While the double blow of travel disruption due to Storm Ciara and fears surrounding the coronavirus meant this wasn't the ending the Amsterdam trade show organizers would have wished for, there was still an understandable sense of accomplishment as MD ISE Mike Blackman joined CEDIA CEO Tabatha O'Connor and AVIXA CEO David Labuskes to look back on the event's remarkable journey.

"They say great oak trees grow from small acorns... Well, the first exhibition took place in Geneva in 2004 with 120 exhibitors and only 2,800 square meters." Even then, before the show moved to Amsterdam, "we knew we had launched something with enormous potential, and it struck a chord." Over the years, we have grown into the world's largest AV and systems integration trade show.".

Echoing Blackman, Labuskes paid tribute to the collaborative spirit of RAI and the city of Amsterdam, highlighting their "incredible hospitality and the value of the event itself, and the community that the program creates and strengthens in celebration. Nothing has changed each year, except that the celebrations have grown bigger, the learning has grown, and the hospitality has become warmer.".

There was also news of a lasting legacy in Amsterdam, with ISE set to collaborate with other industry members to equip an MDU that will house families of patients at the city's Emma Children's Hospital.

Appropriately, ¡Hola Barcelona! also looked ahead to the event's future home with contributions from various regional government and business representatives.

Since ISE already has a dedicated office up and running in Barcelona, ​​attention will now turn to the first show in the city, which will take place from February 2-5, 2021.