With this initiative, Flanders Expo enhances the digital comfort of its visitors, exhibitors, and organizers, aiming to strengthen its position in the international convention market. The investment was made with the support of Visit Flanders.
GHENT, February 18, 2025 – Flanders Expo, one of the four event locations of event organizer Easyfairs Belgium, continues to invest in its digital infrastructure. Following previous innovations, such as the acquisition of digital screens in 2024, this project marks a new phase in the company’s sustainability journey, which strives to halve CO2 emissions by 2030. It makes Flanders Expo an attractive player in the convention and event market. Visit Flanders hopes that organizers will look toward Flanders more frequently as a result and has therefore co-supported the project.
Stronger position in the convention and event market
Equipping the venue with a private 5G network, in collaboration with partner Proximus, and WiFi 6 technology via Citymesh, involved a total cost of €220,000. Visit Flanders assisted in financing the project with a grant of €75,000. Stefanie Roels, Venue Manager at Flanders Expo, explains: “WiFi 6 and 5G are designed to ensure 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 also that the digital infrastructure will distinguish Flanders Expo from its competitors. Flanders Expo becomes the first event location with its own fully private 5G network, aiming to attract new organizers of conventions and events requiring stable connectivity. In this way, Easyfairs Belgium intends to establish itself as a leading player and strengthen its (international) market position.
Visit Flanders provides support
Ghent is a major tourist attraction with a rich history and vibrant culture. However, the multifunctional site is currently often overlooked by organizers of national and international conventions. “A missed opportunity to attract companies and federations to the city,” says CEO Peter De Wilde of Visit Flanders. “Innovative and digital experiences guaranteed a competitive advantage for a multi-format venue like Flanders Expo. This is an initiative we are happy to support.”
More digitalization on the way
This will certainly not be the last digitalization project, as Easyfairs has more ambitious plans in store. “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 previously purchased in 2023. Digitalization is an essential component of a sustainable convention experience,” says Alain D’haese, COO and Head of Venues at Easyfairs Belgium. In 2021, Easyfairs signed the “Net Zero Carbon Events” pledge, aiming to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and become completely carbon 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
Visit Flanders stef.gits@toerismevlaanderen.be
About Easyfairs
Easyfairs organizes and manages events, aiming to bring communities together under the motto ‘Visit the future’.
Today, Easyfairs organizes approximately 110 leading events in 14 countries (Algeria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States). We also manage 8 event locations in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden (Antwerp, Ghent, Mechelen, Namur, Gorinchem, Hardenberg, Malmö, and Stockholm).
Easyfairs aims to make its customers’ lives easier. We increase not only the return on investment but also the return on time invested for professional communities. How? Through our all-in formulas, advanced technologies, and customer-centric approach. Our progressive, digital mindset gives these communities the chance to network and do business year-round.
The Easyfairs Group employs 870 dedicated staff, utilizes the best marketing and technology tools, and develops strong brands that appeal to our stakeholder communities.
In 2024, for the sixth consecutive year, Deloitte awarded the ‘Best Managed Company’ label to Easyfairs. Visit the future with Easyfairs and discover more at www.easyfairs.com
About Visit Flanders
Visit Flanders strengthens the positive power of tourism with the goal of making Flanders flourish 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 destination abroad. Our efforts benefit the location as well as residents, entrepreneurs, and visitors.www.visitflanders.com
