Originally posted by Jean Poitiers ...disaster...
That's a huge exaggeration. Trade shows are becoming increasingly irrelevant. Sony, arguably the most healthy large camera company, recently skipped a big show in New York City. Many other past exhibitors, including Pentax/Ricoh, also skipped the show. The show is only around 67% of its former size, and likely to keep shrinking.
The internet lets companies distribute product information faster, cheaper, and with wider reach than running around to trade shows. It's the case for most trade shows, not just photography.