2021, the COVID crisis continued

With the introduction of the rst vaccinations against COVID-19, 2021 promised to be the year in which the Netherlands would return to ‘normal’. It was expected that the vaccination process would be a lengthy one in which infection rates and hospital admissions in the Netherlands would slowly decline This proved to be correct and led to a reduction in the various protection measures By the summer of 2021 the results were so positive that the government decided to open the door to events under certain conditions.

Six months of physical meetings in the RAI had been lost at this point, although RAI employees were kept very busy during this period. The rst half of the year revolved around intensive client contact, meetings with municipal bodies, the development and implementation of COVID-proof concepts, supporting the municipal health service (GGD) and social initiatives, and preparations for the reopening of RAI Amsterdam This report illustrates how many of these activities made a positive contribution to enabling events to take place in the Netherlands as a whole under certain conditions

The start of the (corporate) event season and reopening of Amsterdam as a conference destination took place in August during a press meeting in the RAI in the presence of the Mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, alderman Victor Everhardt and the President of Money20/20, Tracey Davies This marked the end of a long period – 18 months – without international corporate exhibitions and conferences in the Netherlands

With a large number of postponed events in the autumn, we were preparing for the busiest months in our long existence A huge catch-up programme of physical meetings was underway until December when the new Omicron variant caused the year to end as it had started, with a complete halt to events.

We are ready to receive, organise and facilitate international events in the city and the RAI Visiting Amsterdam is completely safe and I have the utmost condence in our partners, including the hotels, Schiphol Airport and RAI Amsterdam. They all have their protocols fully in order.

Femke Halsema, Mayor of Amsterdam, 26 August 2021

The road to reopening events in the Netherlands

As in 2020, the doors of the RAI were open to visitors to the municipal health service throughout 2021 as we oered the GGD our support in the management and organisation of testing and vaccination The vaccination facilities opened in mid-January 2021 for people who were eligible and alderman Simone Kukenheim (Health Care) expressed her appreciation for the cooperation of RAI Amsterdam at the time

By the end of 2021 the process had to be upscaled to enable the desired number of booster vaccinations With a capacity of 17,000 shots a day, RAI Amsterdam became an XXL location for GGD and the largest vaccination venue in the Netherlands

The RAI has played an important role in the rapid upscaling of the number of COVID tests and is now facilitating the vaccination process Moreover, it has all the facilities the municipal health service requires and I’m pleased the city has such an excellent partner.

Simone Kukenheim, Amsterdam alderman responsible for Care, Youth, Vocational Education and Training, and Sport, 11 January 2021

We were also open to other valuable social initiatives during the year. These included the RAI being used as a classroom and exam location, as a parking location for educational sta, as a gym for students and as a logistic hub for packing food parcels for vulnerable Amsterdam residents In addition, the RAI was used as safe location for local residents to vote in the national elections.

In the period we opened our door to events, we also set up donation rooms – a project which was successful in 2019 and 2020 and provided various social organisation with materials and food products. Moreover, our employees contributed their expertise, time and network to society in various ways while any leftover provisions from our kitchens were provided to the initiatives that needed them most

Further development of four-track policy

The RAI’s four-track policy formulated in April 2020 to come through the crisis was further developed in 2021 The policy was focused on (1) the fast reopening of the RAI, (2) the accelerated development of new revenue models, (3) securing nancial continuity and (4) the further modernisation of the venue into an attractive multifunctional location

Fieldlab events: Back to Live

In cooperation with trade associations and partners in the event sector, the RAI provided key insights to the national government regarding the holding of events in times of COVID Of particular value was the fast provision of ways in which events could take place safely and responsibly. As such, the RAI was an active partner to Fieldlab Events, which was established to develop validated building blocks as proof for the accelerated return to a full opening of events The experiments took place in co-creation with companies, government bodies, scientists, interest groups and the general public. Under the title 'Back to Live!' various test events took place in locations in the Netherlands in the rst half of 2021, ranging from corporate meetings to festivals and football matches.

The Stage is Yours!

Under the title ‘The Stage is Yours!’, the RAI developed a COVID-proof concept that would allow sectors such as the event industry, arts & culture and hospitality to open to the public quickly and safely in a responsible way The concept provided space to 800 conference visitors, 1,175 visitors in a (duo)theatre setup and 300 guests at round dining tables.

Alderman Victor Everhardt reviewed the concept and commended the RAI for working on solutions that were applicable in times of COVID “So much more is possible in these times – for instance by using smart technology or applying this superb initiative from the RAI Let us use the insights and concepts of the businesses in this city to adjust the roadmap in collaboration with the national government It is essential that Amsterdam residents once again have the opportunity to get together, and businesses need future perspectives. While the national government determines the pace, we can try and nd even smarter solutions locally ”

Shortly before larger events became possible again, the concept was used for various smaller conferences As the hall accommodating the concept was booked for September we also had to disassemble it again in the summer

So much more is possible in these times by using smart technology and applying this superb initiative from the RAI.

Victor Everhardt, alderman for Finance, Economic Aairs, Airport and Harbour, Municipal holdings, and Zuidas, on the 'The Stage is Yours!’ concept

Virtual and blended events

We accelerated the development of an online portfolio back in 2020 – on the one hand to support our titles and the related communities at a time when events were impossible, on the other to organise and facilitate independent virtual events and combinations of physical and virtual events (blended events) Although our own titles played a crucial role in this development, we also worked closely with other event organisers.

State-of-the-art studios

All our trade exhibitions were active online in 2021 in the form of webinars for the related communities. We built three complete professional studios in RAI Amsterdam from where we could air online seminars and conferences The studios accommodated virtual editions of Aquatech, Horecava and Intertrac, while Provada, Greentech and Metstrade integrated virtual aspects in their physical events and used them for live shows from the exhibition oor and other elements via a virtual platform focused on meeting and sharing knowledge.

Continued development of COVID protocol and access policy for safe, responsible and hospitable events

In 2021 the COVID protocols of RAI Amsterdam were updated based on new information about the spread of the virus and protective measures implemented and/or mandated by the Dutch government From the cleaning policy and xed routing to enrichment of the ventilation systems, all necessary changes were made based on government guidelines

The implementation of an EU Digital Covid Certicate, or COVID access pass, led to a new access policy being established for events This gave visitors clarity about which regulations applied when visiting the RAI

Focus on nancial continuity

As was the case in 2020, the main source of income for the RAI largely disappeared after our core activities were suspended by the government Compensation schemes from the Dutch government were implemented for aected companies and we also made use of these in 2021 to cover part of the wage costs

A ourishing RAI in a ourishing environment

Behind the scenes the RAI also continued to work on our spatial future vision in 2021. This plan is not strictly outlined and is being further developed by the RAI together with various government bodies. A number of starting points and scenarios were formulated and submitted to the city council in October 2021 The scenario that the RAI and the council will be working towards will reduce trac pressure on the surrounding neighbourhoods, enhance the accessibility and user options of the RAI, and improve the residential and living climate via public and social facilities. The plan will be further developed based on this scenario and discussed with various stakeholders

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For organisers and exhibitors

With the continued restrictions on physical events in the rst half of 2021, this period again largely focused on intensive client contact Major developments in the Netherlands regarding the measures for events along with developments in RAI Amsterdam were actively communicated in due time to organisers and exhibitors, giving them a good insight into possible consequences for events.

This type of client contact continued during the second half of the year. Multi-day corporate events were once again allowed from September 2021, albeit under various government conditions These rules were regularly adapted based on the developments in the Netherlands This also applied to the conditions for travel to the Netherlands, which aected our international exhibitors and visitors

RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre facilities

The following table shows the facilities we oer

RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre facilities

Properties

Total surface area

Conference centres

Halls

Rooms

Foyers and lounges

Entrances

Restaurants and bars

Parking garages

Facilities

116,600 m²

3 interlinked conference locations

12 interconnected halls, expandable with two semi-permanent halls

2 auditoriums, one large ballroom with 2,000 seats A total of 70 conference and meeting rooms Accommodation for 10 to 10,000 people per room

Multifunctional space for exhibitions, parties and celebrations

9 separate entrances: own entrance for each event

9 restaurants, bars and lounges. From buet to à la carte

Capacity for 4,000 spaces on the premises

Marina Own marina directly connected to the Amsterdam canals

Train station

Called Amsterdam RAI, right next to the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre

Two metro stations Amsterdam RAI Station connects to the metro line that forms a circle around the city The new Europaplein metro station is situated just 50 m from the entrance to the RAI and connects the RAI to the city centre

Hotel (nhow) On-site congress hotel with 650 rooms and 200 parking spaces

Organiser Services

Maximum results for clients

RAI Amsterdam oers know-how and a wide range of services to ensure that organisers’ events run as smoothly as possible From virtual representations of the exhibition oor to hotel services for the visitors, our specialists provide organisers with advice and support on every aspect Expertise and networking are deployed to ensure that the opportunities provided by the Netherlands, the city of Amsterdam and RAI Amsterdam as a convention centre are used to the max on behalf of the success of the event We also oer solutions in the eld of IT, registration, logistics, audio-visual and media Our sta work closely with clients to look at ways to achieve the highest possible return on investment. The experience our employees gain during the events we organise ourselves are often developed into a proposition for clients.

Safe, responsible and hospitable

We had extensive contacts with organisers during 2021, supporting and assisting them with the necessary COVIDrelated safety precautions and working together on postponing any events that were unable to go ahead due to government measures in the Netherlands. These close contacts meant that only a minimal number of events were cancelled altogether with most being postponed to the second half of 2021 and beyond

The ‘RAI Amsterdam – Safe, Responsible and Hospitable’ protocol developed in 2020 presents our regulations and guidelines for anyone involved in the organisation of (trade) exhibitions, conferences, stage shows and meetings It describes a detailed description of how events can take place in a safe and responsible way in the framework of COVID-19. The realisation of the protocol involved a wide range of activities which were also carried out in 2021, such as: reviewing maps and oor plans making aisles COVID-proof implementing hygiene measures establishing and realising a supervision plan setting up a people counting system making the registration of visitors COVID-proof researching temperature tests and rapid testing options enhancing the ventilation systems making the standardised F&B range COVID-proof reviewing payment methods for catering points and parking garages (etc )

Our COVID-19 protocol is based on the protocol that was co-created with the event industry and conrmed by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Aairs and Climate Policy. The Ministry issued a statement which underlines that the starting points in this document were a solid basis for business meetings

Three days together in RAI Amsterdam represents a time investment equivalent to some three months of meetings outside of the RAI. This says a great deal about the value of live events. In addition, the coincidental meetings that take place here are invaluable. You never know in advance who you haven’t (yet) met and who you will meet during the event.

Money20/20 president Tracey Davies on the value of live events -26 August 2021

Money20/20 - 21-23 September 2021

Europe’s largest ntech trade exhibition, Money20/20 Europe, took place in RAI Amsterdam in September. It oered visitors from 73 countries a three-day platform lled with conversations, premium content, sales and connections related to the global money ecosystem In addition to being updated on the latest business developments, visitors also had the opportunity to determine the future of ntech together

Money20/20 was the rst multi-day international trade exhibition in the RAI since the global outbreak of COVID-19. The reopening of Amsterdam as a conference destination generated a lot of interest in the event. The Mayor of Amsterdam Femke Halsema, alderman Victor Everhardt and the president of Money20/20

Tracey Davies underlined the importance of corporate events like Money 20/20 to the related community and the Amsterdam Metropolitan Region in a press conference.

Virtual tour makes life easier for organisers

Travel restrictions and COVID measures made it dicult to visit our venue in 2021, especially for organisers based abroad The RAI Virtual Tour gives organisers the chance see around our venue and decide whether it meets their event requirements. All 178 spaces are digitised and there are hundreds of 360-degree images, photos, factsheets and summaries about dimensions and facilities which present these spaces in a variety of setups The result is a complete 360-degree overview and interactive 3D map of the entire venue Our customer journey surveys show a considerable demand for an online guide that easily shows people through the RAI. For this reason, we have also made the application available to exhibitors and visitors so they can prepare for their event participation or visit.

Virtual meetings and knowledge sessions anchor connections

Due to the lack of options to meet physically, various virtual meetings and knowledge sessions were organised, especially in the rst half of 2021 All RAI titles held online events to maintain contact with their related communities and connect participants. Visitors interacted via a virtual platform and attended various events organised by companies and prominent speakers from the related sectors

We used three complete studios for various meetings In the rst half of 2021, Aquatech, Horecava and Intertrac used them for knowledge sessions and talk shows to connect with their audience Under the title RAI Talks, the RAI itself also organised a knowledge session for organisers and exhibitors, focused on the then applicable measures and their eect on organising events in the Netherlands. In the second half of 2021 Provada, Greentech and Metstrade integrated this concept into their physical events to create a blended event Live sessions were aired from the exhibition show via a virtual platform aimed at meeting and sharing knowledge

METSTRADE 2021 - 16-18 November 2021

METSTRADE 2021 took place in November just before the new COVID measures were introduced which stopped trade exhibitions and conferences from taking place METSTRADE is the world’s largest trade exhibition for marine equipment, materials and systems and is held in RAI Amsterdam every year Although somewhat overshadowed by the announced measures, the event welcomed a tremendous number of visitors and exhibitors. During the three-day event, some 3,477 exhibitors met with 8,459 unique visitors from 63 countries to share knowledge and expertise and do business

A unique aspect of the November event was the combination of physical and virtual elements A professional TV studio at a central location on the exhibition oor hosted METSTRADE TV via a new virtual platform called METSTRADE Connect, built to connect professionals in the marine sector. The METSTRADE Connect platform, also available via an app, provides matchmaking tools and relevant information for the industry. The video below is a review from METSTRADE TV

Exhibitor Services

Webshop for exhibitors oers 'stay safe' catering range

RAI Amsterdam Exhibitor Services supports exhibitors in their preparations to make their event participation a success. Exhibitors can order products and services for stands via a special webshop, including uniform stand constructions, host services, furniture, catering, owers & plants, telecommunication & ICT facilities, parking tickets and stand cleaning Contracts are in place with preferred suppliers for uniform stands, and the webshop oers a range of sustainable choices and alternatives.

In 2021, the exhibitor webshop enriched further with products and services to guarantee the safety and welfare of participants and visitors In view of COVID, it was expanded with a 'stay safe' catering range in which certain products were provided with extra packaging options The range was successfully deployed at various events in the second half of 2021.

Further development of modular standbuilding packages

Standbuilding packages for exhibitors were optimised further and we worked on an option package for modular stands In 2021, four major exhibition titles agreed to a partnership for which the RAI provided the modular standbuilding and features We also developed various standbuilding packages for Intertrac 2022

RAI Amsterdam is committed to increasing the use of modular stands, while continuing to provide custom solutions Oering this ourselves creates an extra source of income and makes a major step in increasing the sustainability of standbuilding in the RAI Smart choices are made in the materials applied and the number of logistical movements is limited The use of modular stands also provides signicant cost savings to organisers and exhibitors We will continue to increase the use of modular standbuilding and meet with various organisers to discuss the subject in 2022.

COVID protocol for exhibitors developed and applied

In addition to our COVID protocol for the safe organisation of events, we also developed a specic protocol for exhibitors This protocol is a supplement to the previously developed protocol and describes how exhibitors can safely and responsibly participate in events. In addition to regulations, it also includes guidelines for stand build-up and breakdown, stand setup and cleaning

Integrated safety approach

RAI Amsterdam ensures a safe and hospitable visiting and working environment We understand the importance of eliminating dangers, minimising risks and maintaining a safe place to visit and work In addition to issues related to COVID, 2021 was also focused on various other safety aspects. Cybercrime, fraud and terrorism have become increasingly complex in recent years Companies cannot resolve these threats alone so a combined and integrated approach is required

The integrated safety policy of RAI Amsterdam contributes to our ambition to organise and facilitate meaningful meetings. It is aimed at creating and ensuring a safe environment, and protecting our property and that of our sta, visitors and clients from (physical and digital) accidents, theft and damage in accordance with all the relevant legal and statutory provisions These goals were further developed based on a dynamic and integrated safety management system that ensures the demonstrability of the measures In this framework we’ve made agreements with the police, emergency services and control room, the district council, companies in the Zuidas district, public transport bodies and advisors to the Mayor of Amsterdam The integrated safety policy is categorised as follows:

Occupational health & safety

Building security

Event security ICT/Cyber

ICT/Cyber security

How we guarantee safety outside of and around the build-up and breakdown of events is described in the ‘Safe working conditions’ policy statement and the Safety at Work handbook The latter addresses the company emergency plan, the use of modes of transportation, tools for personal protection, standbuilding, working at heights, the use of hazardous substances and the environment, enforcement, and a procedure for activities on the RAI premises to prevent exposure to asbestos.

> Safety at Work handbook

The safety regulations for the build-up and breakdown of events were extended in 2020 with regulations to prevent contamination with and the spread of the COVID-19 virus They involve issues such as pre-registration, presenting a COVID pass, presenting health statements, social distancing and frequently disinfecting hands We also recommended wearing a mask during the build-up and breakdown of events in some cases when this was desired by the government

For visitors

Despite the limited number of physical events in 2021, RAI Amsterdam received many visitors throughout the year. This included the 1.14 million people who came to our premises as a testing and vaccination location for the municipal health service In addition, we brought many visitors together in the virtual world via digital platforms, enabling them to meet and attend various virtual meetings, organised by businesses and featuring prominent speakers from the relevant industries.

The physical events that took place from August were still subject to compulsory government regulations regarding event size and visitor numbers. This was not the case for events organised abroad.

Visitor Services

RAI Amsterdam oers services to visitors to optimise their experience. We can arrange hotel accommodation and transport, parking, a courtesy lounge (help desk, work and meeting places, etc ) and visitor catering

Food & beverage

The delivery of food & beverages is an important component of every event. We organise this independently or together with external specialists, supervising the quality and realisation in all cases

Various restaurants and catering points and many catering options on the exhibition oor ensure a comfortable stay Our culinary team is ambitious and innovative and driven to work in a locally and socially responsible way This is expressed in a new catering range which was launched in mid-2021. Under the name 'Discover the Taste of Amsterdam' we provide organisers with an insight into the extensive range and options we can oer their visitors, with products that often come from local and regional partners

Seven restaurants, two run by third parties

Our Convention Centre has ve restaurants: the Grand Café, First Floor Restaurant, Holland Restaurant, Café Amsterdam and the Amtrium restaurant, all opened as required when events or conferences are taking place There are another two restaurants which are operated by third parties: Strandzuid and The Traveller, opened in 2021 In addition to the restaurants, various catering points in each complex are operated during exhibitions and conferences by cafés and eateries such as La Place, Sushi Time, Number 1 Catering, Catering Creators and various other concepts

In 2019, a programme of requirements was established for renovating the Grand Café and First Floor Restaurant, to connect them together and set them up in such a way that they become more accessible to the neighbourhood and city. The realisation of these activities has been postponed indenitely as a result of the COVID crisis.