The first of these new events - and the first PLASA Focus to be staged in mainland Europe - will take place this summer, when PLASA Focus: Brussels open its doors in the heart of Belgium's capital city, on 1-2 July. PLASA Events reports that initial interest from exhibitors has been very positive, with over 30 companies already applying for space in Brussels, including brands such as ADJ, Chauvet, d&b audiotechnik, Robe and Shure.
Having introduced the successful PLASA Focus event model in Leeds, UK, in 2009 and subsequently in various cities across North America, PLASA has long been aware of the market's desire for more of this type of event in Europe. The BeNeLux region was one of the first to be considered for a regional market focus.
Christopher Toulmin, director of PLASA Events, comments, "We are delighted to announce our first Focus event in mainland Europe. We have proved over recent years not only that our Focus model really works, but that there is a great desire among the industry for access to more of these affordable, intimate, educational events which allow exhibitors a chance to really engage with a regional market, in a very accessible way. To meet that need we will be introducing further additions to the Focus family over the next three years across Europe. We are very pleased to begin this journey in Brussels as not only is it a beautiful, thriving city at the heart of the BeNeLux region, it is also extremely accessible for the northern regions of Germany and France creating a compelling business and networking opportunity."
Over the past five years, the PLASA Focus model has established a reputation for providing a relaxed and informal networking environment, where exhibitors have real time to spend with good quality attendees they would not normally encounter. Alongside this, the Focus model also offers attendees free access to a Professional Development Programme of seminars and demonstrations delivered by leading industry experts, providing them with an opportunity to learn new skills and have their questions answered.
For this inaugural European Focus event, PLASA Events has secured space at The Square Meeting Centre. This recently-developed conference and event venue is situated in the renovated Palais des Congrès, overlooking the city from the Mont des Arts district. This area is known for its hotels, bars and restaurants, and is also the site of the city's major cultural attractions. Just a few minutes' walk from Brussels' Central Station, and less than 20 minutes travel time from the airport, the venue is well served by transport links, as well as having 660 car parking spaces.
Opened in 2009, the Square Meeting Centre has 4,000sq.m of expo space as well as 27 meeting rooms accommodating from 40 to 1,200 people. Its 21st century technological facilities include an integrated optical fibre infrastructure which enables web streaming throughout the venue, without loss of sound or image quality.
The Focus event in Brussels marks the start of a three-year initiative to expand the reach of the PLASA Focus brand in Europe, creating more opportunities for the PLASA community to meet regional audiences, in particular those customers that do not otherwise visit major international trade shows.
The second launch event will take place in Scotland towards the end of 2014. Further details will be released in the coming weeks.
Any company interested in exhibiting at PLASA Focus: Brussels should contact David Westbrooke at PLASA Events - david.westbrooke@plasa.org.
(Jim Evans)
www.plasafocus.com
