Connect Amsterdam Winter 2023 | Nr. 5

Sustainable, digital, personal, valuable and flexible

NR.5

The

logistics of events

New year, new opportunities

The period at the start of each new year is normally a time for reflection. We look back at what’s been achieved, what the impact has been and which resolutions should be made for the year ahead. There was little that was normal about 2022, however. The first quarter saw the Netherlands still in lockdown due to the pandemic. No sooner were these restrictions lifted before we started to feel the effects of the war in Ukraine, which continues to have major economic and social consequences worldwide.

Seeing physical meetings make such a swift comeback prompted a swift change of perspective. During the past year we rapidly went from 0 to 100, and before the end of 2022 were again organising international trade shows with similar visitor numbers to those seen pre-COVID. Although as you’d expect we faced struggles along the way, we also learned a lot over the past year. The lessons have been taken onboard for the events which have filled our calendar this year, including the new ones described elsewhere in this Connect Magazine.

The wish to come together physically at events may have been strengthened by both factors. Within the walls of our exhibition and conference complex we’ve hosted millions of conversations about developments, opportunities and solutions to the many issues facing the world around us. These talks took place at everything from international medical exhibitions to corporate trade shows, from consumer events to theatre shows, with relevant themes being discussed with the general public and audiences.

These fresh opportunities allow us to show once again that the RAI facilitates and organises amazing events at an exceptional location in the city centre of Amsterdam. The focus is on relevant themes and key developments in all global sectors – for Amsterdam as a city, the different industry branches, government bodies, knowledge institutions and more. I look forward to making the most of what’s in store for us all in 2023.

“ The wish to come together physically at events may have been strengthened ”

FINDING YOUR WAY AROUND AMSTERDAM

Most people visiting the RAI are not from Amsterdam or even the Netherlands. To help these visitors find their way around the city we recommend two very helpful platforms.

IAmsterdam

amsterdam&partners have created a website for people visiting Amsterdam for both short and longer periods which contains everything there is to see and do in the city. A key tip for those having one or more full days to explore the city and visit multiple attractions is to buy an IAmsterdam City Card. Offering a unique way to discover Amsterdam, the card gives access to all the major highlights, more than 70 museums, city-wide public transport, a canal cruise and bicycle rent. As well as saving money, cards give exclusive discounts at restaurants, attractions and concerts.

www.iamsterdam.com

Enjoy Amsterdam App

The Enjoy Amsterdam App is great if you’d like to know what’s going on, the shortest route to a specific restaurant or where to eat in the vicinity of the RAI. This app helps you make the most of your time in Amsterdam, including in bad weather thanks to the Rainy Day mode.

For free

Enjoy Amsterdam is a free app and has no in-app purchases. Made by a dedicated local team, it’s ideal for discovering the best that our city has to offer.

Bike and boat

Enjoy Amsterdam also has special routes to help you explore the city on a bike, when going for a run and by boat. And yes, the app also helps you find where to rent those bikes and boats too!

Event trends: a bit of AI… And coming home

After a cautious recovery in 2022 and with good prospects for the coming period, we can finally dare say it out loud: events are back! And while we’ve placed a great deal of emphasis on online meetings and hybrid formats over recent years, that was primarily out of sheer necessity. Now we can all agree on one thing: nothing is as effective, practical and, crucially, fun as physical events.

Yes, fun! If you look at what we at the RAI missed most in the recent COVID years, it was those chance encounters, good conversations spontaneously joined by others, having a good laugh together, listening to stories and more. By enabling us to maintain relationships and forge new friendships, events can feel like coming home.

And that’s the general sentiment right now, that we’ve arrived home after a very eventful journey. It’s a great time to look back on what’s happened and see which trends will help us to (again) make trends future-proof. With many trend reports and state-of-the-industry articles in the back of our mind and a little help from technology. Technology? Indeed!

Now that almost everyone is writing that AI (artificial intelligence) is one of the major trends, including in the event industry, it seemed sensible to ask AI what the trends actually are – via ChatGPT from chat.openai. com. So I asked the following question: “What are the trends in the meeting industry for 2023?”

The result was a nicely written article with event trends plus the disclaimer that information had only been collected up until 2021. A perfect starting point for an exploration. Where are we coming from and what are the new challenges we face? A look into the future based on AI.

“Continued shift towards virtual and hybrid events: The pandemic has accelerated the shift towards virtual and hybrid events, and it is likely that this trend will continue in 2023. Organizers are likely to explore more ways to create engaging and interactive virtual experiences and may find more ways to incorporate virtual and in-person elements into the same event”

Sustainable, digital, personal, valuable and flexible

The shift from physical to digital and back is something we’ve all experienced. The good thing is we’ve learned that a 365 community which gathers partly online and partly in person actually works. We increasingly consider the ROI of visitors and exhibitors and use that to shape platforms, events and exhibitions. The formats we previously adhered to quite strictly are no longer so sacred. And who knows, maybe we’ll see new formats created in which all stakeholders are the basis. Online, on site or both: we will shape it together. In Metaverse? Perhaps.

Increased use of technology: As technology continues to advance, events will likely become more immersive and interactive, with a greater use of VR, AR and other technologies to create unique and memorable experiences.

Yes, event tech will always continue to advance, following general developments. We experiment with opportunities in Metaverse, contactless services, gamification, apps, AI, engagement, real-time translations, immersive experiences, data driven sessions – both format and content will improve when the right technology is used at the right time. And we will enhance our implementation: by using technology based on needs, not simply because it can. On the other hand, people increasingly expect event venues to facilitate everything and extend the possibilities. Emphasis on sustainability: The industry is likely to continue to focus on sustainability and ‘green’ practices such as reducing waste, using renewable energy and promoting environmentally friendly event materials.

Sustainability will remain an aspect found in all facets within the PPP of People, Planet and Profit. We’re looking at the climate-neutral or regenerative organisation of events, considering the sustainable reuse of materials and use local products, and zero waste. But we’re also including issues such as diversity and inclusivity, both in front of and behind the scenes. We aim to consciously create an environment where everyone feels safe and at home. We’re also working on the sustainability of events themselves, enabling them to become richer, less unilateral and accessible to all.

Personalisation: As technology advances, event organisers will likely be able to personalise the event experience even more, tailoring the event to individual attendees' preferences and interests.

If there’s something we’ve gotten used to during the pandemic it’s organising our time in a different way. Work and private life became a blended experience. Doing the laundry in between meetings also made way for other activities, which is why events will increasingly focus on the personal: a mix of business and leisure, wellness and moments of rest. At the same time, we see visitors who are looking critically at what they do and do not want to travel for, composing their own personal event agenda in the process. A genuinely bespoke and personal customer journey.

Flexibility and adaptability: The ongoing pandemic has shown that events can be unpredictable, and organisers will have to continue to be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances.

Flexibility continues to be of the essence, especially in view of the current challenges related to personnel and materials. At the same time, this is where we can innovate: which parts of events can be organised in a different way? Not just physically, but also online and in how things are realised on the exhibition floor – looking at aspects such as layout and furnishings. Are we seeing the rise of DIY events? Plug & Play?

Two more issues in conclusion: Firstly: when asking a general question about event trends using AI you naturally get a summary of everything that has already been written. In other words: if we’re all wrong, AI will not be the one to tell us. And if we don’t ask questions about politics, inflation, the energy transition and the like, they won’t be included in the answers. Not yet, anyway. Because with all the data we collect during and outside of events, we’ll be able to make better choices in the future, and stimulate sustainable change – which will eventually end up in the trend overview as well.

Secondly: no matter how much we steer toward trends, never lose sight of what matters to your main stakeholders. A continuous debate, listening to each other, and building a valuable and relevant community together. Make your event a place where visitors and exhibitors feel like they’re coming home. Regardless of the trends at play.

DIRECTOR

Proud but relieved is how Bart van der Heijden, Director Events at RAI Amsterdam, comes across as he walks around the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) prior to this interview. “It’s important to see a large international event like this returning to the RAI,” he says. “We may have fewer exhibitors than in 2019 (around 800 compared to 1200 in the pre-pandemic edition), but that’s counterbalanced by the number of highquality visitors.”

While walking the floor at IBC we are confronted with the dilemmas exhibition organisers like the RAI face in times of personnel shortages and increasing costs. By the restaurant near the entrance are an array of food trucks, which form part of the catering portfolio. An idea proposed by executive chef Rientz Mulder, who is running around busily but stops for a brief chat. “Running an à la carte restaurant would just not work due to the number of staff needed,” Bart explains. “This concept with external parties requires only a quarter of the personnel costs while still maintaining a positive margin. It was a great idea from the F&B team.” Culinary head of staff Mulder had a shipping container converted into a barbecue stand and sold some 750 hamburgers and 1100 hotdogs

a day during the IBC weekend. “This type of entrepreneurship makes me happy,” adds Bart.

Views over Amsterdam

The interview moves to Bart’s office of Van der Heijden, which towers high above the exhibition halls and offers wide views over the capital, from the Pontsteiger building to the Amsterdam Arena. “We used to be seen as a location on the edge of Amsterdam but now, thanks to the North/South metro line, we are perceived as a city-centre venue,” says Bart, who’s been working at the RAI since 2000. “For the Dutch general public, we are not as iconic as we used to be, but that’s because we shifted from being more of a B2C venue to mostly B2B. With the exception of festivals, public events are struggling. Although the RAI stands for Rijwiel Automobiel Industrie [Bicycle Automobile Industry – tr.], we have almost no vehicle events left. The events we do host, like IBC and the Cardiology Conference, mean little to the average Amsterdam resident. That’s why our development plans are exploring ways to give back to the city; for example, by adding more space for greenery and improving the way Europaplein is used. The ultimate goal is that locals also see the RAI as a great place to meet.”

BART VAN DER HEIJDEN

EVENTS AT RAI AMSTERDAM

Interview by Jeroen Mirck for Expovisie

“A-brands remain, B-brands are struggling”

These plans make the RAI one of the foremost event venues to be transforming itself. “We are still in the concept stage now, in which all options for real estate on the RAI premises remain open,” Bart continues. “With what we have now we’re already playing in the Champions League of our sector and we aim to maintain that place. There is competition, of course, but personally I think it’s great that Ahoy Rotterdam added a conference function. This benefits the Netherlands as a business destination. The higher we are in the conference ratings, the better.”

A-brands remain

Bart has pretty much seen it all at the RAI having worked there for some 23 years. Starting as an intern, then as the youngest salesperson, becoming a manager and, since 2017, joining the senior management team as Director Clients. “I was originally involved with the commercial side but when Operations was added I created two work places to ensure both aspects received the same attention,” he smiles. Both disciplines were hit hard when the RAI had to close due to COVID. “We were shut for a total of 700 days,” Bart calculates. “After the reorganisation in 2020 we muddled through for a while but this had a major impact on all employees. Now that everything has reopened, we see the international trade events in particular are rebounding. A-brands remain but B-brands are struggling. People are making choices: they don’t tend to visit the same type of B2B event three times in a year.”

“OUR CATERING CONCEPT WITH EXTERNAL PARTIES REQUIRES ONLY A QUARTER OF THE PERSONNEL COSTS”

Circular stands

Sustainability is a theme that should be on top of every agenda, according to Bart, whether that’s the RAI, CLC-Vecta or any other company in the event sector.

“For us at the RAI, we aim to fully embrace modular and circular stand construction. We want to make it easier. Exhibitors won’t be bringing their stand all the way from Poland. Instead, the floor plans will be similar to residential areas, with terraced houses, semi-detached houses and free lots. In practice, the small stands (the ‘terraced houses’) are often modular.

But why shouldn’t that apply to the larger exhibition stands as well? It would save a significant amount of waste and transport: an entire hall of uniform stands is equivalent to the same number of trucks with material as one ‘castle stand’ in the same hall. It’s time to reshape logistics and we can do so by implementing sustainable requirements for stands, for instance.” “Some 70 to 80 percent of stands will be modular in a few years”

Circular stands are the next step, says Bart. “We no longer want the endless process of building, painting and sawing on the exhibition floor.” To again use the residential metaphor, “We increasingly entire pre-manufactured structures being installed in the housebuilding sector. Bricklayers then simply create a shell around these structures and the house is finished. Of course, we also have to offer exhibitors the freedom to buy ‘castle stands’ on the floor so they the opportunity to safeguard their corporate identity. Like in residential construction, we will have to devise guidelines and work with a system to regulate material use. I dare say that some 70 to 80 percent of the stands will be modular in a few years.”

How will the exhibition sector handle the energy rises?

According to Bart, the current economic crisis will have an enormous impact on the entire exhibition and event chain. “Food, energy and staff are becoming more expensive. The RAI has seen energy rates increase by 240 percent this year, and we haven’t even purchased electricity for next year yet. How will we pass on these costs to our clients? In our halls this involves millions of euros. We have to make plans to save energy and ensure our clients do the same. It isn’t impossible to organise an exhibition at a slightly lower temperature, after all. We also have to discuss how to approach waste and overproduction. And the entire chain has to get onboard. Although I’m not exactly sure how, I know that – in a sector consuming as much energy as ours –next steps will have to be taken.”

“I dare say that some 70 to 80 percent of the stands will be modular in a few years.”

World’s largest event for innovation in health care comes to Amsterdam

HLTH is the main event in the USA related to innovation in health care. HLTH is the main event in the USA related to innovation in health care. Five successful editions have already been hosted in Las Vegas, and the first European edition will take place in 2024; from 18 to 20 June in RAI Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is the home base for major MedTech organisations, ambitious start-ups, the largest university medical centre in the Netherlands and a large number of research institutions. The fact that the city is a frontrunner in the field of innovation in bio-sciences is another reason why HLTH Inc. chose Amsterdam as the location for its event.

“HLTH Europe brings the European ecosystem of health care together to tackle the most complex challenges in the industry and identify its most promising opportunities,” says Jonathan Weiner, founder, chair and CEO of HLTH Inc. “We believe that by joining forces with all health care sectors we can make a change for good. As one of the most centrally located cities in Europe, with a world-class venue at the RAI, Amsterdam was an ideal choice as HLTH Europe’s home base.”

“RAI Amsterdam is extremely proud that our city and venue have been chosen by the organisers,” says RAI COO Maurits van der Sluis. “The team in charge understands the impact of the world’s largest event for innovation like no other and will do everything in its power to make HLTH Europe a success.”

The event in Las Vegas broke all records last year. Over 2,500 CEOs attended, with more than 850 sponsors presenting their health care innovations. In addition, the event welcomed over 1,000 start-ups and more than 9,500 visitors in total.

“We believe that by joining forces with all health care sectors we can make a change for good”

Future professionals meet with Zuidas organisations

Hello Zuidas, the organisation for area management in Zuidas Amsterdam, is regularly in contact with the major educational institutes in the neighbourhood, including the ROC of Amsterdam College Zuid, situated across from the RAI. It was here that Ildem Senoglu, a Marketing & Communication student who wanted to pose a number of questions to a specialist from the Zuidas area, met Nils Vonder, Manager of Marketing & Communications at the RAI.

The conversation started with a round of introductions. It quickly became apparent that Ildem and Nils had something in common: their roots were both in intermediate vocational education (MBO). Sometimes people forget, but there are many roads that lead to Rome, and we thankfully live in a society where it’s possible to grow and get as far as you wish. We never stop learning either, as became clear when Ildem shared which classes she was taking in her studies and the skills they require.

Ildem asked Nils what it takes to be a successful marketeer. “The focus in marketing is increasingly on data and research,” he answered. “This includes things like market research. As an organisation, you want to know which opportunities are available in the market based on figures or data. This data has to be made visible fast, and that’s one of the key tasks of a marketeer. The world is changing rapidly, and the trick is to learn which movements affect your organisation, where your organisation operates, and how it can anticipate or address developments well.”

Ildem and Nils continued to talk enthusiastically about the opportunities and challenges in their field. They both enjoyed the meeting so much that it was decided that Ildem would join the Marketing & Communications team at RAI Amsterdam for a morning. And who knows, we may see Ildem there again, as an intern at the RAI or in another capacity.

RAI Amsterdam provides some 100 internships a year. From Marketing & Communications to Food & Beverage, the RAI is known as an excellent place to learn and gain practical experience in the event sector.

“The focus in marketing is increasingly on data and research”

NILS VONDER MANAGER MARKETING & COMMUNICATION

Basement Chefs emerge above ground

Beneath RAI Amsterdam is an extensive network of tunnels and cellars. At the heart of this exciting underground world you’ll find the kitchens where the Basement Chefs perform their culinary art. From gala dinners to Dutch bitterballen snacks, from cookies with coffee to an international buffet, they all have their origin in these kitchens… Hence the nickname Basement Chefs.

Heartwarming Amsterdam

The Basement Chefs use as much daily fresh, sustainable, tasty and animal-friendly ingredients from dairy farms in the Amsterdam area as possible. They also grow organic vegetables and herbs in our own vertical greenhouse and choose local, high-quality, authentic products. All this and more inspires creativity and ensures a great taste for the end product. And that's why we call the concept Heartwarming Amsterdam.

Chefs of the future

Near the RAI is an Amsterdam educational college called the ROC, where catering specialists, future chefs and other culinary professionals are trained. The on-site restaurant Warmoes ensures that students gain practical experience of their trade. When renovations forced this restaurant to close its doors in January, the Basement Chefs joined forces with the ROC to set up a pop-up restaurant in the Grand Café. The location was run by first and second year students as they worked with a fixed plant-based menu centered on our Heartwarming Amsterdam project. Throughout January, therefore, this pop-up restaurant served as our delicious RAI hotspot.

“They also grow organic vegetables and herbs in our own vertical greenhouse ”

Ten minutes from Schiphol to the RAI

A billion-dollar deal has been struck between the city of Amsterdam and the Dutch government.

One of the major projects involved is the extension of the North/South metro line via Schiphol to Hoofddorp. Others include the completion of both the Zuidasdok and the Ring Line. Taken as a whole these three projects should further optimise the accessibility of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area.

Some 1.7 million people currently travel to the region daily from all parts of the Netherlands, causing traffic jams and overcrowded stations. The planned extra space on the tracks will allow more trains to run from Amsterdam Sloterdijk, Schiphol and Amsterdam Zuid to other parts of the country.

This is also a big step forward for RAI Amsterdam's accessibility. With the arrival of the new metro line, international exhibition and congress visitors will be able to travel directly from Schiphol to our Europaplein stop. In other words, they’ll be on the RAI's forecourt within just ten minutes.

“The combination of these three projects will optimize the of accessibility Amsterdam Metropolitan Area”

1.7 TRAVEL TO THE REGION

MILION PEOPLE

FROM SCHIPHOL TO RAI WITHIN 10 MINUTES

DONATION PROGRAMME CONTINUES TO GROW

The Donation Room was organised during various events, including Intertraffic, PRSE, Interclean, the Nine Month Fair, Provada, GreenTech, IBC, Sibos and METSTRADE. The collection from all these events together was impressive and the social value significant.

The RAI has hosted no less than nine donation programmes over the past year. The overall concept is an initiative by RAI Amsterdam during various events to prevent waste and support local initiatives with useful products.

Exhibitors are offered the opportunity to donate to our dedicated team any remaining items that are in line with the needs of the associated social initiatives. The products are then given a second life where they are most needed. Initiatives associated with the programme include the Salvation Army, Food Bank, neighbourhood centre Hendrik de Keijser, Puur Zuid, ROC Amsterdam, Dorcas, Stichting Sina and Regenboog Groep.

For instance, the donation programme was a valuable source of materials for the PuurZuid social care charity, which helps local residents with issues such as debt, health and loneliness. It used donated furniture to decorate a neighbourhood centre and food & soft drinks for the local restaurant it manages.

The restaurant hosts activities such as neighbourhood cooking sessions where residents come together while sharing a kitchen and meal together. This is a fine example of how items that no longer have value to exhibitors can often be of major benefit to others.

After the IBC exhibition, lots of cleaning supplies, plants, furniture and toys were donated to a shelter for Ukrainian refugees in Amsterdam.

METSTRADE saw a good number of plants donated to neighbourhood centre Hendrik de Keijser. The donation programme is becoming more well-known among exhibitors each year and that is leading to increasingly impressive results.

Together against food waste!

Did you know that one third of all food produced in the world is not actually eaten? That’s the equivalent of some 1.3 billion tonnes of food a year!

Instock aims to change this situation by putting food waste on the map. It offers unused stocks from farmers, growers and producers to hospitality venues in order to give it new value. RAI Amsterdam fully supports this approach. Since early December, the fruit placed in the Hospitality Crew Centre and Amtrium restaurant originates from residue crops from farmers, growers and producers. It involves fruit that does not comply with the stringent requirements of supermarkets because it’s too small, too large or a bunch doesn’t contain enough fruit.

“This is a great way for us to give back to the city and work with social projects and heart-warming products,” says Paul Conijn, Product Specialist Food & Beverage at RAI Amsterdam. “We are delighted with the partnership with Instock which allows us to use their heart-warming products and convert residual streams into ingredients that significantly reduce our CO2 footprint.”

WHAT IS INSTOCK’S MISSION?

“One third of all food is being wasted and we aim to put this issue firmly on the map! InstockMarket serves as a wholesaler for saved products, we collect residual streams and use surprisingly good products at great prices to create as much value as possible for growers, products and intermediaries on the one hand, and hospitality venues on the other.

“We also hope to stimulate awareness of food waste in a positive way as eating should be fun! The distance between people and food has grown bigger over the decades as we don’t have to work so hard to get it. There are many options and food aplenty these days. Our cookbooks Instock Koken and Circulaire Chefs, our beer products Pieper and Bammetjes Bier, and our Instock granola are all designed to reduce this distance between us and food.”

“THIS IS A GREAT WAY FOR US TO GIVE BACK TO THE CITY"

BILLION TONNES 1,3 OF FOOD WASTE A YEAR

The logistics of events

How we limit our impact on the surroundings

It is what it is: events come with a lot of traffic movements – of both people and things. During the build-up of an event, trucks and vans drive on and off the premises with stand material and other goods for exhibitors. RAI Amsterdam aims to limit these movements and make them more sustainable in order to benefit both the neighbourhood and the environment. Wim Braakman, Manager Traffic & Logistics, explains how.

“The RAI is situated in a superb location,” says Wim. “We are near the city centre, and close to Schiphol Airport and the motorway. Public transport connects us in various ways as well. We love this spot and that means we have the responsibility to treat it as well as possible.”

Event logistics

Behind the scenes, therefore, people are working hard to develop a strategic masterplan to design the premises of the RAI as sustainably as possible and limit traffic movements in the coming years. While the final result will take some time to realise, people like Wim have a daily task in the meantime to come up with smart solutions that minimise the impact of traffic around events. A significant element herein is the transport movements linked to the build-up and breakdown of major events.

Spreading

“In early 2022 we introduced the RAI Logistics Management System,” Wim continues. “This is a proven software solution that is also used in the construction industry and ports, for example. We use it to spread the cargo traffic related to our events. All the trucks for the build-up of an event used to arrive at the same time in the morning, which soon resulted in waiting times. Now we have created a buffer zone on the city outskirts for large-scale events, where trucks wait when it is too busy here.

“The RAI LMS provides time slots to the transport companies”

“The RAI LMS provides time slots to the transport companies, and no one can access the premises without one. This allows us to spread traffic and prevent drivers from having to wait around. We can enforce our traffic planning and determine precisely which vehicles arrive where and when. The overall result is a calmer situation, a better overview and less nuisance.”

There are more benefits too, including the fact that it’s considerably quieter in and around the event halls during the build-up and breakdown. This is more pleasant for organisers and suppliers alike, increases safety levels and ensures that local residents experience far less hassle from waiting vehicles.

Streamlining

To further reduce pressure on the neighbourhood, another measure was taken that is as simple as it is effective. Wim: “Previously trucks would drive in and out on the north side of the RAI, where the residences and RAI complex are situated relatively close together. Now they only enter there and leave via the east side, from where they have easy access to the motorway. It may seem like a minor change, but it has reduced traffic for the people living on the north side by half.”

Out of sight

Not all stands are so large that they need trucks and many exhibitors bring in materials by van. A solution has been found for them as well, continues Wim: “We guide vans directly from the motorway to the south side parking garage, which has a height of 2.70 metres. Exhibitors can park there for free during the buildup and breakdown, and there are facilities that make loading and unloading easier as they can bring their materials straight from the garage into the exhibition halls. We also provide a porter service. All in all, it means that this traffic flow stays entirely out of sight and does not lead to nuisance. We’ve been doing this for a few years now, and because it has been such a success we will continue to make investments such as the current installation of an extra lift in the garage.”

Clustering

As many of the trucks aren’t completely full, traffic can also be limited by clustering cargo. This is especially practical for the so-called last mile to the RAI, in which combining cargo can make a huge difference. “This is something we’re currently experimenting on together with our logistics partner DB Schenker. During METSTRADE in November 2022, for example, DB Schenker set up an area on the city outskirts to cluster deliveries and tranship them to trucks that would bring everything to us at once. We’re currently analysing the data generated from this trial.”

Limiting

In the end, limiting materials is the optimal solution: you don’t have to transport what you don’t need. This is why RAI Amsterdam is looking into a fundamentally different way of organising stand construction, giving exhibitors the option to use modular, sustainable stands supplied and built by RAI Amsterdam and various partners. These range from simple to premium stands which can be personalised in a qualitative way using projections and lighting. The materials will then be stored in or near RAI Amsterdam and be reused as often as possible.

“It is taking some time for organisers to get used to this,” says Wim. “But they quickly become enthusiastic when they see what’s now possible. And there are only benefits: they don’t have to arrange transport or set up or remove anything, the stands are more cost-effective and sustainable, and they look great. What more could you want? From my perspective, the key issue is that this solution significantly reduces the number of vehicles on the streets. And that’s how we keep making progress.”

BRET BAAS MANAGER IT & DIGITAL AT RAI

The three digital success factors of every event

This ensures and moderates relevant content, including organising webinars, streaming parts of the programme and producing new content throughout the year.”

The RAI supports its external partners in this, too by providing an in-house studio and sharing our knowledge and network. Doing business with the RAI means doing business with its entire network. We link people to the city, universities and other stakeholders, providing the ideal inspiration for creating highly valuable content.

Bret Baas is responsible for the office automation, connectivity and digital solutions for events in RAI Amsterdam. In an interview with the website Congreswereld he shared the three main digital success factors for events today and how a venue like RAI Amsterdam approaches them.

Connectivity

Everyone is connected to each other at all times and this fact is more applicable to events than ever. Exhibitors expect flawless connectivity for their working environment, stand presentation, interaction with visitors and more. Visitors may wish to use the exhibition app to make digital contact during the event in various ways. All this communication has to take place without a glitch, and it should be fast and safe. “A short connectivity downtime can disrupt the entire exhibition experience,” says Bret. “That is why we have a comprehensive Cisco network which meets the very latest requirements. We invest a great deal in this every year. With regard to Wi-Fi, we recently switched to WIFI6 which means we are ahead of the wireless game too. And we have a professional team that understands the complexity of events.”

More content platforms

The nature of events is changing. Exhibitions increasingly revolve around content, and conferences and exhibitions are converging. Visitors expect different types of content via various channels. Bret: “This means that events should include a good, user-friendly platform to facilitate content. We have such a platform for the RAI’s own events such as Horecava and GreenTech.

Safety

Visitors must pass through detectors at some events and are visually checked in a friendly yet resolute manner before being allowed access. Safety comes first… And that safety increasingly includes data, as Bret explains: “A conference or exhibition often spans several days and the digital environment must operate optimally throughout. In addition, the data passing through our network must remain fully secure. To what extent it should be secured is discussed in detail with the organiser. What does the event entail, what is its topic, and who are its visitors? This all has a great impact on the risk level. Hosting a hackers’ conference involves very different risks than a teachers’ congress.

“Among the events where we pull out all the stops is IBC, the International Broadcasting Convention. This is technically speaking one of the most heavy-weight conferences around. We closely consult with the organisers on issues such as cybersecurity, incident management and scenarios for what to do and when. A lot more data passes through our lines during such an event – and it isn’t necessarily all good data. We actively monitor the network and traffic. By blocking unwanted traffic and analysing conflicting behaviour we keep this and all events safe.”

“A short connectivity downtime can disrupt the entire exhibition experience”

Connectivity, content and security are currently the main digital components of every event. Bret Baas, Manager IT & Digital at RAI Amsterdam, explains how organisers can work with the venue to offer participants the best possible experience.

Celebrating 130 years of the RAI!

From cycling association to global event hub

On Sunday 17 December 1893 six bicycle manufacturers, including Simplex, Fongers and Burgers, came together with 12 bicycle importers at the Haagsche Koffiehuis in Utrecht to establish the Nederlandsche Vereeniging ‘De Rijwiel-Industrie’ (RI) (the Dutch association for the bicycle industry).

The reason for the meeting was a proliferation of bicycle exhibitions, often organised by cycling clubs at various locations throughout the Netherlands. Manufacturers found the costs of participating in all these events to be excessive.

H. W. Baijer from Rotterdam, who started as an importer of British bicycles in 1880 and became a manufacturer himself ten years later under the brand name Aeolus, took the initiative. He placed an advertisement in the ANWB magazine De Kampioen, in which he out the case to industry colleagues for organising a bicycle exhibition of their own. The plan was to establish an annual and national event.

For the initial exhibition, the organisers looked for a location in Arnhem and The Hague while also considering the Fruithal in Utrecht. The RI members agreed to only advertise in De Kampioen from then on as editor-in-chief Frans Netscher supported the new association. The first RI chairman was P.J. Stokvis, a bicycle importer from Arnhem.

Europahal under construction

Efficiency exhibition 1989

As automobiles began their inexorable rise to prominence, an A was added to the name. And that’s how we came to the name RAI – an abbreviation of Rijwiel (bicycle) and Automobiel (automobile) Industrie (industry).

Amsterdam: our home from various locations

In the early years until 1922, the RAI did not have its own exhibition centre, using the Paleis voor Volksvlijt in Amsterdam for its bicycle exhibitions, a landmark building that later burnt down. The very first RAI event was hosted there in 1895. From 1922 the RAI used its own building on Ferdinand Bolstraat in Amsterdam for a period of 40 years. With a total surface area of 13,000 m2 the RAI attracted ever more exhibitors and visitors. At the same time, specialised trade exhibitions from other industries also took off and the RAI building quickly became too small. To finance a new, largescale exhibition complex, the RAI partnered with the Amsterdam council, which recognised the favourable economic effects for the region. The RAI Association and the City of Amsterdam together formed a limited partnership from which the operations of RAI Amsterdam, now separated from the RAI Association, were financed.

It was 1961 when the RAI settled on Europaplein in Amsterdam. Here it added various halls over the years in addition to the initial Europe Hall (Europahal). Partly due to market developments and the growing appeal of Amsterdam as a city, the RAI started attracting more international, multiday events – and they still fill a large part of our event calendar today. From major annual trade exhibitions and conferences such as Horecava, the International Broadcasting Convention, Interclean and a wide range of theatre shows to public events like Kingsland and The Amsterdam Winter Paradise. They’ve all made us a ‘House of events, home of your industry’ for the past 130 years.

Prince Bernhard opens the Europacomplex in 1961

“ With a total surface area of 13,000 m2 the RAI attracted ever more exhibitors and visitors”

Publisher: RAI Amsterdam

Concept & design: RAI Amsterdam

Graphic design: De Reclamefabriek, Amsterdam

Editors: Renee Beemsterboer, Joost van Eupen, Femke Haasnoot, Sanne Jolles, Astrid Nap, Luc Neijenhuis, Nils Vonder, Katelijn Wilhelmy

Contributors: Wim Braakman, Paula Vos, Hello Zuidas, Maurits van der Sluis, ROC Amsterdam. Bret Baas, Bart van der Heijden, Marisa Klay, Jeroen Mirck

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