IBC expands real estate for manufacturers with new Hall 12

IBC organisers say that manufacturers are still clamouring for more space at IBC2006, so the exhibition team has worked with the RAI Centre to offer an additional 500 square metre show floor which will now be known as Hall 12.
Combined with some other changes it will make the whole experience for visitors and exhibitors better and more convenient.
The top news is that the exhibition will also move into the Europa Foyer 1, near Hall 1 (in the area previously used as a food court). It links directly with the extended Mobile Zone to form another major exhibition space known as Hall 12. Adding around 500 square metres will come close to clearing the waiting list for space.
To compensate for the loss of the food court, the Onyx Lounge (near the Auditorium) becomes a restaurant, and the RAI staff restaurant (in the lower passage, opposite IBC TV News) will be open to IBC visitors from Friday to Tuesday. In the courtyard next to the staff restaurant will be a barbecue area (with a canvas roof in case of bad weather.)
Previously the Onyx Lounge was used for registration, but with most people now registering online and getting their badges in advance much less space is required for this function. A temporary pavilion outside the Europa complex (hall 1 end) will be the place for last minute registrations.
Sony will also be building its own pavilion next to Hall 9 to house its outside exhibits, and we hope to link Grass Valley's outside exhibits with their main display in Hall 11.
All of this – and the preliminary works for the new transport interchange on the North-South line – means that there will be changes to the outside exhibit areas and the traffic flows. However, it will mean that visitors will be able to get to taxis, trams and shuttle buses quickly and easily.
This expansion and reorganisation was only agreed recently, so the final details are still being settled.
But organisers are confident it is going to make the event even more memorable.
(SP)