Antwerp Expo Invests in digital signage and wayfinding
Antwerp Expo enhances its competitive position as an attractive international congress venue, with the support of VisitFlanders
Antwerp, 21 January 2025 – Antwerp Expo, one of four Easyfairs Belgium venues and a leading player in the Belgian events sector, is investing further in the digitalisation of its infrastructure. This marks an important milestone in the venue’s sustainability journey, but also increases the competitive position of Antwerp Expo in the international congress segment of the events industry. VisitFlanders, which is committed to the sustainable development and promotion of the region, is therefore supporting this initiative.
The digital transformation has several aspects, including the installation of eight indoor and outdoor LCD digital signage screens, five indoor LCD movable totems, and a mobility platform for better way-finding tailored to visitors, exhibitors, and organisers. The latter is being implemented in collaboration with Youreka! The total investment is €150,000, with VisitFlanders contributing €62,800 in support of this trajectory. This latest digitalisation project follows Antwerp Expo’s investment in solar panels, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.
Philippe Willegems, Head of Venue at Antwerp Expo explains: “The installation was first used in December 2024 and the effects are already noticeable. The reactions were positive during both our DiveXpo and Art Antwerp events, with the visitor experience receiving a significant boost. They felt more welcome, better informed, and better supported. Organisers also reported a smoother process and indicated that this also allowed them to better highlight their brand.”
International Congress Venue
The creation of a better customer experience was not the only criterion for this investment. Antwerp Expo also aimed for greater operational efficiency and increasing its attractiveness as a congress location, both nationally and internationally. Philippe Willegems continues: “Antwerp Expo had a digital infrastructure for our internal operations, but to compete in the market for international congresses, we needed to make investments in state-of-the-art digital applications. This is now a reality. Combined with our service excellence, we can now appear on the radar of international companies and federations looking for a congress venue”
Support from VisitFlanders
National and international congresses and events create significant added value for local hospitality firms and are therefore a stimulus for the City of Antwerp’s tourism sector. They also lend prestige to the region and are often a platform for meetings between decision-makers. “The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on the congress and event industry in Flanders,” says Peter De Wilde, CEO of VisitFlanders. “The traditional format of meetings, events, and congresses came under pressure and the requirements to compete internationally have changed rapidly in a short space of time. With this investment, Antwerp Expo is ensuring that it will remain digitally state-of-the-art and can also differentiate itself in an innovative way.”
In short, with this investment, Antwerp Expo is focusing on the further professionalisation of its activities as a multi-format event location. “With five halls, three entrance zones, and a meeting & congress centre, this degree of digitalisation is important for our evolution,” Willegems concludes.
Antwerp Expo is also taking another step in the sustainability journey of parent company Easyfairs. In October 2021, Easyfairs signed the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge, committing to be CO2-neutral by 2050 and to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
