International Casinos Exhibitor (ICE) is exploring other cities to host ICE, which started in 1990 as a U.K.-centric trade show and grew by leaps and bounds into an international phenomenon.
ICE is returning to London after two years dark due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile the organizers are exploring a possible move to another city for a five-year stint.
In a release, Clarion Gaming said that cities being considered as the five-year home include Barcelona, Madrid, Paris and London.
ICE has been under pressure from industry representatives to make such a move. It has announced that it will hold a competitive bidding process. It is working with a consultant to establish a list of finalists. The winner of the process will be announced in the third quarter of this year and it will host ICE from 2025 to 2029.
Clarion Group Managing Director Alex Pratt said in a statement, “This robust process is customer-centric and the decision will be taken in the best interests of our stakeholders and of the global gaming industry.” He added, “iGB Affiliate London is very much part of the process and we are engaging with iGB Affiliate stakeholders in order to identify their preferred strategic path.”
He added, “In addition to the suitability of locations in terms of capacity, facilities and the ability to accommodate projected future growth the process also encompasses dateline availability, transport connectivity with the rest of the world as well as the broader hospitality infrastructure including accommodation costs.”
