eNews
IBC 2025 badges to work as free transport passes as well in Amsterdam
AMSTERDAM: This is good news for all visitors to Amsterdam’s grand IBC show. Come September 2025 onwards, the organisation is set to transform the onsite experience for its global attendees with the launch of a pioneering new feature: full integration of Amsterdam’s GVB public transport pass into the official event badge.
Developed in collaboration with long-time venue partner Rai Amsterdam, Amsterdam public transport operator GVB, and smart credentialing provider CredsNow, this initiative will provide frictionless, ticket-free access to the city’s extensive tram, bus and metro network – delivering a seamless, sustainable, and tech-forward experience for the tens of thousands of professionals attending this year’s show.
In a first-of-its-kind deployment for the event, all IBC2025 badges will include an embedded QR code linked directly to the GVB system. Attendees will be able to move seamlessly between the RAI and central Amsterdam using public transport, simply by scanning the QR code on their badge – eliminating the need for additional cards, tickets or apps. This frictionless integration not only simplifies city navigation for attendees but also underscores IBC and RAI’s commitment to sustainability by encouraging the use of public transport and reducing non-recyclable ticket printing.
“This is more than a convenience,” said IBC operations director Tamsin Christofides. “This reflects our commitment to sustainability, user-centric innovation, and our ongoing efforts to ensure that Amsterdam continues to be a welcoming and accessible destination for IBC2025”.
Rai Amsterdam, known for its commitment to green practices, has enabled free city travel for all IBC attendees across GVB’s public transport network for many years as part of its long-standing partnership with IBC. Through close collaboration with GVB and IBC, attendee travel has transformed from early ticketing measures to issuing printed passes on-site and this year, with the support of CredsNow, integrating the GVB travel pass directly within the event badge.
“This integration supports our ambition to create truly sustainable events, and underwrites RAI’s long term commitment to IBC Show,” said Rai Amsterdam COO Maurits van der Sluis. “By connecting the city’s transport system directly to the badge, we’re removing barriers and improving the visitor journey in a meaningful, future-forward way.”
CredsNow, the smart credentialing platform behind the integrated badge technology, played a key role in making this vision a reality. “We’re proud to support IBC with our secure, smart infrastructure,” said CredsNow CEO Ivan Lazarev. “This collaboration showcases how digital innovation can deliver real-world impact and smarter event mobility.”
“Our city continues to champion fair transport policies and future-ready event experiences for international visitors,” said GVB sr account manager corporate sales Erik Maitimo. “Close cooperation with Rai Amsterdam and event partners has helped us offer flexible, affordable, greener travel experiences for exhibition attendees. This collaboration demonstrates what’s possible when innovation meets purpose – by embedding our services into the very fabric of the IBC experience, we make public transit the default and easiest choice.”
IBC2025 takes place from 12–15 September at the Rai Amsterdam. Attendees will be able to use their badge to enter the venue and board any GVB-operated service throughout the city, reducing reliance on cars and streamlining travel across the event. To register for IBC2025, click here.
eNews
Swiggy sees record orders during India vs New Zealand T20 final
Chicken biryani tops match-day menu as fans order 7,500 times per minute at peak.
MUMBAI: India’s T20 final didn’t just break stumps, it broke Swiggy’s delivery records, proving cricket fans celebrate victories with plates, not just flags. Swiggy, India’s leading on-demand convenience platform, reported a sharp spike in food orders during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand. On 8 March 2026, overall orders rose 23.2 per cent year-on-year compared with the same date in 2025, driven by fans turning living rooms into mini stadiums complete with match-day feasts.
Key highlights from the evening:
- Orders during peak match hours (7–10 pm) were 2.1 times higher than pre-match levels.
- The highest order rate hit 7,500 orders per minute at 19:45.
- Chicken biryani reigned supreme as the most-ordered dish, followed by masala dosa, chicken fried rice, garlic breadsticks and paneer butter masala.
While metros such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad led volumes, the cricketing fever spread nationwide. Among emerging cities, Thiruvananthapuram, Surat and Rajkot recorded the strongest order growth. Smaller markets including Shillong, Agartala and Port Blair also showed significant appetite, underlining the expanding footprint of quick-commerce food delivery across India.
The surge reflects a growing trend of pairing major sporting events with doorstep delivery, turning big matches into shared, convenient celebrations. In a night where every boundary mattered, Swiggy proved the real MVP might just be the delivery partner who kept the snacks and the vibes flowing without missing a single wicket.
