The agenda of the Catalonia Congress Centre for the first half of the year included the hosting of a number of major congresses and conventions.
Managed by Global Exhibition Centers (GEC), the Catalonia Congress Centre has obtained positive results in the first half of 2012, as is reflected in an increase of around 10% in delegate numbers, with respect to the same period last year.
"The results are very encouraging. We know that 2012 is a complicated year, featuring two important European events, such as the London Olympics and the Euro Cup in Poland and the Ukraine. But the foundations that we laid a year ago have led to very positive prospects for 2013," said Nacho Soler, CEO of the Catalonia Congress Centre.
The agenda of the Catalonia Congress Centre for the first half of the year included the hosting of a number of major congresses and conventions related to marketing, fashion and medicine. For instance, the 9th edition of Hoy es marketing, the country’s largest event for professionals and executives from the corporate, marketing and communication sectors, organized by ESIC Business & Marketing School, was held on 31 May. Over 3,000 professionals and executives from leading companies attended this exclusive event, which was held for the fifth time in Barcelona.
Likewise, the Global Sports Forum of Barcelona, which was held from 1-9 March, attracted 1,200 delegates from 50 countries. The event was also attended by 250 journalists (20% more than in 2011) and 52 world-class keynote speakers specializing in several fields: business, politics, sports institutions, etc. The forum addresses the three factors are constantly reshaping the traditional landscape of sports: the sports themselves, the business that they generate and their impact on society.
Also related to sports, the centre hosted the 64th edition of the Grand Sports Gala, organized by Mundo Deportivo and with over 1,000 guests, in January. During the event, TVE journalist Maria Escario received the Juan Jose Castillo Journalism Prize in recognition of her long track record as a sports commentator.
The Catalonia Congress Centre also featured fashion: La Sposa, a firm belonging to the Pronovias Fashion Group, invited 400 buyers from all over the world to the presentation of the La Sposa and St. Patrick collections, which were held from 29 February-6 March.
Furthermore, as regards assemblies, at the end of April the Catalonia Congress Centre hosted the RACC Assembly – the largest automobile club in Spain and the leading organization in the world – with was attended by 900 people.
With regard to medical events hosted by the centre, the most important included the 58th National Congress of the Spanish Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery (SEACV), held from 31 May-2 June; ISASS 2012, organized by the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, with 500 delegates; and the European Congress of IFSO 2012, organized by the International Federation of Severe Obesity, which took place from 26-28 April, and was attended by 600 experts.
Other important events included Danone’s annual sales convention, La Caixa’s management convention, the 1st edition of the International Textile Fair of Barcelona, the 17th edition of the Zapping Awards for Quality Television, the 8th edition of the People’s Party Congress, and Fujitsu it Future, among others. Lastly, Abertis, Gas Natural Fenosa, and Inmobiliaria Colonial, among other companies, chose the Catalonia Congress Centre for holding their general meetings.
Future Prospects
The centre expects to generate an income of over EUR 5.3 million in 2012, and over 6 million in 2013. In the words of Soler: "Booking for 2013 are up 40% on last year’s figures for the same period."
Global Sports Forum Barcelona
