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calculated the city ’ s total convention centre space at 1,000,000sqm in a 2019 report – ten times the amount of space as Berlin , in a city 11 % of the size . The only issue could be that massive demand outstrips infrastructural capacity . But Barcelona hasn ’ t arrived at that point just yet . |
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delegates than any other city in the world ( according to ICCA ), welcoming an impressive 135,000 in 2022 . Only Vienna and Paris came close , with 105,000 and 101,000 . Despite leisure tourism being such a massive industry in Barcelona , 10 % of overall stays were made by business travellers in the first quarter of 2024 . It ’ s an impressive badge for the city to hold ; one that ’ s widely known in the industry , and largely unacknowledged by the public .
The question for event organisers is : how much spill-over will there be from anti-tourism into the business events sector ? I ’ ll be looking at three areas of concern : accommodation , capacity and environment .
Accommodation Barcelona has the highest hotel occupancy rate of any major European city . Hotels in Barcelona are 71.5 % full , trumping both London and Paris . If June ’ s pattern of tourism holds true for the rest of the year , Barcelona is in for record figures in 2024 . The
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Instituto Nacional de Estadística ( INE ) reports that overnight stays in Spain increased 5.4 % in June 2024 compared to 2023 , with Barcelona hosting the most stays of any Spanish destination . Hotel prices have risen 7.8 % nationally . If the trajectory continues , Barcelona ’ s hotels are set to become some of the most expensive in Europe . With an average hotel night in 2023 costing € 115 , Barcelona was tied with Paris , far ahead of Lisbon ’ s € 100 , Vienna ’ s € 82 and Milan ’ s € 95 . It ’ s nowhere near London or Tokyo levels , but Barcelona ’ s hotel pricing could still become an issue for meeting planners down the line .
Capacity Barcelona welcomed 135,000 delegates last year – more than any other city . That ’ s due in part to the city ’ s generous array of venues . The top three convention centres alone ( CCIB , Gran Via and Palau de Congresos de Barcelona ) have a combined capacity of 28,128 . Event technology and management specialists Cvent
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Above : A group of conference booking agents on a recent walking trip in the city |
Environment Beyond statistical facts about hotel prices and capacity , there are more subtle factors to consider . One way that Barcelona ’ s anti-tourism wave could bleed into business events is the change in environment .
As shown above , tourism in Barcelona shows no signs of slowing down thus far . If levels persist , local discontent could rise , and we can expect more protests going forward . Barcelona runs the risk of becoming synonymous with / notorious for ‘ anti-visitor ’. The warm welcome delegates are used to could turn frosty .
Christoph Tessmar , CEO of the Barcelona Convention Bureau , doesn ’ t think there ’ s much to worry about , however :
“ The incidents experienced during the demonstration should be framed in the context of the protest by a limited group of citizens who want to highlight a particular and global current of opinion from certain social movements .
“ The image projected by Barcelona , the millions of people who know it ... implies being a city with tourism . It is not a touristic city .”
In terms of travel , Barcelona is a tale of two cities . Tourist hotspot attracting legions of holidaymakers , and business events hub bringing in high-spenders . Even with a summer of viral protests , Mayor Collboni may not get the reduction in leisure tourist numbers that he ’ s hoping for . Whatever happens , the local industry and CVB should be on guard that ‘ anti-tourist ’ doesn ’ t turn into ‘ anti-visitor ’. The low-visibility , highspending nature of the business traveller is exactly what Barcelona needs . n
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