Pure Life Experiences, the hosted-buyer show that takes place
annually in Marrakesh, Morocco, was cancelled in the wake of the
devastating earthquake that hit outside the city Friday night.
The quake, which had a magnitude of 6.8, killed more than 2,000
people, according to the Associated Press. Aftershocks continued to
rattle the country Sunday, it said.
Pure was to have kicked off Sunday at the Palais Namaskar resort.
In a statement on its website and social media channels, Pure founder
Serge Dive wrote that "we have come to the conclusion that Pure 2023
cannot go ahead as planned." Conference attendees were offered a credit
note for next year's Pure, he said, "if they choose to request this."
However, for attendees already in Morocco in advance of the show, he
said, the event organisers planned to open at Palais Namaskar for a
"community-driven relief effort".
In an Instagram Story posted 10 September, Pure asked attendees to
bring emergency supplies to the hotel to be distributed to affected
villages: It listed items such as nonperishable food, mattresses,
formula, clothing and medicine. It said transfers to Palais Namaskar
would stop at local grocery stores for those who wanted to buy
donations. QR codes were being made available onsite for people who want
to make a monetary donation.
The supplies would be distributed via the Travel Link Foundation, Pure said.
In his initial statement, Dive said that Pure was working on options
to facilitate bringing Pure attendees already in the country together in
some form, "but in a very toned down format with no festivities ... we
know conducting business meetings is far from everyone's minds right
now."
In the follow-up Instagram Story, Pure indicated that some speakers
on Sunday had offered to share their expertise with the community. "The
day can be used to discuss long-term solutions for helping the
communities affected," it added.
Source: Travel Weekly