ISE Live & Online opens in Barcelona
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ISE Live & Online is a hybrid event, livestreaming from the Fira and broadcasting to a global audience via the ISE Digital platform.
The opening of ISE’s first show in Barcelona represents a significant milestone in the development of Integrated Systems Europe, and a personal and professional triumph for Blackman, who launched the event 17 years ago with a staff of three.
Along with representatives of the Fira, ISE co-owner AVIXA and ISE exhibitors, Blackman made a symbolic trip by motorbike from ISE’s office in Munich to Barcelona, stopping en route in Geneva, the location of the first ISE show in 2004.
Speaking at a press conference just before the doors to ISE in Barcelona opened, Blackman said: “You do not need me to comment too deeply on our shared experiences of the past 15 months. The effects have been universal, and our heartfelt sympathy goes to all countries, businesses and individuals touched by it. No one has escaped. Yes, in more recent times the light at the end of the tunnel has begun to glimmer and then to shine. Which is why after conducting exhaustive research with our exhibitors, partners, and owners we decided that ISE Barcelona, Live and Online, should take place. And here we are.
"And there’s another reason we came to Barcelona. Catalonia is positioning itself as the European audiovisual hub, and we want to be a catalyst in that development. We’ve had strong support regionally from the City of Barcelona and from ACCIO, and nationally from ICEX – and we look forward to strengthening those relationships as we prepare for ISE 2022 and beyond.”
Dave Labuskes, CEO of AVIXA, said, "We always knew the ISE journey from Amsterdam to Barcelona would not be an easy one. None of us ever imagined what would transpire between February of 2020 and June of 2021. And yet, with steadfast commitment to our industry and our members, we have arrived.”
Giles Sutton, joint CEO of CEDIA, added, "We’re delighted to see ISE Live and Online kicking off today. A special thanks to all the local businesses for their support and participation this week: it demonstrates a great outlook for the AV and integration industries in Spain.”
