If Spanish DMCs do not receive financial help from the country's different administrations, they will not be able to travel abroad to promote Spain as a MICE destination, and many operators will be forced to reduce costs and lay off staff.
The Madrid Chapter of the Spanish Association of DMCs met at the Westin Palace Hotel in Madrid on 22 October 2008. The impact of the current financial crisis on the association’s members, dedicated to promoting Spain as a MICE destination, was one of the important items on the agenda.
There was talk of collaboration with OPC Madrid at an early date, above all to convince local and national administrations of the fact that the industry needs support and financial aid.
Juan Antonio Casas, the association’s president, stated, “If financial aid is not forthcoming, it will difficult for us to travel abroad to promote our destinations, and many agencies will be forced to reduce costs and lay off staff.”
Throughout the year, meetings have been held with different public agencies with the aim of requesting collaboration. However, despite the favourable reception, neither proposals nor commitments to carry out specific actions have been received to date. “Instead,” Casa comments, “we have been invited to participate in presentations that are very expensive for our members. In short, we are the people who best know how to promote the destination and its products.”
