- 37,071 visitors from 170 countries converged in Amsterdam to network, learn and collaborate face-to-face once again
- 250-plus world-class speakers addressed bustling theatres and halls
- Industry-leading line-up of over 1,000 exhibitors showcased innovation and cutting-edge tech
IBC's first live and in-person show in nearly three years attracted 37,071 visitors from 170 countries to RAI Amsterdam on 9th-12th September to see over 1,000 exhibitors and to celebrate innovation, learning and collaboration. IBC2022’s return as a face-to-face show after two years of going virtual was characterised by packed halls, standing room only in theatres, bustling networking events, and crammed meeting schedules.
“It was great to see, feel and hear the buzz of a live IBC once more,” said Michael Crimp, IBC’s Chief Executive Officer. “The quality of visitors has been outstanding and there was a real sense of positivity. We are stronger together.” “We were tremendously excited to have IBC back live in Amsterdam after an absence of two years,” says Paul Riemens, Chief Executive Officer of RAI Amsterdam. “It is fantastic to have world-class live events such as IBC2022 thriving and engaging the world at the RAI as well as in our city once again".
IBC2022 has a major impact on the city still recovering from the COVID pandemic, bolstering employment in the Amsterdam hospitality sector. According to figures sourced by the RAI, for every €1 spent at the exhibition and conference centre during IBC, another €7 is spent elsewhere in Amsterdam on hotel accommodations, restaurants, bars, taxis, museums, shops and other visitor-related services. The event is the city’s largest annual exhibition.
Crimp concludes: “ The entire IBC community has been itching to come back together and do business face-to-face in the city. We have seen huge advances in our industry since we were last at the RAI, and the enthusiasm we have seen for the return of IBC makes clear that there is no substitute for in-person business engagement on the scale that we can deliver live in Amsterdam.”
Many exhibitors and speakers voiced their enthusiasm for the return of the live and in-person show, with many being interviewed on camera for the IBC video channel here.