Europe 2022 – the place to be!
It’s with great respect that I choose to comment on the difficulties that the Covid-19 has meant for the European Ice businesses. Only the icemen themselves know how hard these past 18 months have been.
Since March 2020 Europe basically shut down. The horeca is a big market so losing it was tough. For most icemen it meant among other things a loss in sales, staff having to stop coming to work, affected families of those employed, investments becoming riskier as cashflow slowed down. Such uncertainties few of us have ever experienced. When would society open up again? How long would the shutdown last? Would the vaccine work? How many people will get the vaccine? Etc, etc, etc. The past 18 months was the period of questions without answers.
I chose to call my article Europe 2022 the place to be because I think coming back to Europe after the Covid you will see an energy, an enthusiasm that few people have ever seen. I think the positiveness will be so intense that travelers and tourists will love it. Even us Europeans will have to pinch our arms. I hope you all consider putting your feet in Europe on your next journey. Europe has so much to offer, it’s unique and beautiful. And every country has their own gem to see.
Europe 2022 will hopefully be much more of what 2019 were. At least that is what we hope. We are all social beings, and we enjoy seeing other people. We are social creatures per definition.
For two years the EPIA has planned two great conventions that we unfortunately had to cancel due to Covid. It’s an even bigger charm that we are almost “certain” that we can meet in 2022, in Dublin, Ireland. What a party that will be……. You know seeing and talking with other icemen is the best. We all love it! We are not like plumbers nor electricians. We are icemen! So that means there are few of us. Icemen do not grow on trees. We are originals and we are fun! Not many other icemen to talk to so seeing other owners makes a difference. And yes we do like to talk, dine, wine, and add some. And 2022 is our year in case you were uncertain.
Obviously, more info will come about Dublin but let it be said, for now, Dublin it is.
So, stay safe, enjoy Christmas, spend time with your loved ones, have a laugh and have a beer and make sure to always bring a bag of ice to everyone you visit which is rule number 1!