Integrated Systems Events Managing Director Mike Blackman opened the hybrid ISE Live & Online fair this morning with a presentation at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via in front of government officials, boards of directors and local agencies, the ISE owners and the media. Blackman was speaking after traveling from the ISE Munich office to Barcelona by motorcycle, stopping in Geneva, the site of the first ISE show in 2004.

Speaking just before the show’s doors open, Blackman said: “ISE Barcelona is the first in-person event we’ve produced since February 2020. We’ve always said ISE is a destination for learning, networking and making business. Here today you will find the world’s leading technology and solution providers. Additionally, there is a compelling mix of live-produced content on the ISE main stage and in the AVIXA AV experience area.

“Equally important, visitors will have the chance to reconnect with customers and colleagues, friends and acquaintances. As always, ISE provides the basis for the community to come together again. And for those who can’t be here in person, at 12:30 p.m. today ISE Digital, produced live from this location, will be reaching out to the ISE community and featuring thousands more for the first time.

Blackman has also been eagerly awaiting next year’s ISE in Barcelona, ​​having noted the show’s growth since 2004 and the impact of the pandemic over the past 15 months.

“I am delighted to report that there is massive industry support for ISE 2022 next February,” he said. “Our process of changing stand reservations starts in earnest next week, and we are confident that it will be ‘business as usual, business in Barcelona’.

“In fact, many of our larger customers are already asking for more space than last year. The pre-bookings of our top 50 clients amount to 37,000 square meters net, which is roughly two-thirds of the total space we had at ISE 2020. It also shows why we had to move here to Fira Barcelona to accommodate this enthusiastic request.

Blackman also acknowledged the strong support of the city of Barcelona and of the trade and investment agencies ACCIO and ICEX, which had the ambition to make Barcelona the European audiovisual hub.

Dave Labuskes, CEO of ISE co-owner AVIXA, said: “We always knew the ISE trip from Amsterdam to Barcelona wouldn’t be easy. None of us ever imagined what would happen between February 2020 and June 2021. And yet, with an unwavering commitment to our industry and our members, we have arrived.

He added, “Let us reflect and remember – and dream and yearn – together, as we reconnect and revitalize in an ISE like no other before or yet to come.”

ISE Live & Online in Barcelona from June 1 to 2 will be followed by ISE @ London from June 23 to 24 at Evolution Battersea, which will provide more opportunities for the industry to reconnect and do business.

Registration for each or all of these events is done at https://www.iseurope.org/register.php?actioncode=LIVEMAY3.