In the midst of a slump in business tourism demand, representatives of the top 25 destination management companies in Spain, belonging to the association SpainDMCs, met at the newly opened W Barcelona Hotel on 11 February.
Chaired by Juan Antonio Casas, the members of SpainDMCs met to discuss, among other pressing matters, the association’s international marketing actions – with different and innovative formats – as well as its new training and consultancy service geared to restaurants, unique venues, hotels, transport companies, public institutions and new venues designed for meetings and special groups (conventions and incentives).
During the meeting, the attendees avoided focusing on the dramatic drop in business over the last two years, although many important matters central to reversing this trend were addressed. Along these lines, the accent was placed on the practically total lack of support from some of the institutions responsible for the international promotion of Spanish destinations. Despite a number of meetings held to discuss joint efforts keyed to boosting the industry, nothing has come of them, and in some cases there has been absolute silence as regards the analysis of actions proposed by SpainDMCs.
Likewise, the damage caused to Spanish destinations keen on hosting meetings and incentives by the proliferation of low-cost carriers was also broached. Since low-cost carriers are not interested in business tourism, their rapid growth has driven traditional airways out of the country’s airports, for which reason meeting and incentive organizers cannot find enough seats so as to organize events in these destinations.
Then again, the ethical code of the pharmaceutical industry and the policies of sectors in this respect have been enormously prejudicial to tourist destinations that have invested large amounts of money in luxury hotels, since they avoid using 5-star hotels, even when these properties offer 4-star prices. This has led some hotels to consider further layoffs and even temporary or permanent closure.
On a more positive note, AENA has agreed to provide special services at Barajas International Airport, such as VIP assistance services for groups and clients on inspection trips, as well as the use of special rooms for celebrities, top-level catering and, at last, the reinstating of the luggage service, which will hopefully be available before the summer.
Another item on the agenda that was approved is the creation of the Spain DMCs Annual Awards, to be given to clients or service providers that have distinguished themselves for collaborating with Spanish DMCs, in addition to a special award category for those people with an outstanding track record in supporting the national MICE industry.
SpainDMCs currently has 24 members with over 60 offices throughout the country.
