HP postpones next month's partner event

PC and print vendor says event will now take place in the autumn

HP has cancelled its California partner conference which was due to take place next month.

In a note sent to press, the vendor said the decision had been made to protect the well-being of attendees as the coronavirus continues to spread.

The event, in Anaheim, had been due to start on 24 March, but HP has said that the event will now take place in the autumn.

It added that all announcements planned for the March dates will still be made.

"According to the World Health Organization, Coronavirus continues to escalate, rather than subside, with wide-spread implications in multiple countries and markets," HP said.

"We must put the well-being of our employees, our partners, and our media and industry analyst community as our number one priority.

"In the interim, HP's planned announcements at the show will go ahead, and there'll be a virtual press conference to hear all about them. Details on this to follow in the coming days."

The partner conference was due to be in the middle of a hectic time for HP, with CEO Enrique Lores earlier this week revealing that the vendor is opening to talks with Xerox but is still not supporting the bid currently on the table.

It would also have been Lores' first partner event as CEO since stepping into Dion Weisler's shoes.

One partner told CRN that HP is planning to refund the ticket prices for partners, as well has hotel costs if they have been booked through the vendor.

He also said that he expects HP to reimburse flight costs for partners.