Pent-Up Demand for In-Person Events on Display at CJI’s Virtual Forum

May 12, 2021

A pent-up demand for in-person meetings is central to the excitement and energy behind opportunities for face-to-face gatherings that move the industry forward – that was the assessment from panelists in a recent Corporate Jet Investor town hall webinar, which included NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.

To illustrate the point, Bolen pointed to the enthusiasm surrounding NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), which returns to the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV Oct. 12-14. The event will be held in the convention center’s new West Hall.

The vast majority of the show’s exhibiting companies have already signed up to be part of this year’s event, along with dozens of new companies that will be on the convention floor, Bolen noted. Given the level of interest, available floor space is quickly dwindling.

“We all learned to use technology to communicate during the pandemic,” Bolen said. “But this also has made us realize that something magical happens when people get together, when everyone is face-to-face sharing a meal and sharing a laugh.”

Bolen noted that the pandemic has also led new clients and customers to explore business aviation utilization, and that in-person events will need to offer fresh and innovative approaches to educating them about the value of various utilization models.

Jay Mesinger, founder, Mesinger Jet Sales, agreed with Bolen’s observation about new-client entrants, and their appetite for new business aircraft, saying, “The OEMs are going to enjoy a huge boost in business, and what a great place to have people see their products, and get in them, at NBAA-BACE.”

In concluding his perspectives, Bolen said, “We have an opportunity to learn from the past year and look at the mindset of new entrants now that they have been exposed to business aviation and the benefits it presents. We can learn to tell our story in compelling ways and create a new community of industry advocates.”