Consolidating the impact of Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) beyond the days of this trade fair in Barcelona, ​​the most important in the audiovisual sector, which began today, Tuesday, and runs until this Friday, is the objective behind the creation of the ISE Foundation, in which the Barcelona City Council and the Catalan Government participate. It is a similar model to the one established following the Mobile World Congress (MWC), Mobile World Capital Barcelona, ​​in which the Spanish government also participates.

The peak season in Barcelona has been moving earlier for years, before summer and Easter. The Mobile World Congress (MWC), since its arrival in 2006, and especially after its expansion when it moved to Hospitalet de Llobregat, has evened out the seasonality of hotel activity and created a new peak at the beginning of the year with its 109,000 visitors. This has been further enhanced by the arrival of other trade shows such as Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), which will hold its fifth edition in the city starting this Tuesday. ISE doesn't attract as many delegates as MWC, but its attendance is growing year after year. The industry estimates that for every ISE booking, three are made for MWC. The audiovisual trade show, directed by Mike Blackman, welcomed more than 85,000 attendees last year and is registering 10% more bookings for this week's edition. The trade fair alone books around 8,000 rooms through its booking agency. "It's very good for hotels, both because of its scale and because it's held in February. Historically, it was a very bad month, and MWC and ISE have made it a good one," says Manel Casals, director of the Hotel Guild. Hoteliers know this and have been preparing for a week of high occupancy. This is the case at the Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower, popularly known for the UFO that Richard Rogers placed on its roof. "It's not quite MWC, but it's getting close," confirms sales manager Silvia Bullich. However, unlike what happens with MWC attendees, those attending ISE are staying longer. Those attending Mobile World Congress, who already know the city after so many years, aren't coming the weekend before or are delaying their return to do some sightseeing, something that those attending ISE are doing, with stays of between four and five nights, and some even between six and seven nights.

Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), the premier audiovisual trade fair, opens its doors this Tuesday, February 3rd, at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, ​​showcasing all the latest innovations and conferences in the audiovisual industry until Friday, February 6th. This will be the fifth year the event has been held in Barcelona, ​​and Managing Director Mike Blackman (Georgetown, 1958) describes himself as a lover of the city. He considers leaving Amsterdam and establishing ISE in the Catalan capital to have been "the right decision" and, for now, isn't considering any alternative.