A week after the closure of ISE 2020, the final press release on the progress of the last edition has come to the editorial staff, including the number of visitors to the fair.
As we have already reported to you in the days leading up to the opening, and during the fair in our newspapers, the debut of ISE 2020 had to deal with various unexpected events: not only the news on the spread of the Corona Virus, which led to the sudden decision of some brands to not participate in the event (LG being the one that attracted most attention, but also Chinese companies whose workers were detained at home by restrictions on flights from some areas of China), but also the adverse weather conditions due to Storm Ciara, which perhaps had even more impact on the contextual movements on the first day of the fair. The theme of incoming visitors was therefore one of the most critical of this edition.
However, as many participants saw with their own eyes, the organisers and managers, after taking the necessary precautions, firmly believed in the event, and were able to convey confidence to the large number of participants who were present, both as exhibitors and as visitors. We have already talked about the exhibitors (over 1300, an increase from 2019), while on the visitor side ISE released very precise data:
– Monday 10th February: (construction of stands, conferences and Opening Address): 11.112
– Tuesday 11th (day 1): 27.592
– Wednesday 12th: 34.004
– Thursday 13th: 28.687
– Friday 14th: 15,213
Which comes to a total of 116,599 visitors. However, ISE has also released data that is truly comparable with previous years (and with expectations), reducing the duplication and names that have been at the fair for several days from this count, reaching 52,128 attendees. A decrease which was noticeable, especially on the first day (thanks to Storm Ciara’s great fury), and in any case understandable. However, from the interviews made at the fair it was clear that there was no dissatisfaction felt by the attendees and that in general the validity and interest of the market for ISE was not affected.
Mike Blackman, Managing Director of Integrated Systems Events, said the following in the press release:
“This year’s show showed us how determined our attendees were to come to ISE. Many of our exhibitors have exceeded their goals in engaging existing and potential customers. The exhibition delivered on all fronts: as the largest annual forum in the global sector, as a springboard for new solutions, as a place to do business and as a source of professional development and training.” Positive comments also came from AVIXA, CEDIA and AV Magazine which have found an increase in participation in the events proposed during ISE, and the confirmation of many exhibitors who have already booked space in Barcelona for ISE 2021, confirming interest in this event.
But the real success of this fair, which opened with some difficulties, are the positive comments from those who participated in defiance of adversity. The considerable efforts on the part of the exhibitors to create ever more beautiful stands, the organised conferences and the seminars have contributed to making this Dutch event a beautiful event one. Turning around the fair and interviewing the participants, it emerged that ISE 2020 was a real success, for some perhaps one of the best editions they had attended: there may have been fewer visitors but they were definitely more informed and interested.
