Mayor of Amsterdam Femke Halsema and deputy mayor Victor Everhardt (Economic Affairs) kicked off the return of business events to the city at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre. In a press conference, together with RAI CEO Paul Riemens and Tracey Davies, President of Money 20/20, they officially opened the 2021/2022 congress season. Welcoming multi-day international trade fairs and conferences back to Amsterdam, they clarified the latest measures with regard to business events and emphasised the impact business events such as Money20/20 have on their relevant sectors (FinTech and Health & Science).

About Amsterdam’s position in the global event sector the mayor says: “I think Money20/20 and a lot of the activities of RAI Amsterdam and other venues in our city are in the forefront of transforming our city. These visitors help our city become more of an innovative, curious city that we are proud of.“

Deputy mayor Everhardt continues: “Over the next four years, the municipality of Amsterdam will invest 3.7 million euros in attracting conferences that add value to our city.”

Until 2019, conferences at RAI Amsterdam alone were generating an annual turnover of approximately €690 million and employment of 6.300 FTEs. In general, a turnover of 1 euro added value for RAI Amsterdam is 7 euros added value for the region. With the Amsterdam conference sector shut down for a year and a half, the region of Amsterdam missed a revenue of approximately one billion euros.

RAI CEO Paul Riemens says: “We are ready to start up in September with various influential events for all sectors, including the financial of which Money 20/20 is a great example.” Money20/20, the world’s leading event for the payments, fintech and financial services industry, will be the first event to take place at RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre from 21 to 23 September 2021.