In what was Europe’s largest ever AV and systems integration exhibition 59,350 registered attendees came to the show between 10-12 February at the Amsterdam, RAI. This represents an increase of 8,347 registered attendees (16.4%) on ISE 2014.
“The volume of attendance confirmed ISE’s position as the destination of choice for anyone involved in professional AV and systems integration,” said Mike Blackman, Integrated Systems Events Managing Director. “In addition to the ongoing attendance success story,” he continued, “the announcement that ISE has entered into a joint venture with invidis consulting to develop its highly successful Digital Signage conference demonstrates our commitment to grow ISE’s profile in key market sectors.”
As well as a buzzing show floor, ISE 2015 also offered visitors a wide range of personal development and training programmes provided by ISE co-owners InfoComm International and CEDIA. These sessions attracted over 700 people in total, a record for the show. Both associations also contributed to the three vibrant Showfloor Solutions Theatres dedicated to Residential, Commercial and Unified Communications. Here, over 3,000 appreciative visitors attended 90 sessions presented by ISE exhibitors. On site free-to-attend conferences such as the Capital Summit and Sports Facility Integration Summit offered expert insight into securing investment for companies operating in the AV marketplace and sports venue system integration.
David Labuskes, Executive Director and CEO, InfoComm International commented: “Everyone at InfoComm International is so proud to be associated with another record-breaking ISE show. Our Guest Membership scheme, which made its debut at this year’s event, attracted almost 1,200 sign-ups, and we are looking forward to giving these ISE attendees a taste of InfoComm membership that extends beyond the education and hospitality they received in Amsterdam to the delivery of a range of post-show benefits.
“Our industry is on the rise globally,” he continued, “and nothing reflects that trend more succinctly than the continued growth of ISE and of our association’s membership internationally.”
Don Gilpin, Executive Director & COO, CEDIA, was equally as upbeat about ISE 2015: “ISE has become the most important platform for the CEDIA channel outside of North America and the 2015 event was the best edition yet,” he said. “Manufacturers and integrators from all over world that concentrate on electronic systems for the home tell me that ISE is now an annual event that simply cannot be missed.”
ISE’s pre-show events programme kicked off on 9 February with the Smart Building Conference and AudioForum, both drawing their highest ever attendance figures. Professionals from every sector of the systems integration value chain attended the Opening Keynote, given by Future Matters business consultant and futurist Lars Thomsen. He presented his thought provoking opening address of 520 Weeks into the Future: Trends and Tipping Points in the Electronic Systems Industry until 2025.
Looking ahead to next year, exhibitor stand space re-bookings for the new four-day show are at an all-time high. When the exhibition doors closed on 12 February, bookings for the 2016 event stood at 41,200 square meters sold space. This represents 106% of the total sold space for the 2015 event and 94% of the total space available for 2016.
ISE 2015 saw increased exhibitor space provided by the addition of the Diamond Lounge. This expansion will continue at ISE 2016 with the opening of the Amtrium new-build adjacent to Hall 4. Also, there will be four Showfloor theatres, plus additional conferences and initiatives undertaken with exhibitors, trade bodies and media partners.
International Expansion
Integrated Systems Events, the company that produces the ISE exhibition, announced that it has entered into a joint venture agreement with invidis consulting to take a majority share in respect to its Digital Signage Conference, an annual event that takes place in Munich, Germany.
The Digital Signage Conference, run in cooperation with trade association OVAB Europe, is taking place this year on 14-15 September at the Hilton Airport Hotel, Munich. It will feature a mix of presentations and workshops on digital signage and DooH technology and business topics.
Invidis is a research and communications business specialising in digital signage and Digital-out of-Home (DooH). It launched the Digital Signage Conference in 2007. Invidis has been a regular ISE partner in recent years and has run several successful digital signage programmes and installation tours around the exhibition.
ISE Managing Director Mike Blackman commented: “invidis consulting is recognised as a leading expert in the provision of content and analysis of the digital signage marketplace while ISE excels at AV event management. There will be many synergies and growth opportunities to come from this move and it further demonstrates ISE’s ambition to be at the forefront of providing market intelligence and thought leadership in the sectors in which it operates.” He continued, “For existing clients of invidis consulting it will be ‘business as usual’. All of the existing staff and management team that work on the conference will remain in place.”
Florian Rotberg, invidis consulting Managing Director, added: “The Digital Signage Conference in Munich has increasingly become an international event so joining with ISE to build on our current position and to develop the conference brand internationally represents the perfect partnership.”
The Munich event in 2015 will be followed by launches in the Middle East and Russia.

The next Integrated Systems Europe will take place at the Amsterdam RAI on 9-12 February 2016.
www.iseurope.org | www.invidis.de
www.cedia.org | www.infocomm.org
