The popular industry conference The Phoenix Forum took place for the last time this year. Organizer CCBill is ending the event after 19 years and announcing that the conference will no longer take place in 2020.
The Phoenix Forum, founded by CCBill in 2001, has served for years as a gathering for online adult entertainment companies. The company justifies its decision with the changing landscape of the industry.
The last edition of the multi-day congress took place at the end of March of this year. The industry magazine XBIZ already indicated in its reporting that the number of participants in 2019 was very low. »Although the trade show is much less boisterous than years past, it was the quality of those in attendance that overrode any notion of quantity (…)«
Apparently, CCBill saw things differently. While a statement was available on The Phoenix Forum’s homepage just a few days ago, the whole site has now been deleted from the net. If you try to access the former website, you will be redirected to the CCBill website without any further explanation.
Deep Changes in the industry caused a drop in visitors
The operator’s statement, which was no longer accessible, stated: »We designed and evolved The Phoenix Forum over the years, as a way to connect with those people that we love and care about in this crazy business we all support — those people that we call our ‘family’. Our focus has always remained on one goal: to promote business and connections for our family—our business community.«
It concluded: »So, it is with mixed emotions that CCBill announces that we will not be producing The Phoenix Forum for 2020. The needs of the industry have changed, and with that, so must change the trade conferences which support the business.«
TPF was one of the longest running industry events and was held annually in March at Tempe Mission Palms. In addition to the usual offerings at other trade fairs such as workshops, lectures, seminars and networking events, participants particularly appreciated the wide range of parties and extras such as poker tournaments and lightspeed dodgeball.