Congressen
The Netherlands must continue to invest in digital infrastructure in order to stay relevant as an international conference destination
The Netherlands is one of the world’s digital leaders. However, digital developments are moving very fast, and it seems that important investments are being delayed. Conference Matters asked an expert panel about how important the digital business climate is for the conference industry.
“I completely agree with the statement, and I would like to break it down into four parts: competitive advantage, innovation, accessibility, and sustainability. If the Netherlands continues to invest in digital infrastructure, it will have a competitive advantage over other destinations that lack comparable options.
And if you have a well-developed digital infrastructure, you can also develop innovative technologies and implement them for a better conference experience, such as virtual and hybrid conferences.
Becoming more accessible means having reliable Internet connections. In Europe, you can go online with your data bundle. If you can’t, then you need to rely on excellent Wi-Fi at the venue. Since many people have several devices with them nowadays, 5G is the standard, but it’s not optimised everywhere.
Finally, sustainability needs to be linked to a strong digital infrastructure. You can encourage visitors to participate in virtual events and conferences instead of travelling to them. However, I do have a strong reservation because there’s a big difference between offering face-to-face content and online content. Online is much more than aiming a camera at the speaker and watching along. In any case, I believe that people will give the events they plan to attend in person more careful consideration.
NBTC has developed a vision for meetings and conferences in the Netherlands that is in line with the four parts. We would like to find people who are able to develop an event that contributes to the Dutch knowledge economy. The conference is not a goal in itself but a means to an end. We’re developing that further.”
“The role that digital infrastructure plays depends on the industry. At DITM, it’s about the mobility and energy industries and the link between them. The goal is to implement a scalable cooperative, connected and automated mobility system (CCAM) and a connection to a reliable energy supply. The DITM is made possible in part by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
The consortium provides an integrated approach in which developments from the international and domestic automotive industry, ICT industry, traffic management, and mobility innovation are united and combined. The project allows us to use the opportunities of digitisation and automation to contribute to the major social challenges of a safe, reliable, efficient, and sustainable mobility and energy system.
Through DITM, the partners can accelerate their knowledge and product development, while Dutch companies strengthen their leading position in the value chain. DITM should enable the Netherlands to achieve its social goals nationally, strengthen its international export position and influence international standards. The project also helps reduce the billions in annual social costs associated with road safety, traffic jams and the pressure on the energy network.
In line with this, the development of DITM also affects other industries, including the conference industry.
First and foremost, conferences are essential to enable in-depth networking between public and private organisations and to shape industrial ecosystems.”
“The RAI is continuously investing in digital infrastructure. We decide ourselves on the technology we all use, which often differs from other venues that outsource everything. It’s a USP for us.
Sometimes, we also write off our investment because we believe that we should have the most modern technology in house, as the RAI wants to be an innovation centre for all clients. We host international exhibitions and conferences, and we have to comply with the latest things, such as the latest 5G settings. We don’t call the 5G that you have on your mobile device 5G. That needs to be taken to a higher level. We’ve set this in motion when it comes to things such as Wi-Fi. The RAI was the first venue in Europe to offer open roaming.
To achieve this, the RAI works with key technology players. We’ve consciously chosen Cisco, with which we continuously determine what can be done and whether we can scale up.
I think everyone can agree with this, although I understand that a smaller venue can’t always make such an investment. However, you can’t hold a conference about Wi-Fi if you have a really bad connection. In fact, the audience should be blown away. That doesn’t always mean that everything will work perfectly well because technology also has certain complexities, but it needs to be your goal.”
“In general, it’s very important that we continue to invest in digital infrastructure and that the Netherlands remains a leader in Europe. This is how we continue to attract technology-related conferences. If we look at the entire convention industry, investing in digital infrastructure is also relevant, but I don’t think it’s at the top of the list because several other topics come up.
From my position as Meeting & Events Manager, I’m involved in supporting and managing the commercial teams at the locations.
I oversee the offers, contact clients and prepare for client conferences. I’m mainly focused on increasing conversion and ensuring that the systems work and that all conditions for such processes are correct and complied with.
It’s essential to do the right things at the right times with the right people commercially. Postillion Hotels is learning more about artificial intelligence (AI), as we even have an AI booking tool. You send an e-mail with your request, and we can confirm it within two seconds. Additionally, our CRM and data systems are becoming increasingly extensive.
When it comes to the latest digital infrastructure, such as organising conferences online, I don’t know whether clients necessarily expect that from us. It all has to work well, and it doesn’t have to be state-of-the-art.”
“A good digital infrastructure is crucial for our business climate, including attracting and retaining companies in the Netherlands. If you broaden that, it’s also essential to attract international conferences.
I’ve just returned from Geneva, where I attended the Growth Summit 2023 of the World Economic Forum. There’s clearly a rapid development in which today’s conferences are no longer just in person. Online and hybrid elements have become incredibly important, which is why conference locations must also ensure optimal digital connections and digital security.
According to figures from the World Economic Forum (WEF) for 2020, the Netherlands is one of the precursors in digital infrastructure. We’re also a leader in remote working, aka hybrid working. The Netherlands does well in e-commerce, cloud computing and big data. We also have the advantage that we’re a hub for Internet cables, which come from the United States to Europe over sea and land.
But there are also more recent European studies and reports, such as the European Commission’s Digital Economy and Society Index, which show that Nordic countries like Finland, Sweden and Denmark are ahead of the Netherlands in digital infrastructure.
We must be careful not to fall behind because, lately, I’ve heard experts complain that there’s a delay when it comes to new developments, especially the transition to 5G, which is way too slow. Fast Internet is extremely important for our basic infrastructure and for getting the most out of digital technologies. Other countries are much more advanced than we are.”
Eric Bakermans
Marketing Meetings & Conventions Director at NBTC
“I completely agree with the statement, and I would like to break it down into four parts: competitive advantage, innovation, accessibility, and sustainability. If the Netherlands continues to invest in digital infrastructure, it will have a competitive advantage over other destinations that lack comparable options.
And if you have a well-developed digital infrastructure, you can also develop innovative technologies and implement them for a better conference experience, such as virtual and hybrid conferences.
Becoming more accessible means having reliable Internet connections. In Europe, you can go online with your data bundle. If you can’t, then you need to rely on excellent Wi-Fi at the venue. Since many people have several devices with them nowadays, 5G is the standard, but it’s not optimised everywhere.
Finally, sustainability needs to be linked to a strong digital infrastructure. You can encourage visitors to participate in virtual events and conferences instead of travelling to them. However, I do have a strong reservation because there’s a big difference between offering face-to-face content and online content. Online is much more than aiming a camera at the speaker and watching along. In any case, I believe that people will give the events they plan to attend in person more careful consideration.
NBTC has developed a vision for meetings and conferences in the Netherlands that is in line with the four parts. We would like to find people who are able to develop an event that contributes to the Dutch knowledge economy. The conference is not a goal in itself but a means to an end. We’re developing that further.”
Ana Alanis
Project Leader Smart Mobility (Digitale Infrastructuur voor Toekomstbestendige Mobiliteit - DITM) at Brainport Eindhoven
“The role that digital infrastructure plays depends on the industry. At DITM, it’s about the mobility and energy industries and the link between them. The goal is to implement a scalable cooperative, connected and automated mobility system (CCAM) and a connection to a reliable energy supply. The DITM is made possible in part by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
The consortium provides an integrated approach in which developments from the international and domestic automotive industry, ICT industry, traffic management, and mobility innovation are united and combined. The project allows us to use the opportunities of digitisation and automation to contribute to the major social challenges of a safe, reliable, efficient, and sustainable mobility and energy system.
Through DITM, the partners can accelerate their knowledge and product development, while Dutch companies strengthen their leading position in the value chain. DITM should enable the Netherlands to achieve its social goals nationally, strengthen its international export position and influence international standards. The project also helps reduce the billions in annual social costs associated with road safety, traffic jams and the pressure on the energy network.
In line with this, the development of DITM also affects other industries, including the conference industry.
First and foremost, conferences are essential to enable in-depth networking between public and private organisations and to shape industrial ecosystems.”
Bret Baas
Manager IT & Digital at RAI Amsterdam
“The RAI is continuously investing in digital infrastructure. We decide ourselves on the technology we all use, which often differs from other venues that outsource everything. It’s a USP for us.
Sometimes, we also write off our investment because we believe that we should have the most modern technology in house, as the RAI wants to be an innovation centre for all clients. We host international exhibitions and conferences, and we have to comply with the latest things, such as the latest 5G settings. We don’t call the 5G that you have on your mobile device 5G. That needs to be taken to a higher level. We’ve set this in motion when it comes to things such as Wi-Fi. The RAI was the first venue in Europe to offer open roaming.
To achieve this, the RAI works with key technology players. We’ve consciously chosen Cisco, with which we continuously determine what can be done and whether we can scale up.
I think everyone can agree with this, although I understand that a smaller venue can’t always make such an investment. However, you can’t hold a conference about Wi-Fi if you have a really bad connection. In fact, the audience should be blown away. That doesn’t always mean that everything will work perfectly well because technology also has certain complexities, but it needs to be your goal.”
Jur Munnik
Meetings & Events Manager at Postillion Hotels
“In general, it’s very important that we continue to invest in digital infrastructure and that the Netherlands remains a leader in Europe. This is how we continue to attract technology-related conferences. If we look at the entire convention industry, investing in digital infrastructure is also relevant, but I don’t think it’s at the top of the list because several other topics come up.
From my position as Meeting & Events Manager, I’m involved in supporting and managing the commercial teams at the locations.
I oversee the offers, contact clients and prepare for client conferences. I’m mainly focused on increasing conversion and ensuring that the systems work and that all conditions for such processes are correct and complied with.
It’s essential to do the right things at the right times with the right people commercially. Postillion Hotels is learning more about artificial intelligence (AI), as we even have an AI booking tool. You send an e-mail with your request, and we can confirm it within two seconds. Additionally, our CRM and data systems are becoming increasingly extensive.
When it comes to the latest digital infrastructure, such as organising conferences online, I don’t know whether clients necessarily expect that from us. It all has to work well, and it doesn’t have to be state-of-the-art.”
Henk Volberda
Professor of Strategy & Innovation at the Faculteit Economie en Bedrijfskunde at the UvA, where he gives the Master’s in Digital Business.
“A good digital infrastructure is crucial for our business climate, including attracting and retaining companies in the Netherlands. If you broaden that, it’s also essential to attract international conferences.
I’ve just returned from Geneva, where I attended the Growth Summit 2023 of the World Economic Forum. There’s clearly a rapid development in which today’s conferences are no longer just in person. Online and hybrid elements have become incredibly important, which is why conference locations must also ensure optimal digital connections and digital security.
According to figures from the World Economic Forum (WEF) for 2020, the Netherlands is one of the precursors in digital infrastructure. We’re also a leader in remote working, aka hybrid working. The Netherlands does well in e-commerce, cloud computing and big data. We also have the advantage that we’re a hub for Internet cables, which come from the United States to Europe over sea and land.
But there are also more recent European studies and reports, such as the European Commission’s Digital Economy and Society Index, which show that Nordic countries like Finland, Sweden and Denmark are ahead of the Netherlands in digital infrastructure.
We must be careful not to fall behind because, lately, I’ve heard experts complain that there’s a delay when it comes to new developments, especially the transition to 5G, which is way too slow. Fast Internet is extremely important for our basic infrastructure and for getting the most out of digital technologies. Other countries are much more advanced than we are.”Deel dit bericht
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