The exhibition and convention company RAI started life in 1893 as the RI (Rijwiel-Industrie or ‘bicycle industry’). The ‘A’ for automobile was added in 1900. Today the Amsterdam organisation consists of 11 exhibition halls with a combined area of around 87,000m2, plus 22 conference rooms, seven restaurants and an underground car park for over 3,000 cars. The RAI’s official pay-off line is ‘inspiring people’.