METSTRADE | Niels Klarenbeek on what to expect from this year’s show

No show is more pivotal to the well-being of the industry than METSTRADE, and plans for this year’s event, which runs from November 16-18, are already well advanced. IBI talked to show director Niels Klarenbeek in the middle of July about the safety protocols and layout for METSTRADE 2021 and how technology and METSTRADE Connect will make this year’s edition the most user-friendly, connected show in its history.

Q. Can you give us an update on exhibitor uptake and what we can expect from METSTRADE 2021?

A. Over the past week (mid-July), we have been able to issue the official allocation to over 1,300 exhibitors, and the show is fully booked. We had to re-allocate a significant number of exhibitors; the vast majority obviously understand the challenges we are coping with.

I’m proud to say that, if you look at what’s now in front of us in terms of the show and what has been prepared, it’s going to be a extraordinary edition this year. It matches the METSTRADE DNA and all the traditional elements that make METSTRADE a great success – the Boat Builder Awards, which we are hosting together with IBI, and the DAME Awards, are already taking nominations, and we have a keynote speaker lined up. On top of that we have the Superyacht Forum, so all the key elements of the METSTRADE DNA are there, and there will be a packed show floor because there is no space left – we now have a waiting list.

Q. What will the show layout look like?

A. It’s going to be Hall 1, Hall 2, Hall 3, the extended Hall 5 and 6 and 7 (see below). So 7 and partly 6 will be taken by the Superyacht Pavilion (SYP). The Superyacht Pavilion, for the first time, will be all condensed in one big area. In addition METSTRADE 2021 will also include the Elicium Ballroom and the Amtrium building, Europa Foyer and the Diamond Lounge. So, if you were standing in front of the main entrance to the RAI it would be the right hand side of the building.

Hall 5 has also been extended. Most of the national pavilions, are more or less in the same location, though the three Scandinavian countries had to move from Hall 7 to make space for the superyachts and will now be part of Hall 5.

There will obviously be certain reductions in the size of the Australia and New Zealand, pavilions, but their flags will still be there as they will be represented through European entities. For the very first time at the show an MIA, in this case the French association (FIN), is taking a national pavilion in each of the segmented areas of METSTRADE: Superyacht Pavilion (SYP), Marina & Yard Pavilion (MYP) , Construction Materials Pavilion (CMP).

Q. What about Covid protocols?

A. The plan at the moment (July 21) is to create a physical barrier outside the RAI Convention Centre. It will be a closed area – a green zone. It is here that the QR codes of the European Digital Covid Certificates (DCC) will be scanned. We anticipate, that by November, all visitors and exhibitors alike will be able to download to their phones, the European Digital Covid Certificate app which provides a QR code. RAI staff members or security personnel will do the Covid check-in to enter the green zone at the gate. From there they will get to the main entrances of METSTRADE where the usual admission procedure with your badge scanning, etcetera, will be conducted.

Q. And if you have not downloaded the app, or are only partly vaccinated?

A. Someone who shows up without the proper documents will be directed to a testing station. We have plenty of them in the city of Amsterdam. As soon as they get a negative result and upload their negative result to the app, they will be allowed access.We will also have a secure policy for the exhibitor move-in day to make sure that the premises are a safe bubble.

Q. Will social distancing have to be observed? What about mask-wearing?

A. The strict procedures to gain access mean that there will be no requirement to maintain the one-and-a-half meter social distancing rule. That allows us to have a show like normal. We still have a network of safety corridors with more widened aisles within the floor plan. Hand sanitisers will still be available and we will strongly advertise a no contact, no handshake policy on site. As for mask-wearing? As far as I can see right now (July 21), I anticipate that it won’t be mandatory to wear a mask based on the entrance policy we are going to conduct. Obviously, there needs to be a big caveat in this. We would respect anyone who wants to wear a mask and they will be free to do so.

Q. Is there a staggered check-in to avoid overcrowding at the gate?

A. One of the key elements of our safety procedures this year is that any pre-registered visitor will have an admission time on his badge. There are three different admission times. The show still opens at 10:00 AM, but there is an admission group which will receive 10:00 AM, another group, 10:30 and another group, 11:00 AM. We will strongly advise visitors to come to the show at less crowded times.

This is all in compliance with our health and safety protocols, which are compliant with the Dutch health authorities. But still, all of this depends on how the pandemic develops, not just in the Netherlands, but elsewhere too.

Q. Will METSTRADE be the first show to implement these measures at the RAI?

A. I’m very pleased to say that from September onwards, we will be having some large events. The first, which is still on our agenda is Money 20/20 and we will have a large show on horticulture, GreenTech, and then, just a week prior to METSTRADE, we’ll have the Aquatech show on water treatment systems. We will of course take lessons from these other events. 

Q. What about the situation in the Netherlands at the moment (July 21)?

A. The vaccination rate in the Netherlands is very promising. To date over 20.2 million doses of vaccine have been given to a population of 17.2m. In early June, the Dutch government made quite positive remarks and lifted plenty of bans and restrictions and allowed events to reopen. However, because of a spike in Covid cases, generated by the fact that nightlife was reopened, the government has put a freeze on all events until mid-August. Luckily, we are now on our way back and we see a severe decline in number of cases. At some point in mid-August, we anticipate some new announcements from the Dutch government.

Q. Is there a daily visitor capacity number to have to adhere by?

A. Based on the government announcements made in June there would not be any restrictions given the protocols we would have in place.

Q. What about the virtual element to the show? What new technology do you have in store?

A. We have a fully dedicated program for the in-person visitor, and also one for the virtual visitor, and we’re offering plenty of new elements in terms of technology with our METSTRADE Connect virtual platform. That will include, not only exhibitor details, but also details on the individuals manning the stands as exhibitors. METSTRADE attendees will be able to open a searchable database for marine professionals to go and look and see who is there in Amsterdam. And you will be able to connect with each other prior to the event. Based on professional profiles, and the algorithms in our platform we are going to make recommendations and it’s up to the visitor and the exhibitor, whether they are going to get in touch with each other.

The system, which will be available as a mobile app, will also allow to create personalised agendas and set up appointments, an interactive floor plan and all your practicalities around METSTRADE, including your admission badge. And of course, a key feature, which we are launching this year, is the inclusion of the live stream of METSTRADE TV.

Q. Are you optimistic?

A. If we get the green light, I believe it’s going to be a feast because there is such a strong appetite in the industry to have the event going on. It will be one of the first occasions people get to meet each other again. And METSTRADE TV will be a new part of that. I’m very proud of the team who were able to prepare all of this in anticipation of lifting measures. We still have a clear commitment to the industry. The show will only be run if we can make it safe and successful, and we believe we have the plans in place to make it so. From every single aspect, we are good to go. But it’s not in our hands and we need to see how things will evolve in the next few weeks.