Clarion Gaming’s research and consultation process to determine ICE’s future location has moved forward, with four cities selected as potential hosts.
Working in partnership with event location and strategy specialist Equimore, Clarion finalized a shortlist of four cities that met the established criteria for a future conference venue. The four places are Barcelona, London, Madrid and Paris.
Each city will make a formal bid to host the event between 2025 and 2029. This process will be completed later this year, with an announcement to follow in the third quarter of 2023.
Clarion Events Group Managing Director Alex Pratt said the “robust process” was customer-centric and would allow the final decision to be made in the best interests of stakeholders and the global gaming industry.
Future headquarters process will include iGB Affiliate London
The process will also involve iGB Affiliate London, with the main players in that community also involved “to identify their preferred strategic path”.
“The four pre-selected cities will go through a selection process with the help of Equimore’s experienced and experienced team, who are overseeing all aspects of what is a robust program,” explained Pratt.
He added that factors such as locations in terms of capacity, facilities and ability to accommodate future growth would be considered, as well as availability of dates, transport connections and wider hospitality infrastructure, including accommodation costs.
“By pursuing all due diligence, we will identify the city best equipped to not only host an event that continues to play such a pivotal role in helping to create opportunity and prosperity for gaming companies of all sizes, across all verticals and in all global jurisdictions, but also demonstrate your industry leadership. In the interest of transparency, Clarion will not comment further during the official process,” Pratt said.
ICE London 2023
This year’s ICE London takes place at ExCeL London next week from 6th to 9th February, with iGB Affiliate London starting on 8th February and ending on 11th February.