The Catalunya Convention Bureau presented the Catalunya Meetings & Sports project in Madrid on March 13. The event brought together twenty professionals from the meetings industry for a day filled with inspiration and networking opportunities.

Catalonia reaffirmed its position as a leading destination for the attraction of sport-linked business events, standing out for its unique spaces, top-level sports facilities, and a comprehensive service offering.

The event also featured participation from Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Lloret Turisme, Baix Llobregat Convention Bureau, and Sitges Convention Bureau, who provided a complete overview of the multiple options that Catalonia offers, ensuring that any event can be transformed into an unforgettable experience.

The event was a unique opportunity to strengthen connections, share innovative ideas, and explore the various possibilities that the destination offers to organizers of corporate and associative meetings and events.

Catalonia, a World Leader in Meetings & Sports

Catalonia has established itself as one of the top global destinations for sports-focused events, thanks to its state-of-the-art infrastructure, entrepreneurial ecosystem, and strategic positioning in the sports field. Currently, Catalonia is the region with the highest concentration of sports companies in Europe, with nearly 1,400 companies, generating over 6.5 billion euros in revenue and employing around 32,000 people. This emerging sector plays a fundamental role in Catalonia’s productive ecosystem, accounting for 2% of the region’s GDP.

Barcelona, its capital, holds a prominent position at both the European and global levels. It is the fifth city in Europe with the highest number of sports sector startups and ranks 7th globally in the Ranking of Sports Cities 2023. Additionally, Barcelona leads the ICCA ranking (International Congress and Convention Association) in terms of the number of international congress participants, highlighting the city as a global hub for hosting high-level professional conferences and meetings.

This strong sports ecosystem, combined with its organizational capacity, entrepreneurial spirit, and research-oriented companies, as well as the quality of its sports facilities, makes Catalonia a unique destination for attracting professional events and meetings. The region offers a diverse and specialized range of options, from large sports facilities to exclusive events for professionals in the sector.

International Sports Industry Events

A clear example of Catalonia’s success and excellence in organizing sports events was the celebration of the First World Congress on Sports Tourism in Lloret de Mar in 2021, an event that gathered sector experts and solidified the region as a leader in this field.

In the 2025 professional meeting calendar in Catalonia, several internationally significant business events are scheduled, including:

• Sports World Congress (Barcelona, February 3-5)
• PRO Women in Sports (Barcelona, February 27)
• Sports Tomorrow Congress (Barcelona, March 3-4)
• Padel World Summit (Barcelona, May 27-29)
• Medigames (Lloret de Mar, June 7-14)
• Sea Otter Europe Connect (Girona, September 19-21)
• European Sports Business Congress (Barcelona, October 7-10)

These events reflect not only the high demand for Catalonia as a host for professional sports industry meetings but also the region’s commitment to continuing to promote sports in the corporate sector and sports tourism.

Catalonia, an Ecosystem of Innovation and Sustainability

Innovation, sustainability, and commitment to research are key pillars that explain Catalonia’s strong positioning in the global sports events market. Its solid infrastructure and the synergy between public and private entities, combined with a highly competitive business environment, continue to attract major international players in the sports sector.

Catalonia’s future as a leading destination for sports events and MICE is promising, and its ongoing efforts to strengthen and diversify its offerings continue to drive the region as one of the leading references in the organization of professional sports events.