person with our customers.  In the meantime, we will be their virtual connection to the drone industry.”