Amsterdam RAI and KLM to attract more events to Amsterdam

On Monday 3 October 2011 Amsterdam RAI and KLM signed a multi-year contract in which they agree to join forces in attracting international exhibitions, conferences, events and their visitors to Amsterdam at a competitive price. 

Bidding procedure

Amsterdam RAI and KLM will work closely together to (continue to) draw large international events to Amsterdam. The joint venture involves around 25 bidding procedures for large international exhibitions and conferences a year. KLM will offer the organisers flights and enable them to come to Amsterdam to experience the benefits of Amsterdam RAI and travelling with KLM. In addition, the Air France & KLM Global Meetings online booking tool offers many benefits to organisers and their visitors and exhibitors. 

“In cooperation with the City Wide Congresses Taskforce, Amsterdam RAI will now include KLM in all its tenders for exhibitions, conferences and other events,” says Hans Bakker, Chairman of the Board of Amsterdam RAI. Taskforce City Wide Congresses is a partnership between Amsterdam RAI, the Amsterdam Tourism and Convention Board (ATCB), Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam public transport company GVB, Amsterdam taxi service TCA, hotels and the Economic Affairs department of the city of Amsterdam. The Taskforce’s goal is to efficiently organise multiple bids for large events. 

Air France & KLM Global Meetings

Air France & KLM Global Meetings offer organisers of exhibitions, conferences and events a free online tool that is unique within the aviation industry. It enables organisers to make their event more attractive to visitors and exhibitors by benefitting from a discount of five to ten percent on most published KLM and Air France fares. In addition, the organisers receive free tickets . “The attractive and flexible organisation of Amsterdam RAI combined with the ease and benefits of KLM’s Air France & KLM Global Meetings booking tool and its large number of flight destinations makes Amsterdam an even more attractive choice,” says Harm Kreulen, Director KLM Netherlands.

Promotion and services

KLM will also use its own media (in-flight and across its 70-plus markets) to inform potential visitors of the exhibitions, conferences and events. Amsterdam RAI will invest in optimising the visitor experience, including a service desk during international events for checking into or transferring flights.  

Joint forces

The partnership will further strengthen the position of Amsterdam as main port and international exhibition and conference destination. And with KLM and its large network, the hub Schiphol and Amsterdam RAI, the Netherlands has a great deal to offer (international) exhibition and conference visitors. Amsterdam RAI is responsible for a significant part of the annual business tourism in Amsterdam, while the KLM Group flies directly to Amsterdam from 185 airports worldwide, offering direct connections to most of the world’s major economic regions. As a member of the SkyTeam alliance, KLM is part of a network that connects 921 destinations in 168 countries. 

About Amsterdam RAI

With a portfolio of ‘A’ brands, the ultimate ‘A’ location in the city of Amsterdam and a history dating back to 1893, Amsterdam RAI is one of Europe’s most attractive and innovative exhibition complexes. It hosts over 50 national and international conferences, 70 (trade) exhibitions, events and over 1,000 smaller conferences, meetings, presentations and other gatherings a year.

The success of Amsterdam RAI is in part due to its excellent location: The largest exhibition and convention centre in the Netherlands is just 15 minutes from Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam city centre. The 11 multi-functional exhibition halls (87,000m²), the new Elicium building and the 22 conference halls are an integral part of a dynamic world city.

About KLM

Royal Dutch Airlines KLM was established in 1919, and is the oldest airline to still be operating under its original name. In 2004 Air France and KLM merged into AIR FRANCE KLM to create the world’s strongest airline group based on two powerful brands and hubs, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle. While maintaining their own identity, the airlines coordinate three main activities: Passenger transport, cargo transport and aircraft maintenance. 

For more information please visit www.rai.nl and www.airfranceklm-globalmeetings.com.