. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The COVID-19 crisis and RAI Amsterdam

With a nearly full event calendar, 2020 initially promised to be an exceptional year for RAI Amsterdam. The fast spread of the COVID-19 virus swiftly disrupted this prospect. Taking our international visitors into account we started taking measures to protect all stakeholders against the virus as early as January – well before the first cases were detected in the Netherlands. This allowed us to safely and responsibly organise and facilitate a number of large events in the first months of the year. Until Thursday 12 March, that was, the day when the Dutch government unveiled measures to combat the further spread of COVID-19. All events in the Netherlands were cancelled for the foreseeable future.

Although major exhibitions and conferences were unable to proceed from March 12, we were far from shut down entirely during 2020. June saw various spaces in the RAI taken into use for COVID testing by the municipal health service GGD. Initially this was only available to residents of Amsterdam and the Amstelland region who were tested from their cars, bicycles or on foot by appointment. Later anyone who wanted to get tested could make an appointment with the GGD.

The GGD counted on our support to ensure that the organisation related to the testing facilities and rapid tests ran smoothly. Our efforts were noticed by the Mayor of Amsterdam Femke Halsema, who expressed her appreciation when she visited the venue on 30 September 2020: "I want to particularly thank the RAI for being so creative despite its own uncertain future and many redundancies.”

Approximately 400,000 people were tested for COVID at the RAI, an average of over 1,900 tests a day since the testing facilities were opened. On 11 January 2021 the GGD also started vaccinating healthcare employees in the RAI.

RAI open for municipal health service tests and vaccination

preparations

We were also open to other valuable social initiatives during the year. These included the RAI being used as a classroom, as a parking location for educational staff, as a gym for students and as a logistic hub for packing food parcels for vulnerable Amsterdam residents. Moreover, our employees contributed their expertise, time and network to society in various ways while any leftover provisions from our kitchens were provided to initiatives that needed them most.

Approximately 400,000 people were tested for COVID-19 at the RAI in 2020

Four-track policy

ready for fast reopening of the RAI In April we formulated a four-track policy to come through the crisis and reinforce the organisation against its effects. The policy is focused on (1) the fast reopening of the RAI when events are once again possible and the market is ready, (2) the accelerated development of new revenue models, (3) securing financial continuity, and (4) the further modernisation of the venue into an attractive multifunctional location.

In cooperation with trade associations and partners in the sector, we worked on a safety protocol to enable events in a time of COVID-19. The protocol was confirmed by the Dutch government, and the related regulations and guidelines were translated into roadmaps for events in the RAI with broad measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all stakeholders. Under the umbrella of ‘RAI Amsterdam – safe, responsible and hospitable’ we took measures and shared future options with clients, suppliers and other stakeholders.

The Dutch Minister of Justice & Security, Ferdinand Grapperhaus visited the RAI on 3 July 2020 to learn about the new measures. "I am very impressed by the smart ways in which the RAI has set up its halls and spaces within the current social distancing society,” he said. “They enable people to come together at events in a safe way.”

The protocols were updated throughout the year based on the latest information about the spread of the virus and the measures implemented and/or imposed by the Dutch government. Combined with these updates, we made the necessary adaptations; from our cleaning policy and fixed routing

accelerated development of new revenue models

securing financial continuity to enhancing the ventilation systems based on the latest guidelines from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). Our policy did not go unnoticed and was one of the reasons why the RAI was nominated for Best Venue Event Safety Plan by Exhibition News.

We are also an active partner of Fieldlab Events. Fieldlab was established to develop validated building blocks as burden of proof for the accelerated return of full event operations in co-creation with companies, government bodies, science, interest groups and the general public. Since the start of 2021, there have been test events at various events in the Netherlands under the umbrella of 'Back to Live!'. These range from business meetings to festivals and football matches.

Within the framework of the government measures, the RAI started developing various ‘COVIDproof’ concepts, four of which were launched last year. For small-scale events such as business meetings we developed ‘all-in packages’ that allowed a select number of participants to come together and use our facilities.

Safe meetings for up to 1,175 individuals were realised via the 'The stage is yours!' plug & play concept. This modern, attractive concept includes a ready-made set-up that is ideal for corporate events, conferences and live entertainment. The concept was launched in August 2020 and enthusiastically welcomed by our (potential) clients. Due to stricter measures being implemented right after the launch, 'The stage is yours!' has yet to be taken into use.

In mid-October, we provided the space for a COVID-proof hospitality setup on the square in front of the venue. The so-called wheel-of-flavours (Smakenrad) a 50-metre high ferris wheel with 27 heated gondolas offered the public a unique experience: safe dining in a gondola with panoramic views over the city of Amsterdam. The Smakenrad was only open for two days: on the night after opening, a measure was implemented that ordered all hospitality venues to close their doors the next day.

We accelerated the development of an online portfolio 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. Although our own titles played a crucial role in this development, we also worked closely with other event organisers.

All our trade exhibitions were active online through the organisation of webinars for the related communities. In collaboration with ACS audio-visual solutions, we built two complete professional studios in the venue from where we could air online seminars and conferences. The studios accommodated virtual editions of Greentech, Interclean and Amsterdam Drone Week and an additional studio was added soon after.

The main source of income for the RAI disappeared after our core activities were suspended by the government. Compensation schemes from the Dutch government were implemented for affected companies. In 2020 we made use of the NOW and GO-C schemes to cover part of the wage costs.

modernising the venue into an attractive multifunctional

location A cost-savings programme, partly initiated by employees from all layers of the organisation, was started in April 2020. This resulted in over 160 proposals for saving costs in the short and medium term, of which approximately half were realised throughout the year.

Due to concerns about whether any events would be taking place over the course of 2020, we started to perform cashflow-based management, although this alone would prove insufficient for the long term. In collaboration with the works council, research was carried out into the effects of a reorganisation on the future perspective of RAI Amsterdam. The decision to implement this reorganisation was made with approval from the works council on 7 August 2020 and led to a reduction of 154.1 FTEs in accordance with the budget.

In December 2020 we agreed to additional financing for a total of € 20 million with our house banks. This financing has a term of three years and is based on the Corporate Financing Guarantee (GO-C financing). This GO-C scheme is a facility in which the state guarantees 80%. Clarification is provided in the consolidated balance sheet as on 31 December 2020, under 'longterm loans.

Discussions with the City of Amsterdam about the modernisation of our venue into an attractive multifunctional location were boosted in 2020. The lack of exhibition and conference visitors was clearly noticeable in the city, especially for hospitality businesses, public transport and cultural institutions. The economic and social value of a convention centre at our location was therefore more tangible than ever.

We aim to be a place where the world meets Amsterdam and vice versa. A sustainable location, connected to the city and its surroundings. We have plans to improve our links to the city while simultaneously making our logistical processes more sustainable. These include improving the look & feel on and around Europaplein by generating a public, urban character with lots of green spaces.