Gyro Huddle: ICE London 2023 Preview

Introduction

• Participants: Tim (Interviewer), Stuart (Guest)
• Topic: Upcoming ICE London event, preparation, expectations, and features

Excitement and Preparation

• Excitement: High among the organizing team; coming together after over two years
• Preparation: Finishing touches being added, stand designs, features being completed
• Operations Team: Mixed feelings – excitement and stress due to the scale and conditions of the event

Attendance Expectations

• Historical Consistency: Numbers for ICE have traditionally been consistent
• Registrations: Highest ever recorded at this point, compared to the 2020 show
• Redemption Rate: Expected to be around 70-75% due to global conditions
• Current Trends: Increase in decision-makers, key operators, brands
  • Some registrations coming from earlier fence-sitters
  • Expected attendance well over 20,000

Date Change to April

• Original Date: February, moved to April this year
• Future Dates: No long-term plan to move from February dates
  • February 7-9, 2023, already locked in
• Reason for April Move: Due to unavoidable circumstances; no significant preference shift noted for a later date

Highlights and Features

• Investment: Significant investment into ICE brand despite challenges
• Enhanced Features:
  • Consumer Protection Zone – Expanded and enhanced
  • ICE 365 Studio – Permanent feature for hybrid content and year-round engagement
  • Esports Arena – Now with Rocket League tournament and $25,000 prize pool
  • New sports bars and other interactive features
• Overall Experience: Focus on reminding people of face-to-face interaction benefits

ICE Brand Outside London

• Main Focus: Concentration on enhancing ICE London as the central event
• Global Effort: Hosted meetings program to bring in new buyers globally (e.g., tribal casinos from the US)
• Short to Midterm Vision: No immediate plans for further geographical expansion

Personal Highlights for Stuart

• People Gathering: Greatest anticipation for the reunion of industry professionals
• New Product Launches: Over 1800 new products to be launched
  • ICE as a major platform for product debuts
• Networking and Learning: Redesigned conference tracks, more roundtable discussions
• Overall Sentiment: The emphasis on real-life interactions and the unique atmosphere of ICE

Conclusion

• Excitement and Anticipation: Positive outlook despite operational stresses
• Looking Forward: High attendance, networking, and new experiences post-event
• Post-Event Summary: Future roundup discussion planned after the event