ISE organiser Integrated Systems Events has confirmed the 2021 show will be held in Barcelona at Gran Via, part of the Fira de Barcelona exhibition complex on February 2 to 5, in a move that cements the venue as the exhibition’s permanent home.
Speculation has been rife about where the show would head when its deal ended with the Amsterdam RAI, a venue the exhibition was rapidly outgrowing. With annual growth of both exhibitors and attendees running at around 10% - and the AV market forecast for 5% yearly growth through 2021 – the move was inevitable.
In a press release Mike Blackman, managing director of Integrated Systems Events, said: “The RAI and Amsterdam have provided a fantastic location, been great partners and contributed to the success of the show. But, demand from exhibitors, and the continued increase in the numbers of attendees, showed us that limited floor space was in danger of putting a brake on the show’s development. In spite of all our best efforts this was not an issue we felt could be solved by staying at the RAI Amsterdam.
“We conducted extensive exhibitor and attendee research and visited many major exhibition centres in Europe before making this important decision. By announcing our move to one of Europe’s largest and most prestigious convention complexes, we can now continue to focus on creating a unique experience for everyone and confidently plan for long-term development. At the same time, we will ensure that the remaining two editions of ISE at the RAI Amsterdam are the best in its illustrious history and a fitting way to bring our 14-year relationship with the venue and city to a close.”
Dan Jago, founder and director of InAVate and the InAVation Awards, said the InAVation Awards would also move to Barcelona in 2021.
“The InAVation Awards started in 2007 during the ISE show and has always been closely aligned with the exhibition and its associated events.
“What started life as an EMEA awards scheme, quickly grew to the global event it is today, reflecting the shifts we’ve seen as the ISE show has expanded in size and worldwide significance.
“It’s right that we continue this association to ensure that we can gather the very best integrators, consultants, distributors, technology managers and manufacturers working in the industry today, wherever they might be located.
“The awards will remain at the popular Gashouder venue in Amsterdam until the move to Barcelona where we are committed to delivering the event in an equally iconic space.”
Full press release follows: