Although the possible relocation of ICE to another European city had been discussed for some time, the decision announced by Clarion last week was one of the great novelties of recent times for the sector. Regarding the initiative, Sebastian Salat, International President at Zitro, comments: “Over the years, ICE London has established itself as a resounding success in the gaming industry, gathering leaders, suppliers, operators, and gaming professionals from around the globe. It has grown in status as the most important tradeshow in Europe and has proven to be the ideal space to cultivate business relationships, and creating new opportunities for companies to expand their global reach.”
“However, a good number of exhibitors, including Zitro, have realized significant challenges such as insufficient space venue for future growth, logistic complexities, and extremely high costs. Those challenges were communicated to Clarion and we were delighted this contributed to formal review through the recent bid process.”
Sebastian Salat continues to say: “We fully support Clarion’s announcement to relocate ICE to the vibrant City of Barcelona, a destination we firmly believe is perfectly equipped to host the future editions of ICE. We believe this move will be a major step helping both ICE and the Industry to grow in partnership with the European gaming market. It will also increase the global dimension of ICE, as moving ICE to Spain will undoubtedly draw a higher number of Latin American operators, due to emotional and cultural links between Spain and Latin American countries.”
Spain is one of the largest regulated markets in Europe, in the both land-based and online gaming sectors, and this helps position Barcelona as the perfect hub for gaming companies in Europe. In addition, Barcelona’s appeal as one of the most important tourist destinations in Europe adds an extra layer of attraction to the event, alongside its world-class facilities, outstanding hospitality infrastructure, and logistics.
“The city’s captivating blend of rich cultural heritage, iconic landmarks, and vibrant atmosphere, offers attendees the perfect opportunity to complement their ICE experience,” states the company.
Source: GMB
