Big interview
Sky the only limit for the RAI
RAI AMSTERDAM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER MAURITS VAN DER SLUIS IS ENJOYING GETTING BACK
TO BUSINESS, WITH THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT REMOVING VENUE RESTRICTIONS ON DELEGATE
NUMBERS FROM 1 JULY. HE URGES OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO FOLLOW SUIT
RAI Amsterdam is one of first
European venues to reopen and host
events without having to restrict visitor
number beyond the normal capacity.
The move, on 1 July, followed a further
relaxation of coronavirus measures by
the Dutch government.
The convention centre had already
ensured that its complex is
Covid-secure and able to function fully
in line with all health and safety
guidelines.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic in
March, the RAI has worked hard to
adapt all its facilities and protocols to
enable events to be held in a safe
manner as soon as government
regulations allowed.
Practical examples include wider
aisles, placing floor markings in
places where queues may form,
making hand sanitiser available in all
areas and increasing the number of
registration points.
Management says that the variety of
modes of transport to and from the
centre also means that the rules
regarding crowd management and
social distancing can be properly
monitored. Clear extra signage at key
points en route to the venue’s entrances
is also in place.
RAI Amsterdam chief operating
officer Maurits van der Sluis is relieved
that the RAI can now reopen its doors
and tells CMW: “We are pleased with
the relaxation of rules…and ready to
organise and facilitate events in a safe
and responsible manner while ensuring
visitors receive a hospitable welcome. I
am also delighted that we will again be
opening our doors to the renowned
international congress Money 20/20 in
September.”
Money 20/20 Europe , organised by
Ascential Group, is an international
“We are
pleased with
the relaxation
of rules…
and ready
to organise
and facilitate
events in
a safe and
responsible
manner while
ensuring
visitors
receive a
hospitable
welcome”
Left: RAI
Amsterdam
B2B convention which brings together
the entire payments, FinTech and
financial services sector.
Running 22-24 September, the tried
and trusted event concept will be
adapted, but visitors will still be able to
come into contact with a wide range of
decision-makers and influencers, albeit
at a safe distance that takes into account
the latest guidelines.
Also on the RAI’s agenda for this
autumn are various major international
exhibitions from its own portfolio,
including Interclean Amsterdam, the
tradeshow for cleaning professionals
(3-6 November) and METSTRADE
(17-19 November), the world’s largest
B2B platform for the leisure marine
industry.
Third party events PLMA’s annual
international ‘World of Private Label’
show and the medical conference EAGE
(8-11 December), the world’s largest
multi-disciplinary geoscience and
engineering event are also taking place
on their new December dates.
A ‘RAI Amsterdam - Safe,
responsible and hospitable’ protocol
explains the rules and guidelines for
organising trade exhibitions,
conferences, shows and meetings in the
RAI complex.
With 125 years of experience
organising and facilitating events, and
the associated security and crowd
management, the RAI has built up a
strong reputation and welcomes an
average of 1.5m visitors a year to
around 500 events.
CMW asked COO Maurits van der
Sluis about these past few months of
lockdown and how his team had been
coping during this crisis period?
18 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 107