EXCLUSIVE: Baselworld open to talks on coordinating dates and location with SIHH

Baselworld's managing director Michel Loris-Melikoff says he is open to discussions on coordinating with SIHH and EPHJ on finding a date and location that the entire watch industry can rally around In a wide-ranging interview with WatchPro yesterday, Mr Loris-Melikoff, who took the reigns of Baselworld this summer, says that he recognises that the needs of watch brands must be accommodated in the fair's future strategy "The whole industry could come together at one time: SIHH, Baselworld and the supplier's show [EPHJ]," he adds.

Mr Loris-Melikoff is meeting with key stakeholders including Rolex, Patek Philippe and LVMH next week to discuss a two-phase plan that he believes will breathe new life into Baselworld following the decision of Swatch Group to leave the event in 2019 The difficulties presented by Swatch Group's decision to leave Baselworld's 2019 outing are obvious in a commercial sense, but few will know the ramifications from an operational standpoint The heart of Baselworld, Hall 10, which houses multi-million pound exhibition stands from the likes of Rolex, Patek Philippe, Breitling, TAG Heuer and Hublot along with all the Swatch Group brands, was sealed after the 2018 event.

"Baselworld needs to be aligned with SIHH" says Patek Philippe president. . Source