Diary of ICE & iGB London 2023

A Turkish man, a Brit, and a Maltese guy all make their way to the UK. This isn't a comedy skit, but the beginning of the Revpanda team’s adventure in London as they participated in ICE and iGB.

Widely regarded as the pinnacle of all conferences, this year's ICE Expo lived up to its reputation. The organizers reported an impressive turnout of 35,000 attendees, and the atmosphere entirely reflected this bustling crowd.

To set the stage, let's pause and think back on the eventful week that Emre Goktas, Jacob Leach, and I shared during the ICE and iGB 2023 gatherings.

Day 0 at ICE

We made our way into the city a day before the grand expo kicked off on a Monday. Each of us was traveling from various points. Coming from Malta required me to plan my trip way in advance because of the surge in people traveling and limited flight seats. By late December, it was a struggle to find economy seats, leaving only pricey business seats available.

Ultimately, I secured a seat on a Ryanair flight, landing at Luton Airport on Monday afternoon. It was my first visit to this airport, and as anticipated, the flight was filled with familiar faces.

Upon arrival, I shared a taxi ride with a friend I encountered on the flight. This made the nearly 2-hour ride to the hotel pass swiftly as we engaged in conversations about our mutual passion for football.

Surprisingly, as we headed to the taxi, I noticed the weather wasn’t as frigid as expected. In fact, Malta feels chillier due to its humidity.

We scored an excellent hotel in London: The Tower Hotel. The room view was breathtaking, offering vistas of the River Thames and the iconic Tower Bridge.

Jacob and I arrived on the event day itself, so after we settled in, we opted for a quick strategy meeting at a local pub, The Dickens Inn. Traditional English pubs have a certain charm, and this one didn’t let us down. While we socialized, we encountered fellow iGaming professionals lodged nearby. Nevertheless, our evening prematurely wrapped up since the pub closed for last orders at 9pm.

We migrated to our hotel’s bar for a final drink, thereafter retiring for the night, anticipating a busy day ahead.

Day 1 at ICE

We chose not to host a booth this year so we could freely explore the massive expo. Determined to start early, we devoured a hearty breakfast and caught a taxi. Thick fog enveloped the city, and the hotel concierge remarked it was the thickest he’d seen in a decade working there.

Getting to our destination felt slow-moving due to a singular route and congested traffic, but after 30 minutes, we reached the Excel venue.

Emre planned to join us later since his flight from Riga was slated for early afternoon. Upon arrival, Jacob and I split up to maximize our reach since we lined up different meetings for the day.

The day flew by with roughly 16,000 steps covered over 11 kilometers. Exhausted from meetings and traversing the expansive venue. Still, the day wasn’t over. We sponsored the Sigma iGathering Dinner – a Thames river cruise facilitating further networking opportunities.

This occasion allowed us to forge new connections and rekindle old friendships. Post-dinner at around 11pm, we proceeded to another event: SBC’s London Baby at the National Museum, distinguished by its awe-inspiring venue featuring a vast skeleton whale suspended above. After a full-on first day, we resolved to return to the hotel to prepare for the upcoming day.

Day 2 at ICE

The second day mirrored the first in terms of extensive walking and appointments, albeit enlivened by meeting two renowned football stars: Luis Figo and John Obi Mikel.

Post non-stop walking, it was refreshing to know that the evening’s iGB Networking Welcome Drinks took place right at our hotel, presenting a prime opportunity to forge introductions with prospective clients.

Post-event, we searched for a pub to enjoy a meal and beverages, yet encountered early closures again. Ultimately, we landed at a Tapas bar, indulging in animated conversations, jokes, and laughter around nostalgic tales. Overall, it was an enjoyable and soothing experience.

Day 3 at Ice / Day 1 at iGB

It was gearing up to be a long and arduous day. Meetings at both ICE and iGB necessitated frequent shuttling, providing plenty of action!

The iGB event was quite impressive, concentrating all relevant companies and individuals in a smaller, more accessible area, whilst ICE spread attendees across a larger territory.

The presence of legendary and current football players was ever-present, and I got to cross paths with Carlo Cudicini and the World Cup hero Emiliano Martinez. If the name doesn't ring a bell, imagine the player from the viral golden glove meme after the final.

Yet the day’s highlight awaited us in the evening as we anticipated the iGB Awards where we received a nomination for Rising Star of the year, planned to be revelled at the Troxy.

The black-tie event necessitated our finest attire. Wrestling with a bowtie that refused to cooperate, it was with Jacob’s assistance that I eventually prevailed.

Following a formal dinner, the awards kicked off and ours was among the opening categories. We were quite apprehensive since previously, we clinched accolades at Sigma and AGS. , so we wanted to make it 3 out of 3.

As customary, the announcer rolled out the nominees accompanied by names illuminated on a large screen. Then the guest emerged with an envelope revealing the winner, alas it wasn’t us! We applauded and watched as another group ascended the stage.

However, as they did, the grand screen showed two names under the Winner title, with Revpanda among them!

In our confusion, we realized that the presenter had a second award to distribute. Apparently, the announcer missed reading the dual-winner detail in the script. So we excitedly headed toward the stage to claim what we thought almost eluded us! This joyous occasion warranted a celebration, and we joined a friend-hosted event: Revenue Whale.

But truthfully, after three exhaustive days, fatigue set in, prompting me to retire early to the hotel.

Although ICE wrapped up, iGB was in full swing. With a backlog of tasks, Jacob took on the conference as I worked remotely from the hotel. An early flight the next day meant staying up instead of sleeping, heading directly to the airport.

Day 2 at iGB

In this quiet interlude, I took the chance to nurture the leads and contacts created over the past days.

Post-midnight, I checked out, waiting for a pre-reserved cab bound for the airport. This trip was unexpectedly swift, lasting just an hour, granting me much-needed downtime before departing for Malta.

The ICE and iGB events were genuinely memorable, with seamless execution from an expo perspective. The chilly yet clear weather made it unique, and whispers hinted this might be London’s farewell hosting, anticipating a move to Barcelona or Madrid next year.

Summary

The event proved fruitful, as we secured another honorary distinction that underscored Revpanda’s stellar accomplishments in 2022. Equally, it fuels our ambition to elevate our efforts, magnifying the returns on our dedication.

With London laid to rest, we're setting sights on March's next event: Dubai’s Affiliate World Conference. Transitioning from the cold UK to the balmy UAE!

We are dedicated to shaping a future where technology powers prosperous employment for all.