Case Study
Amsterdam sets the show floor pulse racing for Europe ’ s largest medical conference
ESC 2023 brought 23,000 cardiologists and researchers on site in Amsterdam for the association ’ s annual congress at the end of August . Paul Colston was invited behind the scenes to give the show a health check
fter a ten-year hiatus ,
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Amsterdam was once again the stage for Europe ’ s largest medical conference : the European Society of Cardiology ( ESC ).
ESC Congress 2023 , brought together cardiologists and researchers who discussed , among other things , creating the future of cardiology . From 25-28 August , RAI Amsterdam hosted over 23,000 onsite attendees ( compared to 20,000 for ESC in Barcelona in 2022 ) and a further 5,000 online ( 10,000 in 2022 ).
The ESC Congress is also the largest event covering cardiovascular issues in the world and this year ’ s conference spotlight was on heart failure .
Heart failure is relevant to all areas of cardiology and beyond , including obesity , diabetes and chronic kidney disease , which is why it makes it such a relevant subject for ESC .
The Amsterdam metropolis proved an ideal location to host the event not least because so many world-leading life sciences companies are based there , as well as four world leading research centres .
Dennis Speet , director Amsterdam Convention Bureau , said he was
“ proud ” to welcome the ESC ’ s scientists , clinicians , nurses and allied professionals working in all fields of cardiology . “ These specialists contribute to the knowledge in the Amsterdam Metropole and the Netherlands , overcoming the challenges of the future ,” he said .
Maurits van der Sluis , COO at the venue , added : “ This is such an important event for the Life Sciences & Health industry , connecting so many professionals that face the enormous challenge of tackling cardiovascular disease . We hope that the many connections and sharing of information broke new ground for the industry .”
Leading scientists gave more than 800 scientific sessions , plenary lectures and seminars on the latest research and clinical trials during the ESC Congress 2023 and the 3,752 abstracts accepted from 90 countries covered more than 100 cardiovascular issues .
Conference supervisor for ESC , Eva Satge described the annual Congress as the “ gold standard of conferences ”. ESC had been due to run at the RAI back in 2020 but
“ Fifty cardiologists came from Switzerland by bike . They cycled to Barcelona last year and aim to head to London by bike next year .” those plans were thwarted by Covid .
“ Much has changed ,” Satge said , “ but our relationship [ with the RAI ] hasn ’ t . We achieved a lot together .” She picked out Amsterdam ’ s sustainability credentials as being particularly attractive for organisers , including the special bike hire system , brokered by the city ’ s convention bureau , available for delegates . “ ESC looks for supplier partners ,” she added , “ because the issues involved are complex .” And , indeed , the banks of bright yellow bikes parked up outside the congress halls testified to the popularity and take up among delegates .
Some 50 cardiologists , Satge noted , had come to Amsterdam by bike , all the way from Switzerland . They had cycled the journey in Barcelona last year and aim to head to London by bike next year , too .
Some delegates from Stockholm had even hired a train to make their journey a little greener .
Delegates are always interested in what is new at their annual Congress and , in terms of new initiatives at ESC 2023 , Satge highlighted the TV studio built at the show this year , with full technical support supplied by contractor partners ACS . This media hub , she described as “ a big achievement ”.
There was also a digital health stage and a separate area for startups to exhibit in .
There were no paper posters this year , just e-versions reflecting 10 main conference topics .
In all , 3,000 people spoke at the conference sessions and there were plenty of opportunities for networking .
“ The beauty of the return of inperson is that it is something we can upsell ,” Satge added . And she had praise for the destination , saying Amsterdam is a “ human-sized city . Delegates are very visible here ”. She
52 Issue 5 2023 www . exhibitionworld . co . uk