Aligning event goals
The first task for event organiser VNG Connect was to select the host city through a tender process, as project leader Marc Gerritsen explains: “The municipality of Utrecht was one of the respondents and, together with Royal Jaarbeurs, submitted a bid book. This gave us the confidence to choose Utrecht as the host city and Jaarbeurs as the main venue. Our reasons for this decision included accessibility, the central location, and the proximity of hotels. The congress themes and sustainability ambitions of Jaarbeurs as an organisation also aligned seamlessly with the theme of the congress.”
Engagement and cooperation
Kelly van der Velden-Otten, account and event manager at Jaarbeurs, smiles as Marc shares this. “Utrecht has become an increasingly sought-after location for conferences, and that demand revolves around more than just price and availability. Utrecht is also a region that places a strong emphasis on health through its ‘Heart of Health’ initiative, which goes beyond healthcare to explore ways of creating a better living environment in our cities. This focus aligns perfectly with the Future Green City World Congress.
“That said, let’s not forget how easily accessible Jaarbeurs is for international participants, being just 30 minutes from Schiphol and adjacent to Utrecht Central Station. In addition, as an organisation, Jaarbeurs is exceptionally well-equipped to host these kinds of international congresses. We are flexible, welcome the chance to brainstorm with our partners, and have the necessary expertise in-house. We also enjoy engaging in conversations with our clients, including discussing the specific goals for each event. Based on that, we assess which areas within the complex are most suitable.”
Marc wholeheartedly agrees and, having worked with Jaarbeurs in the past, highlights the team's reliability and responsiveness as additional valuable aspects. “A deal is a deal at Jaarbeurs,” he says. “The people think in terms of solutions, and while there are clear boundaries in place, there’s always room to search for alternatives. I’ve dealt with other venues that are often unwilling to adapt, but that simply doesn’t happen at Jaarbeurs.”
