Amsterdam RAI has announced a turnover of € 133.9 million for 2011, an increase of 7.1% compared to 2010 and 23.8% higher than in 2009 which had a similar event calendar. The good results were achieved with both RAI-organised (trade) exhibitions in the Netherlands and abroad, and the letting of the RAI complex to (international) organisers. The operational profit was € 8.3 million, while net profits came in at € 3.4 million. In 2011 the RAI complex facilitated 595 events that attracted around 1.6 million visitors. Amsterdam RAI expects both turnover and net profits to be even higher in 2012.
Major events in 2011
Exhibition titles such as AutoRAI and Aquatech (as a prominent part of the International Water Week) and events organised by third parties such as IBC, IS Europe and PLMA were major cornerstones of the continuity of Amsterdam RAI in 2011. One-off successes were achieved with ERS (European Respiratory Society) and Gastech. Combined with the effects of the previous economic downturn in 2008-2009, the turnover from corporate events virtually disappeared in 2011. International exhibitions organised by Amsterdam RAI in India, China, the USA, Poland and Turkey (in the field of water management, traffic technology and professional cleaning) also made a significant contribution to the results.
Crisis-resistant
General Director Hans Bakker of Amsterdam RAI is pleased: “The past year showed once again how companies choose to continue to meet to find inspiration and create value, despite the economic situation. The international character and market-leading position of many events we organise or accommodate have contributed to making Amsterdam RAI sufficiently recession-proof thus far.”
Vision for the future
Developed by Amsterdam RAI in cooperation with the City of Amsterdam (Dienst Zuidas), the (Spatial) Future Vision RAI ensures the future of the RAI at the Europaplein for the long term. The Future Vision gives the RAI the space to realise high-quality innovation and expansion at its current location over the coming decades in order to facilitate more multi-day international events of the highest standard in Amsterdam.
This will include the start in 2013 of the construction of the ‘Scheldeplein building’, with which Amsterdam RAI will be adding a multifunctional and remarkably sustainable office and conference centre with restaurant to its premises. The vision also includes the construction of a new parking garage for 1000 cars to bring the RAI’s parking capacity back to the desired level. Moreover, the new park & ride facilities also enhance the sustainability of Amsterdam.
Renewed strategy
Amsterdam RAI has also defined its strategy for the coming five years in which connecting physical and virtual meetings, linking the new economic superpowers to Europe and strengthening client focus play an important part. In combination with the aforementioned physical innovations, Amsterdam RAI is well-prepared for the future.
Best International Venue
The RAI’s investments and (hospitality) policy of the past few years received industry recognition in London in March 2012 when Amsterdam RAI was named ‘Best International Venue’ by leading trade magazine Exhibition World. In this category the RAI faced stiff competition from renowned conference centres in Cape Town, Singapore, Rio de Janeiro and Abu Dhabi, making the achievement all the more impressive.
Expectations
So far 2012 is going well. All the large RAI-organised events (Horecava, Huishoudbeurs) and third party events (IS Europe) have booked positive results, and the BedrijfsautoRAI, which returned in a revitalised form after a five year hiatus, also met expectations. With the regular events and one-off international conferences in the field of gastroenterology, haematology and Microsoft’s TechEd in the planning, Amsterdam RAI expects a higher turnover and net profit in 2012 compared to the previous year.
In film:
– RAI CEO Hans Bakker on the 2011 annual figures; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plLYpOjCE0U
– RAI CEO Hans Bakker on the future of the RAI; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi0LCXS0d7o
