By forging a progressive partnership comprising the international industry, Fira de Barcelona, as well as public and private stakeholders in Barcelona, Catalonia and Spain, we have a huge opportunity to create an important legacy for the future. From January 2025, Fira de Barcelona will be the epicenter for the international ICE and iGB Affiliate communities in a city which is rich in culture and which exudes a spirit of innovation. Updating stakeholders on both relocation plans is well underway. Can you please provide insights into how the key messages and strategies have been received thus far? The response has been extremely positive. Once again, it’s important to emphasize that the decision to adopt Barcelona as the new home for both iGB Affiliate and ICE was taken in partnership with the industry. The Advisory Board of exhibitors that we put together was pivotal to the process. Members of the Advisory Board have participated in two orientation events that we have organized in partnership with Fira de Barcelona and the Barcelona Convention Bureau. The events have included guided tours of the 240,000-square-meter venue in partnership with the Fira de Barcelona team, an insight to the facilities that are available, explanations of how exhibitors participating in similar Tier 1 international events have represented their brands at the venue, as well as a detailed breakdown of the vast array of opportunities offered by Barcelona’s world-class hospitality infrastructure including restaurants, entertainment venues and hotels. I think the overriding impressions left with the Advisory Board members who have experienced Fira de Barcelona and been party to the tours and presentations is that the possibilities are endless. We are also in the planning stages to host an additional orientation event for the entire ICE and iGB Affiliate exhibitor base in March next year. This will provide all participants with the opportunity to get familiar with the event space and operational capabilities to support their planning for 2025. A virtual tour is also in production for release in the New Year, to further support the transition process. Given your expertise in strategy and growth delivery, how do you envision the relocation to Barcelona aligning with Clarion Gaming’s overall strategic goals? How will it enhance the value proposition for participants and attract a diverse range of stakeholders to ICE in 2025? The key point that I would like to make is that everything that we do as an event organizer is undertaken in partnership with our customers and delivered in order to help them meet their business and their broader strategic objectives. I don’t wish to sound overly simplistic, but our strategic goals are exactly that - to continue to meet their needs. The method by which we achieve that core objective is by always working together, always collaborating and always sharing ideas, concepts and visions. There are some specific wins that have been impacted by Barcelona. For example, the news has been well received in Latin America for a number of different cultural and human reasons, which means that we will be able to build visitation from what is an important strategic region for many of our exhibitors. Also, the mainland Europe location will enhance further the number of visitors from the continent not least those from Spain which has a significant street gaming sector. Fira de Barcelona opens up an unbelievable vista of opportunities for both ICE and iGB Affiliate. As a team we can’t wait to start realizing our vision for the next chapters in the growth of both shows. Looking back on the 12-year run in London, please reflect on what this city and venue have meant to the events? How have they contributed to the overall experience for participants and stakeholders? We’ve gone on the record to thank the team at ExCeL London for their support over the past 12 years. ExCeL London provided an environment in which both ICE and iGB Affiliate were able to develop, meet the business needs of their stakeholders and grow in status as two of the most important live events in their respective sectors. We remain committed to ExCeL London as a great destination and are looking forward to bringing iGB L!VE to London in July 2025 to continue this legacy and provide the perfect backdrop for this fast-growing event’s future in London, which is a key iGaming territory. It’s important to emphasize that the decision to adopt Barcelona as the new home for both iGB Affiliate and ICE was taken in partnership with the industry. The Advisory Board of exhibitors that we put together was pivotal to the process. 49 GPWAtimes.org
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