One of the reinsurance industry’s key gatherings has been cancelled for 2020 due to disruptions and restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.The Baden-Baden Reinsurance Meeting in Germany was to have been held from October 18 to 22. It normally features discussions about industry trends, including reinsurance renewal prices, and mergers and acquisitions.Organisers had considered different event concepts this year, including a purely digital gathering, but have now decided to cancel and focus on next year’s event.In a message, the organisers said: “In the course of last few days, we have received decisive information from your midst indicating that holding the meeting in Baden-Baden this year cannot be a success. This unfortunately forces us to cancel the meeting.”A hybrid conference, with some delegates attending in person and others tuning in digitally, had earlier seemed possible. A protection and hygiene concept had been worked and been “positively assessed” by municipal authorities, with the hope that at least European participants could attend, with others joining digitally.But the hybrid format had to be abandoned. Part of the reason was that corporate policy guidelines of European participants prohibit on-site meetings and business trips, according to the organisers.They said: “Since many of you have already been forced to completely shift this year’s discussions to other communication channels, we consider holding a purely digital event would not be reasonable.”The 2021 Baden-Baden Reinsurance Meeting is scheduled for October 17 to 21.