Digital Accountancy Show joins Easyfairs with a focus on the future 18 Mar 2025, 1:30 pm

United by a vision for innovation and digital excellence, this acquisition accelerates Digital Accountancy Show’s expansion and initiates the next phase of growth.

London, 18/03/2025: Easyfairs today announced the acquisition of Digital Accountancy Show. The shared focus on technology and digital innovation naturally aligns both parties and provides strong foundations for the next step in the exciting journey of this flagship London event. Easyfairs’ extensive technology ecosystem and well-established pan-European network will generate rapid growth and enhance the community’s 365 experience.

Since its launch in 2020, Digital Accountancy Show’s mission has been to drive change and support the evolution of the accounting profession. This is a perfect extension of Easyfairs’ core values of ‘visit the future’ and ‘community first’. Dan Cockerton, Co-Founder of Digital Accountancy Show, commented: “This partnership allows us to enhance our event’s mission even further and drive forward on a global basis, with the potential to impact hundreds of thousands of advisors and SME businesses.”

The next edition of the leading technology conference for accountants, bookkeepers and finance professionals will take place on 1 & 2 April 2025 at London Evolution in Battersea. Continuing the success of previous editions, the 2025 event will welcome over 5,000 visitors and 150+ exhibitors. The audience will be immersed in a rich programme of educational talks, interactive partner discussions and meaningful networking opportunities, providing them with the ideal forum to assist their ongoing digital transformation.

“I’m over the moon to announce that Digital Accountancy Show has received investment from one of the world’s largest event organisers,” commented James Howell, Co-Founder of Digital Accountancy Show. “Easyfairs fosters an incredible culture built on strong, shared values – putting people first and creating a true sense of community amongst the markets it serves, which is incredibly important to us.” Alison Willis, CEO of Easyfairs UK&Global added: “We cannot wait to meet the accountancy community at the event on 1 & 2 April and we are excited to work with the team who are helping shape the future of the industry.”

The markets served by Digital Accountancy Show are in an exciting and transformative era of innovation. Technology and AI are perfectly poised to revolutionise how advisers support SMEs worldwide. This tech-savvy, forward-thinking community benefits from a dedicated forum where they can stay abreast of complex tech stacks, find efficiencies in the ever-evolving world of AI, recognise the indispensable role of ‘human-touch’ that drives the industry, and gain valuable insights into the mindset of the world’s leading accountants and finance professionals – all of which are essential to continue thriving in the rapidly changing accountancy landscape.

Alison Willis, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Digital Accountancy Show on our journey to shape the future of events. At Easyfairs, we constantly challenge ourselves to look into the future and picture what the lives of our communities will look like. It’s clear that the Digital Accountancy Show team shares this vision having created a festival-like event that has a perfect blend of high quality content, vibrant social scene and innovative solutions; all while prioritising entertainment for the accountancy community.”

Alison Willis continued: “Digital Accountancy Show has grown from strength to strength and we look forward to working closely together with Dan, James and the rest of the team to continue this momentum to reach new heights by fostering collaboration, creativity and excellence.”

For further information, please contact:

Samuel O’Connell
Regional Marketing Director
Easyfairs UK & Global
D: +44 (0)20 3196 4300
E: sam.oconnell@easyfairs.com

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Flanders Expo innovates with 5G & WiFi 6 networks 18 Feb 2025, 9:49 am

Flanders Expo increases digital comfort for its visitors, exhibitors, and organisers and strengthens its position in the international congress market. The investment was made with the support of Visit Flanders.

GHENT, February 18, 2025 – Flanders Expo, one of four venues operated by event organiser Easyfairs Belgium, continues to invest in its digital infrastructure, equipping the venue with a 5G network and WiFi 6 technology. Following earlier innovations, such as the purchase of digital screens in 2024, this project marks a new phase in the company’s sustainability journey, aiming to halve its CO2 emissions by 2030. The investment makes Flanders Expo an even more attractive player in the international congress and events market. Visit Flanders is supporting the project with the aim of encouraging more event organisers to consider Flanders for congresses and events.

Stronger position in the congress and events market

Equipping the venue with a private 5G network, in collaboration with partner Proximus, and WiFi 6 technology through Citymesh, had a total price tag of €220,000. Visit Flanders helped finance the project with a subsidy of €75,000. Stefanie Roels, Venue Manager at Flanders Expo, explains: “WiFi 6 and 5G should ensure that you are faster, safer, and always connected at Flanders Expo, regardless of the number of visitors present.” With this, the company hopes not only to improve the digital comfort of all its stakeholders but to differentiate Flanders Expo from its competitors with a cutting-edge digital infrastructure. Flanders Expo will become the first event venue with a fully owned 5G private network and is confident that this will attract new congress and event organisers who require stable connectivity. In this way, Easyfairs Belgium is positioning itself as a leading player and strengthening its (international) market position.

Tourism Flanders supports

Ghent is a tourist attraction with a rich history and vibrant culture. The Flanders Expo multifunctional site is currently often overlooked by organisers of national and international congresses. “This is a missed opportunity to draw businesses and federations to the city,” according to CEO Peter De Wilde of Visit Flanders. “Innovative and digital experiences definitely give a multi-format venue like Flanders Expo a competitive edge. An initiative that we are happy to support.”

More digitalisation to come

There are even more impressive digitalisation projects to come from Easyfairs. “The switch to these networks allows us to make even more digital investments in the future, such as linking digital signage and wayfinding to the digital screens that were already purchased in 2024. Digitalisation is thus an important component of a sustainable congress experience,” says Alain D’haese, COO and Head of Venues at Easyfairs Belgium.
Easyfairs signed the “Net Zero Carbon Events” pledge in 2021, with which it aims to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and become completely energy-neutral by 2050.

For more information, please contact:

Alain D’haese
Head of Venues Easyfairs Belgium
Alain.dhaese@easyfairs.com
+32 499 86 11 83

Stef Gits
Tourism Flanders
stef.gits@toerismevlaanderen.be

About VisitFlanders

VisitFlanders enhances the positive impact of tourism with the aim of making Flanders thrive as an innovative, inspiring, and high-quality travel destination. We support the tourism sector in further developing Flanders as a travel destination, and we promote our region abroad. Our efforts benefit the place as well as its residents, entrepreneurs, and visitors.
www.visitflanders.com/en/about-visitflanders

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Easyfairs Netherlands earns prestigious Great Place To Work certification 4 Feb 2025, 1:41 pm

Easyfairs Netherlands has officially been certified as a Great Place To Work, a recognition based entirely on employee feedback.
This achievement underscores the company’s commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

A Commitment to employee experience

“We are hugely excited about this important certification, as our employees’ experience is our top priority every day,” said Eefje Voorrips-Schilders, Head of Talent at Easyfairs Netherlands. “We want to thank all employees immensely for everything they do to earn this great recognition.”

Team members particularly praised the company for its welcoming atmosphere and inclusive environment.
Many shared positive feedback on statements such as, “When you come to work here, they make sure you feel welcome quickly” and “This is a fun place to work.”
The survey also highlighted Easyfairs’s dedication to fairness, ensuring that everyone is treated equitably regardless of their background.
“The fact that these aspects are so highly rated means a lot to us,” Eefje Voorrips-Schilders added. “These are core pillars of Easyfairs that we have focused on in recent years, and we will continue to do so.”

What did we do to earn this recognition?

We designed a great workplace culture! The certificate is awarded through an assured procedure based on anonymous feedback from employees and an in-depth analysis of human resources measures and programmes.
This ensures that the certification truly reflects the experiences and opinions of our team members.

A global recognition of workplace excellence

“Great Place To Work certification is a coveted recognition that requires consistency and purposeful commitment to the overall employee experience,” said Sarah Lewis-Kulin, Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. “By successfully achieving this recognition, it is clear that Easyfairs Netherlands excels as one of the best companies to work for, providing a great working environment for its employees.”

Part of a larger success story

With this milestone, Easyfairs Netherlands joins its counterparts Easyfairs Germany, Easyfairs Switzerland (both certified in 2023) and Easyfairs Belgium (certified in 2019), all of which have also been recognised as Great Places To Work.
This achievement solidifies Easyfairs’ commitment to maintaining an outstanding workplace culture across multiple countries.

As Easyfairs Netherlands continues to grow, this certification reaffirms its dedication to fostering an inclusive, welcoming, and fair work environment for all employees.

Passion for events? Join the show!

2025 and beyond: Easyfairs’ vision for growth and events 23 Jan 2025, 1:34 pm

An interview with Easyfairs CEOs Matt Benyon and Anne Lafère

We’re kicking off 2025 with an exciting new chapter in Easyfairs’ history.
The recent strategic investment from Cobepa and Inflexion, alongside a significant reinvestment from Easyfairs’ Founder and Group Chairman Eric Everard, sets the stage for ambitious growth and innovation.

In this interview, our two CEOs share their vision for the future, exploring the prospects for the events industry and what lies ahead for Easyfairs.

Let’s start by asking, what’s the outlook for events in the digital age?

Anne Lafère: The more the world becomes digitalised, the greater the demand for face-to-face events. This is especially true of trade fairs, which provide platforms for business and professional communities to meet and connect in person, where innovations can be experienced firsthand, where experts and specialists can debate the issues of the day and where career development can take place. The more we go digital, the more we value – and enjoy – meeting in person to address new challenges.

And what are the current challenges?

Matt Benyon: In recent years we’ve seen massive disruptions to global supply chains, and this has had an impact on all areas of business, not least exhibitions. The pandemic, global trade tensions, extreme weather events and regional conflicts have caused many organisations to restructure their supply chains. This, together with the reduction in international business travel has created a difficult environment for large global trade fairs. Instead, the focus has been on highly targeted events meeting the needs of regional business communities in specific industries – and that is entirely in line with the Easyfairs business model. Many companies are also more cost-conscious than in the past, so once again our time and cost-effective business model is proving resilient as we face economic headwinds.

Anne Lafère: Of course, we have also adapted to the new realities of the digital age. People now expect a personalised experience in all they do, and visiting an event is no exception. That’s why, for example, we’re applying artificial intelligence, such as matchmaking algorithms to facilitate purposeful connections. And since we’re all about communities, Easyfairs is no longer totally focused on physical events – important though these are. We now provide multiple digital touchpoints and community platforms to enable networking opportunities all year round.

What are the growth prospects for Easyfairs, given the economic situation?

Matt Benyon: With the new investment from Cobepa and Inflexion, combined with the reinvestment from our Founder and Group Chairman Eric Everard, prospects for growth are greater than ever. The foundations are already strong. In 2024 we delivered a solid 21 percent increase in sales and a 47 per cent leap in earnings.
The investment will fund both organic growth through new events, product launches and what we call geo-cloning – transplanting proven event concepts in new cities and regions – as well as sizeable acquisitions. All of our investors are committed to our accelerated growth.

What are the opportunities for acquisition?

Matt Benyon: We will expand through two types of acquisition. Firstly, we’re looking for ‘plug and play’ tactical opportunities aimed at strengthening our existing event clusters. A good example is how in 2024 we bought both Southern Manufacturing and UK Metals Expo in the UK to build out our manufacturing cluster. Secondly, we are looking seriously at strategic acquisitions to add new industry verticals or enter new geographies in Europe and beyond. We can also use acquisitions to introduce innovative event formats.

We hear the term ‘must-attend’ lots in relation to events. What will ensure that Easyfairs events are unmissable in 2025 and beyond?

Matt Benyon: Over the past year we have been amazed and delighted at the way we are attracting top brands to our events. We’ve seen lots of deals done on the show floor and of course our exhibitors invest in our events mainly to make sales or generate strong leads. We facilitate this with opportunities for networking in a relaxed atmosphere. That means deals can be done not only on the exhibitor stands but also through serendipitous catch-ups in the VIP lounge or at an after-hours mixer.
Anne Lafère: Yes, and for many visitors it’s our content programmes that make our shows unmissable. We take care to plan our conference stages to include a mix of content from as diverse a range of voices as possible in presentations and panel discussions. This means you might find representatives from the government to talk about legislation and regulations, followed by an inspiring talk from a leading brand, followed by a young CEO of a disruptive startup focused on sustainability.
Our goal is to ensure everyone who attends leaves with something truly memorable, whether that’s a new connection, or spark of inspiration. The breakthroughs and big ideas shaping our target industries will be inspired by the insights and experiences gained at our events. That kind of impact is something you won’t find anywhere else.

You have made some strong commitments to a sustainable future in events. Is that possible, or even realistic?

Anne Lafère: Absolutely possible, but of course it will be challenging. We are members of the Net Zero Carbon Events pledge, aiming to halve our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and become net zero by 2050. To achieve this aim, we ensure our event venues produce renewable energy through solar panels and take measures to reduce water waste. Our all-in stand model reduces transport emissions and enables us to reuse stand structures across multiple events. Our existing and unique business model will serve us well in 2025 and beyond in achieving our sustainability goals.
We’re doing this not only because we believe it’s the right thing to do, but also because we understand that many of our attendees and exhibitors feel the same way. Sending employees to visit an event is part of a business’s operations, and like any business function it now has to be viewed through the lens of sustainability.

So in a short sentence or two, can you summarise what will make 2025 an important one in the Easyfairs story?

Matt Benyon: The outlook is incredibly exciting! Our mission and ambitions remain the same, but with the new investments we will have the financial means to more than realise our dreams.
Anne Lafère: It’s going to be rewarding and a lot of fun for everyone at the company!

As Easyfairs embarks on this exciting new chapter, it’s clear that 2025 and beyond will be defined by growth, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to sustainability. With a clear vision, strong investments, and an unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional events, Easyfairs is poised to inspire our target industries and communities. The journey ahead promises to be both transformative and impactful, and we can’t wait to share it with all of you.

Celebrating excellence at the Easyfairs Academy Awards! 22 Jan 2025, 3:13 pm

Last week, Easyfairs proudly hosted its much-anticipated annual Academy Awards—an internal online event that brought together 870 team members from 20 offices.

The Easyfairs Academy Awards recognises each year the extraordinary contributions of our colleagues through a series of awards. Amongst 13 categories, these include:

• The Talent Trailblazer, honoring exceptional leadership in identifying and nurturing talent.
• The AI Automation, celebrating innovative use of artificial intelligence to improve processes and results.
• The ESG Crusader, awarded for championing environmental, social, and governance initiatives that align with our core values.
• The Venue Transformer, recognising outstanding contributions to revolutionising our venues.
• The Eventpreneur, celebrating bold entrepreneurial spirit in creating transformative event experiences.

A huge congratulations to all our winners and nominees! Their passion and dedication are the driving forces behind Easyfairs’ success, and these awards stand as a testament to the incredible results we achieve together.

With the exciting theme of “Around the World,” this 10th edition celebrated our growing global footprint while staying true to our “having fun” value; team members fully embraced the theme with creative costumes, making the event even more memorable!

Here’s to another year of amazing accomplishments as we aim for even greater heights in 2025 and beyond!

Antwerp Expo Invests in digital signage and wayfinding 21 Jan 2025, 1:38 pm

Antwerp Expo enhances its competitive position as an attractive international congress venue, with the support of VisitFlanders

Antwerp, 21 January 2025 – Antwerp Expo, one of four Easyfairs Belgium venues and a leading player in the Belgian events sector, is investing further in the digitalisation of its infrastructure. This marks an important milestone in the venue’s sustainability journey, but also increases the competitive position of Antwerp Expo in the international congress segment of the events industry. VisitFlanders, which is committed to the sustainable development and promotion of the region, is therefore supporting this initiative.

The digital transformation has several aspects, including the installation of eight indoor and outdoor LCD digital signage screens, five indoor LCD movable totems, and a mobility platform for better way-finding tailored to visitors, exhibitors, and organisers. The latter is being implemented in collaboration with Youreka! The total investment is €150,000, with VisitFlanders contributing €62,800 in support of this trajectory. This latest digitalisation project follows Antwerp Expo’s investment in solar panels, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Philippe Willegems, Head of Venue at Antwerp Expo explains: “The installation was first used in December 2024 and the effects are already noticeable. The reactions were positive during both our DiveXpo and Art Antwerp events, with the visitor experience receiving a significant boost. They felt more welcome, better informed, and better supported. Organisers also reported a smoother process and indicated that this also allowed them to better highlight their brand.”

International Congress Venue

The creation of a better customer experience was not the only criterion for this investment. Antwerp Expo also aimed for greater operational efficiency and increasing its attractiveness as a congress location, both nationally and internationally. Philippe Willegems continues: “Antwerp Expo had a digital infrastructure for our internal operations, but to compete in the market for international congresses, we needed to make investments in state-of-the-art digital applications. This is now a reality. Combined with our service excellence, we can now appear on the radar of international companies and federations looking for a congress venue”

Support from VisitFlanders

National and international congresses and events create significant added value for local hospitality firms and are therefore a stimulus for the City of Antwerp’s tourism sector. They also lend prestige to the region and are often a platform for meetings between decision-makers. “The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on the congress and event industry in Flanders,” says Peter De Wilde, CEO of VisitFlanders. “The traditional format of meetings, events, and congresses came under pressure and the requirements to compete internationally have changed rapidly in a short space of time. With this investment, Antwerp Expo is ensuring that it will remain digitally state-of-the-art and can also differentiate itself in an innovative way.”

In short, with this investment, Antwerp Expo is focusing on the further professionalisation of its activities as a multi-format event location. “With five halls, three entrance zones, and a meeting & congress centre, this degree of digitalisation is important for our evolution,” Willegems concludes.

Antwerp Expo is also taking another step in the sustainability journey of parent company Easyfairs. In October 2021, Easyfairs signed the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge, committing to be CO2-neutral by 2050 and to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

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Easyfairs announces solid growth in sales (+20.8%) and leap in EBITDA (+47.1%) 14 Jan 2025, 8:14 am

Organic growth, acquisitions and cost control all drive strong performance

Brussels, 14 January 2025: Easyfairs has announced its results for the financial year 2023-24. Easyfairs 2023-24 revenues grew to €229.3 million (previous year: €189.8 million), an increase of 20.8%. Recurring EBITDA hit €52.3 million (previous year: €35.5 million), an increase of 47.1%).

Sales growth has been accompanied by excellent cost control, which has pushed the EBITDA margin up from 18.7% the previous year to 22.8%.

Commenting on the results, Easyfairs’ Chief Financial Officer Marc Hellemans said: “Our previous financial year 2022-23 showed significant growth largely thanks to the post-Covid rebound. So it is especially gratifying that our figures for 2023-24 are even better. Revenues are up, thanks mainly to strong organic growth, by 22.9%, which has been characterised by significant growth in the volume of events – close to 9%. We also launched 15 new shows, contributing 4.5% to our total sales. In addition two acquisitions in the financial year, Coiltech and Southern Manufacturing, contributed almost 5% to total sales.”

The results also underline the resilience of the Easyfairs business model. “The more the world goes digital, the more value people place on the ability to meet face to face,” commented Easyfairs’ Group CEO Anne Lafère. “At the same time, people expect a personalised experience in all they do and visiting an event is no exception. That’s why, for example, we’re applying artificial intelligence such as matchmaking algorithms to facilitate purposeful connections and to personalise visitors’ agendas according to their preferences and objectives.”

Reflecting on three consecutive record years and the prospects for 2025, Matt Benyon, who shares Group CEO responsibilities with Lafère, commented: “With the recently announced new investment from Cobepa and Inflexion, prospects for growth are greater than ever. The investment will fund both organic growth through new events and product launches and what we call geo-cloning – transplanting proven event concepts in new cities and regions – as well as sizeable acquisitions.”

Download the Financial Report

Easyfairs acquires UK Metals Expo 18 Dec 2024, 1:27 pm

This acquisition represents yet another significant addition in 2024 to Easyfairs’ ever-growing engineering and manufacturing portfolio

London, 18 December – Easyfairs today announced the acquisition of UK Metals Expo Limited. This move seamlessly complements Europe’s largest network of powerhouse industrial events, which boasts 30+ manufacturing and industrial processing exhibitions and earlier this year saw Southern Manufacturing & Electronics added to Easyfairs’ distinguished portfolio.

Since its launch in 2022, UK Metals Expo has become firmly established as the annual event uniting the entire metals supply chain. The event has experienced phenomenal year on year growth in visitor attendance and exhibitor participation and enjoys the support of all key trade associations in the sector. This growth, coupled with strong enthusiasm from all stakeholders for networking and learning opportunities, has positioned the event as a significant force shaping the future of the metals sector in the UK. The next edition will take place on 10 & 11 September 2025 at the NEC Birmingham and will welcome 380 exhibitors.

UK Metals Expo joins a powerful portfolio of established Easyfairs events, including the UK-based Advanced Engineering and Southern Manufacturing & Electronics. The obvious synergies between the events, including strong relationships with leading industry associations, not to mention the enhanced network of key visitor and exhibitor brands and complete supply chain coverage, offer more annual touch points for stakeholders to connect and do business. This melting pot of knowledge, experts, suppliers, technology and creativity will be perfectly placed to serve the entire UK manufacturing value chain, 365 days a year, and with innovation at its heart.

UK Metals Expo also becomes part of a portfolio of European events including: Metal Madrid – part of Advanced Manufacturing Madrid – Spain’s largest annual gathering for manufacturing, machining and metal processing; Metavak in The Netherlands; and Journée de Métal in Belgium, to name but a few. The synergy between the events opens up numerous exciting opportunities for the UK Metals Expo exhibitors to unlock channels to new audiences across Europe.

Alison Willis, CEO of Easyfairs UK & Global, commented: “We are excited to work with the UK Metals Expo team to continue to grow and develop this fantastic event. Supporting and championing the manufacturing industry has become an integral part of Easyfairs’ mission. Easyfairs will strive to further strengthen UK Metals Expo with our technology infrastructure, sizeable database from running 30+ industrial events and strong relationships with relevant media and associations. I’m confident that together we will be even better placed to serve this renowned community.”

“It was vital for us to consider what was best for the future of the event and the community it serves. Our event was borne out of a relationship with the UK Metals Council, so we needed to find the right organiser who would continue to position it as the annual focal point for the metals sector,” commented Jason Franks, Managing Director of UK Metals Expo. “Easyfairs was immediately identified as the perfect home for the UK Metals Expo. Myself and the team recognise the synergies between our values, objectives and long-term plans and are all excited to work with the Easyfairs team to continue to successfully deliver the 2025 event and beyond. This is the obvious next step in the UK Metals Expo journey.”

For further information, please contact:

Samuel O’Connell
Regional Marketing Director
D: +44 (0)20 3196 4300
E: sam.oconnell@easyfairs.com

Download the full press release

Easyfairs Group acquires GameForce, strengthening its position as leader of pop culture events in the Benelux 20 Nov 2024, 4:07 pm

Leading event company adds key gaming segment to its pop culture portfolio

Brussels, 20 November 2024 – Easyfairs has been organising successful events such as FACTS, Heroes Comic Con, Made in Asia and Dutch Comic Con for years, under the HEROES umbrella brand. With the addition of GameForce, Easyfairs has strengthened its offering in the gaming sector, taking an important step forward in its growth strategy.

In October 2024, Easyfairs went big at Brussels Expo by adding GameForce to its own events, Made in Asia and Heroes Comic Con. As a gaming event, GameForce attracted an audience that closely matched and complemented the audience for Easyfairs’ own events. By acquiring this gaming business, Easyfairs is now strengthening and broadening its position as market leader.

“Thanks to this acquisition, we have become the only relevant gaming event player in Belgium,” says Kenneth Verheyden, CEO of Easyfairs Belgium. “The addition of the gaming segment to our current pop culture events also offers great opportunities for advertisers in Belgium and the Netherlands.”

Heroes & GameForce: a perfect match

GameForce is clearly a perfect match for Easyfairs’ Heroes events. The portfolio includes FACTS at Flanders Expo — which has now been going for more than 30 years — alongside the Brussels combo Made in Asia and Heroes Comic Con, and also the Heroes Dutch Comic Con event in the Netherlands.

“We are convinced that Easyfairs is the right partner to continue GameForce’s growth,” states Steven Leunens, co-CEO of Unlocked. “Easyfairs’ community-focused approach aligns perfectly with GameForce’s values.”

Heroes events and GameForce are both warm community gatherings, at which it is possible to meet world-famous stars, pick up collector’s items from hundreds of shops, attend themed activities and shows, and mingle with like-minded fans.

Future plans

“This formula gives everyone an appetite for more, both internally and with the tens of thousands of visitors,” says Anthony Audenaerd, Event Director of Heroes Belgium. “This qualitative addition will only make the whole event grow. There is a bright and exciting future ahead, both for the GameForce brand and for all Heroes events.”

The next edition of GameForce, Made in Asia and Heroes Comic Con will take place on 18 and 19 October 2025 at Brussels Expo.
Made in Asia will take place on 7-9 March 2025. The Dutch GameForce event has no confirmed date so far.

For more information, please contact:

Anthony Audenaerd
Event Director Heroes Belgium
Anthony.Audenaerd@easyfairs.com
+32 (0)474 86 08 99

Download the press release 

Easyfairs Belgium takes another step towards carbon neutrality 19 Nov 2024, 9:00 am

Leading events company switches to 100% green electricity from NieuweStroom

Ghent, 19 November 2024 – Easyfairs Belgium, the leading player in the country’s events sector, has announced that with effect from January 2025, operations at its four venues (Antwerp Expo, Flanders Expo, Namur Expo and Mechelen-Brussels North) will be fully powered by 100% green electricity, a big part of that provided by energy supplier NieuweStroom. This marks a significant milestone in Easyfairs’ sustainability journey. In October 2021, Easyfairs signed the “Net Zero Carbon Events” pledge, with a commitment to achieving net zero by 2050 and halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Alain D’Haese, COO & Head of Venues, Easyfairs Belgium, comments: “By choosing NieuweStroom we’re taking a major step towards a greener future and contributing to the broader energy transition in Belgium. It’s one of many initiatives here in Belgium and across the entire Easyfairs group, which we described in detail in our first annual sustainability report, published earlier in the year.”

Dynamic energy contract

Easyfairs selected NieuweStroom based on its unique and innovative approach. Kim Van Houdt, Partner Manager at NieuweStroom, explains: “We do things differently from traditional suppliers. We are transforming the unwieldy energy market, making it 100% fair and transparent. Everyone understands what sustainable generation means, but for the energy transition, the term ‘sustainable consumption’ is equally important, and enterprises can save significantly in this area. With our approach, Easyfairs has the freedom to benefit from the most favourable energy prices while contributing to a more sustainable future by reducing its CO2 emissions.”

Impact on the Belgian energy transition

“I hope that this collaboration between Easyfairs and NieuweStroom will be beneficial not just for our two companies but will also have broader implications for the Belgian energy market, providing inspiration for others,” D’Haese adds. “By choosing green energy and promoting sustainable energy consumption, Easyfairs is playing an active role in the energy transition. This contributes to lower national energy consumption and a more sustainable energy market.”

A constant focus to reduce energy consumption

Other initiatives already undertaken by Easyfairs Belgium to reduce its overall energy consumption and accelerate the transition to green energy include investment in LEDs at its venues and the installation of solar panels on their roofs. Solar power currently supplies 80 per cent of Antwerp Expo’s electricity and 45 per cent of Flanders Expo’s. The rest will be supplied by NieuweStroom, which will also supply 100 per cent of the electricity to Namur Expo and Mechelen-Brussels North.

“We’ve carried out energy audits at all our venues and put the recommendations into action. This also resulted in Flanders Expo saving 100,000 cubic metres in gas in a single year, for example,” says D’Haese.

Easyfairs Belgium is taking action on the environment across a very broad front, reducing wastage and offering more sustainable options in catering facilities. Easyfairs also encourages visitors to minimise their carbon footprint when travelling to its venues. It has already installed 120 charging stations for electric vehicles.

For further information, please contact:

Alain D’Haese
COO & Head of Venues Easyfairs Belgium
Alain.dhaese@easyfairs.com
+32 (0)499 86 11 83

Kim Van Houdt
Partner Manager, NieuweStroom
k.vanhoudt@nieuwestroom.be
+32 (0)477 71 10 22

Download the press release

Discover more initiatives in the first Easyfairs Sustainability Report