Mice tourism reaches record figures at barcelona

Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions tourism (MICE tourism) has become one of the economic pillars of Catalonia’s capital. In just this sector, Barcelona generated an impact of 1,384.42 million euros the previous year, coming close to the record figure of 2019 and confirming its post-pandemic recovery.

This revenue stemmed from 1,968 events that brought together 734,818 delegates, just 14.1 % of whom were from within Spain. Also, the increase in participants marked a historic high, driven primarily by event from the healthcare sector (27.3 %), followed by the academic sector (16.5 %) and the scientific sector (15.4 %).

Which areas incur the highest outgoings?

Most conferences have a duration between two and three days, although some can extend up to five days. As a result, accommodation accounts for 35.2 % of total spending, while 32.4 % covers other services and expenses related to the stay.

In the case of corporate meetings, 95.6 % were held in hotels, highlighting the importance of these establishments. For association-led events, hotels still dominate (30.4 %), followed by universities (25.1 %), private auditoriums (11.3 %), Palacio de Congresos (the venue for the city’s most prominent events, with 10,6%) unique event spaces (9.1 %), and, lastly, hospitals (4.3 %).

Barcelona, the preferred investment destination

These figures explain why Barcelona hosts some of the world’s most significant events and earns the trust of businesses. The city not only serves as a major business hub but also drives technological and economic development. A prime example is the recent project to establish one of Europe’s leading artificial intelligence factories in Barcelona, further solidifying its status as an innovation center.

In this context, with exponential growth, companies and institutions will require new professionals and experts in emerging sectors who are capable of driving innovation. With this in mind, institutions like TBS Education – Barcelona not only teach students about the latest changes in the business sector but also provide opportunities for real-world internships in the leading companies in the city, highlighting our importance.

If you want to learn more about how you can become a future leader in this rapidly growing city, check out our various programs. From a Bachelor’s in Management to short programs like our Summer School.