A survey of ICE London attendees reveals that the vast majority of attendees this year see the fair as a key event for business, industry knowledge and discovering new ideas and concepts.
A survey by Explori, which surveyed the opinions of 1,211 ICE registrants, found that just under three in four (74%) plan to attend the fair, which returns to ExCeL London from April 12-14.
Of this number, 77% are business leaders or have had a voice in decisions for their businesses. The vast majority (81%) considered it important to participate in the fair, with 67% saying they will be present to acquire new suppliers or partners.
Another 56% claimed they intend to travel to the event to get an overview of the gambling market, with 53% saying they would be at ExCeL to be inspired by new ideas.
According to the managing director of Clarion Gaming, Stuart Hunter, the numbers show interest in the return of the program after an absence of more than two years.
Move to April was ‘punctual and a last resort’
However, he stressed that the move to April was “very punctual and a last resort” due to the lack of alternative dates for an exhibition the size and scale of ICE London. In addition, the new dates in April have substantially alleviated concerns related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We also have the recent UK government announcement confirming that from 11 February, vaccinated international travelers will not have to be tested for Covid-19 on arrival in England. This is a big step that will encourage more visitors to make the trip to London and be part of the conference experience,” said Hunter.
“In addition, the UK government has moved to Covid-19 Response Plan A, which involves significant easing of restrictions, including an end to mandatory face masks and a relaxation of rules applicable to certification passports.”
The Clarion Gaming representative added: “I support the opinion of leading bodies such as UKHospitality and UKinbound that the lifting of restrictions represents a pragmatic step towards normality. It also shows that the UK and ICE London are very open for business.”
ICE London will have 450 exhibitors this year
Some high-profile exhibitors announced their withdrawal from this year’s event, something Hunter said changed the dynamics of ICE 2022. But, he reiterated that this remains the biggest gaming event on the calendar, with around 450 companies still attending the show. this year, alongside 150 more at iGB Affiliate London.
In less than two weeks, 15 more new exhibitors signed up, occupying more than 1,000 square meters of space at the fair. “The ICE brand has always worked to represent the entire gaming ecosystem. We remain committed to the entire industry, including the many smaller companies that rely on ICE London for a significant proportion of their annual turnover,” added Hunter.
He added: “It’s been a long time since the companies were able to meet in person and the team is looking forward to bringing everyone together to celebrate the industry’s return in a safe and secure environment. I would like to add that we will continue to engage with our customers in the run-up to and after the conclusion of ICE London 2022.”
