The 2020 Inside Self-Storage (ISS) World Expo, the self-storage industry’s largest conference and tradeshow, has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic and concerns for public safety. A virtual experience is being created in its place to educate and connect industry professionals, and provide the resources they need to succeed in this difficult time.

Originally scheduled for April, the 2020 ISS World Expo had been postponed to July 21-24 at The Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The next live event will now take place April 6-9, 2021, at the same location.

This is the first time in the event’s nearly 30-year history that it has been forced to cancel. It has experienced strong industry support and commitment in the midst of the health crisis and resulting changes. ISS officials are in the process of organizing a top-notch virtual event for this fall that will allow industry professionals to learn and drive success, even as they shelter in place. Details will be announced soon.

“The decision to cancel this year’s ISS World Expo in Las Vegas was difficult but necessary. As eager as we are to assemble the self-storage community and revive the industry’s momentum through this time, our top priority is the health and safety of our show participants,” said ISS Vice President Teri Lanza. “We’ll miss seeing everyone at The Mirage this year, but we can’t expose our attendees, partners, speakers and exhibitors—or their families—to risk.

“We are now focused on bringing the industry together through a digital experience worthy of the ISS name,” Lanza said. “We are reimagining the ISS World Expo through a virtual event that will offer exceptional education and a safe place to learn and interact. We hope our audience will join us online to make connections, discover new products and services, share ideas, and more. Specifics will come soon. For now, we want to thank everyone in the self-storage family for their ongoing support. Please stay healthy, and we look forward to seeing you in person next year.”

The ISS World Expo, the self-storage industry’s largest conference and tradeshow in the world, is produced by ISS. It features four days of education, networking and exhibits. Show offerings include more than 40 seminars, eight workshops, four open-forum Q&A sessions, roundtable discussions, vendor presentations, and much more. Speakers and education sessions are handpicked by a team of seasoned editors with more than 50 years of combined industry experience. The expo hall features approximately 200 suppliers, allowing attendees to sample the latest products and services in the field. The 2019 event drew more than 4,000 participants from all 50 states and nearly 30 countries.

For 29 years, ISS has provided solutions to the challenges faced by facility owners, operators, managers, investors and developers in a competitive environment. The brand includes ISS magazine, published monthly; the ISS World Expo, the industry’s largest conference and tradeshow; Self-Storage Talk, a rich, interactive online community; and the ISS Store, which provides on-demand education and insight for industry professionals.