In 2013, the trade show and congress centre hosted 17 trade shows – up 11% with respect to 2012 – and 75 events, including congresses, conventions and seminars, among others, representing a 32% year-on-year increase.
The Malaga Trade Show and Congress Centre (FYCMA) has got 2014 off to a good start with excellent business expectations, thanks to a great extent to the results obtained in 2013.
"The facility plays a very important role in Malaga’s local economy, benefitting above all the city’s hotels, restaurants and commerce in general," stated Francisco de la Torre, the city’s mayor, on 6 February during a press conference in which Maria del Mar Martin Rojo, counsellor in charge of economy, revenue and personnel, and Yolanda de Aguilar, CEO of FYCMA, also participated.
In 2014, "the centre is scheduled to host 18 trade shows, at least one more than last year," stated the Mayor, before highlighting the three new trade shows figuring in the facility’s agenda: the 1st edition of Retro Auto & Moto Malaga (7-9 March), a vintage car show; Malaga Food & Wine Festival (30-31 May), a food show held concurrently with the Denominacion de Origen de Sur show; and the Guitar Fair (11-14 September), an international show with the participation of guitar makers and professional guitarist from 11 countries.
In addition, the agenda will also include well-established trade shows and forums, featuring a number of shows open to the general public, such as Natura Málaga, Animacomic, Gamepolis, Celebra Malaga, Mi Mascota, Rastrillo Nuevo Futuro, and MIMA, among others; as well as professional events that have consolidated their position in their respective industries thanks to the excellent lead generation and networking opportunities that they offer participants, as is the case of Foro Ser Emprendedor which will be running into its 3rd edition in November.
As regards science, technology and innovation, the 3rd edition of Transfiere – a not to be missed event for companies and institutions working in the field of R&D&I – took place 12-13 February. Other similar events include Greencities & Sostenibilidad, the 5th Forum of Intelligence Applied to Urban Sustainability, and Tikal, the 2nd Latin American Technology, Innovation and Knowledge Forum, both of which will be held concurrently from 2-3 October. "Both events, which will convert the city into the hub of energy efficiency during two days, serve as additional support for Malaga’s bid to win the European Commission’s ’European Capital of Innovation’ award in March," the Mayor also said, before remarking that the city will be competing against Paris, Barcelona, Espoo (Finland), Grenoble (France), and Groningen (Holland).
Major congresses
"FYCMA will also be hosting at least 12 major national congresses in 2014, with the participation of over 40,000 delegates," stated the Mayor.
These will feature the 29th National Congress of Spanish Society of Aesthetic Medicine (SEME), from 20-22 February; the Congress of Trauma and Orthopaedic Nursing (AEETO), from 23-25 April: the Congress of the Spanish Society of Community Pharmacy (SEFAC), from 22-24 May; the 26th National Congress of the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), from 9-13 June; and the 44th Annual Meeting of the Spanish Society of Stomach Prosthesis and Aesthetics (SEPES), from 10-12 October.
In addition, De la Torre highlighted the fact that, from 17-18 January, the city hosted the 6th edition of the European Federation of the Associations of Professional Congress Organizers (EFAPCO), one of the MICE industry’s major events, with the participation of professional congress organizers from 14 European countries.
"Professional congress organizers appreciate Malaga’s capacity for organizing this type of event," stated De la Torre, before adding: "Malaga has consolidated its position in the MICE industry over the last few years, since it has hosted the events of all the major European and global MICE organizations."
As regards business tourism, FYCMA’s capacity to position itself as one of the Spanish meeting and event industry’s benchmark facilities has also helped to position Malaga as the fastest growing city destination in the last eight years, attracting visitors with high purchasing power and enormous influence.
Both Malaga and its congress centre are investing a lot of effort in promotion and marketing, putting the accent on national and international congresses with an average attendance of 1,000 delegates. An example of this is the fact that FYCMA has been participating in MalagaCon, a public-private collaboration initiative in different productive sectors geared to promoting the destination, since being launched five years ago.
