Record pre-registration boosts ISE 2011 attendance
Published: MEA
WORLD: Under the banner 'All the connections you need', Integrated Systems Europe 2011 opened its doors at 10am on Tuesday 1st February at the RAI in Amsterdam to a record number of pre-registered attendees.
On the eve of the show the number stood at 30,183, representing an increase of 1,694 on actual attendance numbers for 2010. The figure has already spurred ISE managing director Mike Blackman to speculate on the final attendance: ‘My conservative estimate is that we'll see a final attendance of 34,000 by the end of the third day,’ he declared.
Meanwhile, net stand space is up 17 per cent this year to 26,650 sq-m, boosted by more than 150 new exhibitors. A total of 715 exhibitors heralding from 38 countries can be found on the show floor, including a significant contingent from Asia. ‘This year we have seen a lot of new exhibitors from China promoting their own developments,’ Mr Blackman explained.
Indeed, despite the freezing temperatures in Amsterdam on the eve of the Chinese New Year, Mr Blackman agreed that much of ISE’s growth was coming from Asia and in particular China, while the increased attendance was largely thanks to Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Supporting that assertion was Abdulla Alansari, managing director of Doha-based systems integrator Techno Q. ‘I've come for the entire three days,’ he explained, wrapped in a warm scarf and queuing patiently in the foyer prior to the traditional ribbon cutting ceremony marking the start of the exhibition. ‘We're here to visit our many suppliers and have a look at their new products and solutions on offer. It will be a very busy three days before we fly back to Doha on Friday.’
Key growth areas on the show floor this year include IP solutions, professional audio (described as ‘growing substantially’), residential technology, 3D and digital signage. The exhibition’s visitor-profile is also changing, with more engineer-level employees attending alongside senior management.
At the press conference that preceded the opening of the show proper, Mr Blackman continued: ‘The strength of our pre-registration reflects the range and appeal of the new activities we have added at ISE this year. The show floor will feature a dedicated 3D theatre for the first time along with a new or enhanced presence from organisations such as AVnu Alliance, KNX Association and ISCE. Away from the show floor, we have a pre-conference programme three times the size of 2010, while our parent associations, InfoComm and CEDIA, have both added on-site certification testing to their education offerings, which themselves are more extensive than before.
‘It all adds up to a networking and business opportunity that is second to none as no other event in Europe rivals ISE in terms of growth, innovation and plain, old fashioned excitement.’
ISE 2012 will be hosted at the RAI once again from January 31st to February 2nd.