CONTENT IS KING (AND QUEEN)
Intertraffic: The content programme seems to be very fluid and typically well-thought out, but with a greater emphasis on interactivity
EdW: Yes, I would agree. We offer multiple subjects per day. So it's not like the Tuesday is traffic management day, or the Wednesday is parking day – all five of the segment pillars are addressed across the week in four theatres: three larger theatres and one open stage. Even if you are not attending all four days which I would highly recommend, you can still experience a variety of subjects.
Intertraffic: In previous years you’ve been involved in the Call for Presentations, but for 2024 it’s a Call for Sessions and Presentations. What was the thinking behind that change? It’s not just semantics.
EdW: The thinking was that if you just issue a call for Presentations it implies that we're only offering presentations when it comes to policymaking or technology features. This is not the case: we want to offer more interactive settings, such as panel discussions and debates, discuss more policy or urban planning related issues, tackle urban and societal challenges where we need more public private cooperation and learn to understand each other’s motives. Besides giving stage to new technologies and new features also offer room for mobility inclusivity and behavioural issues and ways on how to create safe and liveable cities. That’s why we call it a session because it's more general that way.
So it's not as though the Tuesday is traffic management day, or the Wednesday is parking day – Everyday there is a variety of subjects.
Intertraffic: The show takes place at the RAI from 16-19th April, which sounds quite some distance away but in international event terms is just around the corner. Will you be publishing deadlines for submissions soon? What will readers need to do if they are interested in coming up with some session ideas or if they want to participate in one? What are the important dates that they need to know in terms of deadlines and the Summit programme being announced?
EdW: The deadline for submitting contributions is mid-July and in September we'll start composing the Summit programme. We’ll leave some time slots open for late entries but aim to finish everything in October or November. Compared to previous editions we announce the programme at an earlier stage with increased visitor awareness and promotion well ahead of the event, highlighting speakers, promoting sessions and subjects.
The call for sessions will be announced in April. The deadline for submitting contributions is mid-July and in September we'll start composing the Summit programme
USER-CENTRICITY IS THE KEY
Intertraffic: Do you have a message for exhibitors that are looking to put on sessions next year? What should they focus on?
JdW: Something that exhibitors need to bear in mind is that apart from high technology and high level sessions we're looking for sessions that are focused on policy making, best practices, user experience, on user-centric solutions that are not too technical and not too commercial. What could be better than having your solution presented by a satisfied customer, a city or road operators that uses your technology. It really needs to be a newsworthy subject and to appeal to broader target groups, and where possible to be interactive. It’s not just about your product, but which of challenges does it solve? Interact with the audience, give them the opportunity to raise questions. Of course, what we can do is extend the branding: we offer special packages for that including slots for keynote presentations. All the information can be found on the website and our exhibitors are informed personally.
