THE ARCHIVE

In the current economic climate, now more than ever, that industry needs all the visitors it can find. Statistics released by Turismo de Barcelona show the number of non-business tourists dropped 6.3 percent in 2008 to 6.6 million visitors, and hotel occupancy was down by 3.3 points, producing an average of 76.3 percent occupancy for the year. As such, business tourists have an important role to play in the local economy. Just how important was highlighted recently when the Mobile World Congress was held here in February. Although numbers were down by 5,000 compared to the previous congress, they still reached an impressive 50,000 attendees, generating an estimated profit of E140 million. Jordi Clos, president of the Barcelona Guild of Hotels, told the press that during the three-day conference, 17,400 hotel rooms were occupied.

Barcelona is currently ranked fifth in the world by the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association), which produces an annual list of the most important world-wide destinations for congresses. Although it is behind Vienna, Paris, Singapore and Berlin, Barcelona ranks highly, due mainly to its impressive infrastructure, security levels and the accommodations it offers. An essential point in packaging itself as a prospective business destination are the city’s conference sites. The principal venues here are run and promoted by the Fira de Barcelona, which can offer prospective event organisers 365,000 square metres of space over their two main venues, the Gran Via pavilions and the eight halls at the Montjuïc site.

But despite the success of fairs like the Mobile World Congress, there has been a noted downturn in companies committing to such expensive and costly events in recent times, with some cancelling completely due to the financial crisis. The year began badly with the announcement that the Bread & Butter (B&B) fashion trade fair would be relocating back to its original location in Berlin. Having moved from there to Barcelona in July 2005, after space problems in the German edition, Karl Heinz-Müller, Managing Director of Bread & Butter, talking at a press conference in January this year described the Barcelona venue as perfect. “The grounds were a dream come true, [they have] an industrial, morbid beauty, and completely suited our ideas.”