Event Europe

Aquatech Amsterdam is ON!

Monday, 3 May 2021

The flagship Aquatech Amsterdam show will be back LIVE in Amsterdam this November. Aquatech Global Events reveals a strategic plan to get back to doing valuable, in-person meetings and business in a way that keeps everyone safe.

Optimistic and realistic

RAI Amsterdam is carefully planning for different scenarios and will be deploying a robust and comprehensive protocol to enable a safe and comfortable return to in-person meetings.

The top priority of Aquatech is to offer the best water opportunities and the first international tradeshow in water in 18 months.

Editha Hoogenberg, Director Aquatech Amsterdam and her team recognize there may still be challenges with international travel from some countries this November.

“While we are optimistic about the return of a live show, we are also realistic about the hurdles we need to overcome and are closely tracking the developments that will impact people’s ability and willingness to return to mass gatherings,” she said.

“Aquatech has always been about bringing the industry together and so many people told us how much they have missed live events, not just for the face-to-face conversations, but also those unexpected encounters.”

A survey conducted by Aquatech confirmed that water professionals are ready to come to Amsterdam and meet each other in person this November.

87% intend to visit the show, this includes 41% saying: certainly, looking forward to it! As for the expected situation this November: 93% expects to be vaccinated, 88% expects travel restrictions to be lifted and 91% thinks there is budget to attend tradeshows.

Blended: live and online

To ensure no-one is left out, organisers have blended live and online combining the best of both worlds. Blending offers the possibility to upscale or downscale live and online as the world navigates the complexities of a global pandemic.

“Education and connecting is great for online, on the other hand doing business, spontaneous encounters and building relationships, both existing and new is only possible in a face to face environment,” says Hoogenberg.

“We believe live and online can interact seamlessly, each catering to different needs, each with its own goals. In other words, it is not our intention to organise an online tradeshow. We are all set to deliver a blended (in-person and digital) Aquatech Amsterdam from 2-5 November. Our goal is a trade show with more than 800 exhibitors and over 20,000 visitors same level as the pre-last show.”

The online opportunity

Over the past year, the Aquatech team and RAI as organiser learned how to bring value to the water market with online opportunities, digital tools and RAI even built its own digital studios.

“We have tested, made mistakes, learned and grown at top speed. Fortunately, Aquatech already had an online strategy in place since 2018 and last year we discovered and embraced many extra opportunities,” says Annette Bos, Director Water.

“Now we are excited to combine both for Aquatech Amsterdam and enlarge the value for our partners and exhibitors: ONE event, TWO experiences.’

The blended approach increases opportunities and flexibility. We can put your ambitions centre stage and add focus to quality and value: more opportunities to enlarge your business including those unexpected encounters leading to additional business.

The blended version of Aquatech Amsterdam consists of three parts:

Preshow: Aquatech TV talkshows for “edutainment” and BreakOuts covering the speciality topics and highlights such as the announcement of the Innovation Award finalists. Starting in June.
Show programme: bringing take-aways of speakers and business opportunities for those unable to visit due to Covid19 or budgetary restraints, as well as expanding an important upcoming target group in water, the Young Professionals and students. In the first week of November.
Postshow: continuing the conversation online, extra footage from Aquatech Amsterdam and a chance to revisit and reconnect with friends at the show. Continuing into 2022 including a full throwback programme in January.

Special one-off floorplan

This 2021 edition will feature a layout applicable only to this year’s edition: the floor plan will be adjusted so that the complete event can take place in Halls 1-7. RAI Amsterdam is in high demand as venue location and to accommodate all requests, Aquatech will move to Hall 1-7 profiting from the refurbished and expanded Hall 5. This is in line with the confirmed sign-up of exhibitors and accommodating 80 percent of the net exhibition space at the record breaking 2019 event.

“We do anticipate a drop off in some intercontinental travel. However, we believe there will be a strong attendance from Aquatech’s core European audience and international attendees with European presence – eager to participate the first international water tradeshow in over 1.5 years,” according to Hoogenberg.