Inspired Home Show Is a Go

The International Housewares Association (IHA), following its January board of directors’ meeting, has decided the Inspired Home Show 2022 will take place March 5-7 in Chicago.

The IHA said COVID-19 safety-related policies and protocols have also been established, as well as a shortened schedule for the event. The McCormick Place will host the conference, and as a health and safety priority for all, the IHA board of directors has eliminated the last day of the 2022 Show.

In a news release Jan. 19, the IHA said that before collecting a badge at McCormick Place, all exhibitors and attendees will be required to demonstrate proof of vaccination or produce a negative COVID-19 test that had been administered in the previous 72 hours. The IHA said this includes exhibitors and personnel related to setup and tear-down of the event. The review of proof of vaccination and negative tests will be facilitated by a third-party company hired by the show. Details including full instructions on how to provide vaccination or testing information will be available in the near future.

The IHA said in a news release that once on-site at McCormick Place, exhibitors and attendees must also follow the additional protocols mandated by the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago, including an indoor masking mandate and a proof of vaccination requirement to purchase and consume food and beverages in designated communal eating/drinking areas. To-go orders are permitted regardless of vaccination status, the IHA said.  Updated details on these mandates can be found on the city of Chicago, Cook County and the McCormick Place websites.

According to the Chicago mandate, proof of vaccination will be required to attend any IHA events during The Inspired Home Show that are food and beverage-centric, including the Independent Retailer Networking Reception on March 4,  the Gia Award Dinner and Gala on March 5, and the Networking After Dark reception on March 6. “Although proof of vaccination will be required to eat in the on-site cafes, grab-and-go options will be made available to all attendees,” the IHA said in a release.

On-site rapid and PCR testing will be provided at The Inspired Home Show so that “international visitors can test in advance of returning to their home country, creating an easy and effective way for international attendees to adhere to travel policies,” the IHA added. “If needed, unvaccinated attendees can also use this service to be tested on-site to demonstrate a negative test in order to enter the show.”

While this year’s Inspired Home Show 2022 will take place from Saturday, March 5, through Monday, March 7, next year’s March 2023 event is expected to resume its normal four-day, Saturday to Tuesday pattern.

The IHA plans to communicate all logistical information related to this year's change in schedule for exhibitors’ move-out dates in the near future. Changes to hotel reservations made through OnPeak, IHA’s official housing provider, can be made with no penalty for all show exhibitors and attendees.

The IHA is addressing recent search engine-related confusion regarding the show and is working to remove inaccurate information. “It has come to IHA’s attention recently that many search queries made through Google are returning information from third-party sites that are inaccurate,” the association said. It went on to confirm that, “The Inspired Home Show 2022 is taking place as planned, except for the shortened schedule as noted above.”

Updates can be found on the IHA official show website.