British Pest Control Association’s digital pest management event, PestExtra 2021, saw huge numbers of visitors when it took place this week. 

When Covid-19 put a temporary halt on physical events, BPCA took the leap to digital, moving the UK’s biggest pest management show, PestEx, to an online platform. 

Worldwide appeal 

Over the three days, 1,780 visitors attended PestExtra from around the world.

A map showing where visitors tuned in from.

Visitor numbers do not include 168 exhibitors.

We’ve all missed getting together to catch up, but hopefully, PestExtra has helped fill that gap. It’s been fantastic to catch up with people during the event and learn something new. Digital events will never replace physical events, like PestEx, but I’m very proud of what our team, speakers and exhibitors managed to achieve.

Ian Andrew, BPCA Chief Exec

Too much to see?

As the event wasn’t confined to a physical space, visitors were treated to five theatres instead of the usual two, all boasting a packed agenda of talks and demos from industry experts.

If anything, there was too much to see in three days, so BPCA has decided to make all the sessions we can available to access, for free, on our website. 

You can now watch back most seminars in our CPD videos section.

Watch now

Seminars from the PestExtra Killgerm Theatre are not currently available.

Seminars were attended live by an average of 165 visitors. The top two attended seminars were:

• Bird Mites: environmentally tricky, socially misunderstood, technically still challenging by Professor Olivier Sparagano, Professor of Veterinary Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health
• Introducing Selontra® - Our latest innovation, Cholecalciferol rodent bait by Sharon Hughes and Helen Ainsworth.

Each was attended by 362 people.

Many more people watched the seminars back at their leisure using the On-Demand area which saw recordings being watched 3,422 times across the three days.

Real connections made online

There were 46 exhibitors at the show, each with their own virtual stand, showcasing the latest product launches from some of the industry’s leading manufacturers and distributors. 

The BPCA virtual stand stayed busy throughout the event, with 482 visitors coming along to see what the Association was up to and live chatting or video calling the BPCA Staff team. 

Reflecting on PestExtra

Lauren Day, BPCA Events Manager, said:

“It’s been such a unique and brilliant event, and we are thrilled that so many people joined us in this new format.

“We should have been getting together in person this month, but Covid-19 meant that wasn’t possible. 

“2020 saw many aspects of daily life moving online and we knew we needed to provide the sector with an alternative way of catching up, networking and sharing knowledge, until we can be face-to-face again. 

“Additionally, the incredible people in this industry have worked flat out during this pandemic to continue protecting public health. PestExtra was the perfect chance to let them take a breath and reflect on the amazing work they’ve all done this last 12 months.

“Thank you to all the amazing exhibitors and sponsors that made the day possible.

“We look forward to finally seeing everyone in person again at PestEx in 2022!”

Source: Online