On Thursday 26 August, Mayor Femke Halsema and Alderman Victor Everhardt (Economic Affairs) gave the starting signal for the return of business events in the city to RAI Amsterdam.
The mayor and alderman, together with RAI CEO Paul Riemens and Tracey Davies, president of Money 20/20, officially opened the 2021/2022 exhibition and congress season during a whole. The multi-day and conferences are again warmly welcomed during these international fairs. Also the latest measures related to corporate events were explained and the main effects that corporate events such as Money20/20 have on the relevant sectors (such as FinTech and Life, Sciences & Health).
previous conference destination
Mayor: “I am ready to receive, organize and host international events in the city and the RAI.”
Alderman Everhardt (Economic): “The City of Amsterdam will invest 3.7 million euros over four years in recruiting conferences that are valuable to our city. We want to make Amsterdam one of the most important conference cities in Europe. Amsterdam is now in fourteenth place on the list of the most radical conference destinations worldwide. Congresses provide income, employment and training places and strengthen the local economic sectors.”
Revenue
The conferences in RAI Amsterdam alone generated an annual turnover of approximately 690 million euros in 2019 and employment of 6,300 FTEs for the Amsterdam region (MRA). In general, a turnover of 1 euro in added value for RAI Amsterdam is 7 euros in added value for the region. With the Amsterdam congress sector lying idle for a year and a half, the Amsterdam region missed out on a turnover of approximately one billion euros.
Paul Riemens, CEO of Rai: “In close contact with customers, exhibitors and other relations, we have found the right mix to ensure that events take place safely and responsibly. We are ready to go in September with several influential events for all sectors, including financial.”
Money 20/20
Money20/20, the world’s preparation for payment, fintech and financial services, will be the first event in the RAI Amsterdam Convention Center from 21 to 23 September 2021.