AV News has long campaigned for ISE to add an extra day to the programme. In the past, the show’s organises have maintained that “only t he press wants it”, and it is certainly true exhibitors have already expressed concerns about the ROI for the additional day. With this year’s event attracting almost 60,000 visitors, and no sign of the growth curve flattening, it might well be that the organisers were left with little choice if the event was to stay within pre-agreed regulatory limits.
Even this year, there were signs that visitor facilities (including catering and transport) were coming under pressure. This was the first Amsterdam show that any of the AV News team heard taxi drivers complain about there being too many fares. In what was Europe’s largest ever AV and systems integration exhibition 59,350 registered attendees came to the this year’s show between 10-12 February. This represents an increase of 8,347 registered attendees (16.4%) on ISE 2014.
Mike Blackman, Integrated Systems Events Managing Director said: “The volume of attendance confirmed ISE’s position as the destination of choice for anyone involved in professional AV and systems integration. In addition to the ongoing attendance success story, the announcement that ISE has entered into a joint venture with invidis consulting, to develop its highly successful Digital Signage conference, demonstrates our commitment to grow ISE’s profile in key market sectors.”
Looking ahead to next year, exhibitor stand space re-bookings for the new four-day show are at an all-time high. When the exhibition doors closed on 12 February, bookings for the 2016 event stood at 41,200 square meters sold space. This represents 106% of the total sold space for the 2015 event and 94% of the total space available for 2016.
ISE 2015 saw increased exhibitor space provided by the addition of the Diamond Lounge. This expansion will continue at ISE 2016 with the opening of the Amtrium new-build adjacent to Hall 4. Also, there will be four Showfloor theatres, plus additional conferences and initiatives undertaken with exhibitors, trade bodies and media partners.
The next Integrated Systems Europe will take place at the Amsterdam RAI on 9-12 February 2016.
Event report: ISE 2014 – the best ever. Page 11
