2021 International Builders’ Show Goes Virtual

Courtesy of IBS

The annual International Builders’ Show from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) will transition to an online format for 2021. Originally planned for Orlando, Fla. next February, the event will instead be entirely virtual for the first time in its 76-year history.

“Out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of our exhibitors, attendees and the thousands of onsite workers who support the premier event of the residential construction industry, we feel the only prudent course is to make this year’s show a virtual event,” said NAHB Chairman Chuck Fowke. “We have plenty of great virtual educational programs, innovative products, services and workshops on tap, and we are very excited about the 2021 show.”

The NAHB’s entire Design & Construction Week for 2021, which includes the IBS and the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, will be held online. Both are still expected to run the week of Feb. 8.

This is not the first major trade event to shift online. The 2020 Green Industry Expo also turned virtual, and the GIE+EXPO ToGo will be held later this month.

Several IBS exhibitors approved the move.

“With safety and well-being of attendees, exhibitors, vendors and trade-show staff as the priority, Kohler Co. applauds the difficult but appropriate decision made jointly by the NKBA and NAHB converting KBIS and IBS, respectively, to being 100 percent virtual,” said David Kohler, CEO of Kohler Co.

Added Thomas Yoon, president and CEO of LG Electronics North America: “We cherish our partnerships with NKBA and NAHB. In our shared commitment to the health and safety of industry colleagues, we fully support their decision to reimagine the 2021 KBIS and IBS events.”

Those who already signed up for the 2021 IBS don’t need to do anything; their registration has been automatically transferred to the virtual event with the same level of access as the in-person event. Anyone wishing to cancel their registration, however, must do so by Nov. 7.