AM S TER D AM
The Dutch capital is a magnet for global conferences, thanks to its accessibility and innovative energy. Marisa Cannon reports
M
uch more than its picture-perfect cityscape of canal houses and waterways, Amsterdam has emerged as one of the world’s leading
business and tech hubs. Tis year has already seen the Dutch capital rank fourth globally in the Savills Tech Cities Index and is only second to London in Europe, with Amsterdam described as “rivalling London’s position as the global gateway to Europe”. Indeed, during the Brexit negotiations,
Amsterdam has attracted a significant slice of British-based business looking to retain the benefits of the single market. Sony, Panasonic and the European Medicines Agency are among the larger organisations to make the move. MICE bookings are up according to deputy mayor Udo Kock, who says the city has “seen growth in applications for medical and scientific conferences, and artificial intelligence”. Last year, Amsterdam hosted the 22nd
International AIDS conference, which welcomed more than 16,000 attendees with speakers including Bill Clinton, Elton John and the Duke of Sussex. Tis summer saw the 12th World Future of Pharma conference and the 2nd International Conference on AI, Robotics and the Internet of Tings, while the International Broadcasting Convention hosted 57,000-plus attendees from more than 150 countries at the RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre in September. Schiphol airport offers outstanding
connectivity. Just a 20-minute transfer from the city centre, the airport operates flights to
more than 300 destinations with 104 airlines. Launched in April last year, Eurostar’s direct route between London and Amsterdam has been a success, carrying more than a quarter-of-a- million passengers. “A third direct daily service was introduced in June this year and in the longer term, we plan to run four trains a day,” says Eurostar’s head of sales, Simon Tyler. Locally, urban travel projects
are set to improve Amsterdam’s already superlative public transport services, including a fleet of 31 electric buses launching in 2020 in line with the city’s aim to make all buses emissions-free by 2030. Designs for a new 1,500 metre-long cable car have also been revealed, to be erected above the river IJ and connecting the residential areas of Amsterdam-West and Amsterdam-Noord. Opening in 2025, the “air bridge” will be able to hold 37 passengers in each cabin and cut transport times between districts to just five minutes. Alongside these developments is a bumper
crop of new conference hotels. One major opening on the horizon is the four-star Nhow Amsterdam RAI from NH Hotels, which will offer 650 rooms across 25 floors when it debuts next year. Also due in 2020 is the Maritim Hotel Amsterdam in the northern Overhoeks district, which will have 579 rooms, six restaurants, meeting facilities for up to 4,750 attendees, plus a landscaped rooſtop terrace and a wellness centre featuring a pool, sauna and gym.
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DESIGNS FOR A NEW 1,500 METRE-LONG CABLE CAR HAVE ALSO BEEN REVEALED, TO BE ERECTED ABOVE THE RIVER IJ
Opposite page: Colourful houses line the city’s canals Below: The RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre
6 | NOVEMBER 2019
HOLLANDFOTO.NET/SHUTTERSTOCK; ALEKSANDARGEORGIEV/ISTOCK
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