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BEFuture, an initiative co-financed by the Single Market EU Programme (SMP), dedicated to shaping the future of Europe’s business event sector, has launched a €2.4 million call for innovative SME-driven projects under its Acceleration Programme. The funding scheme supports projects contributing to BEFuture’s key objective of steering the sector towards more sustainability, resilience and inclusivity. 

About the Call for projects 

The BEFuture Acceleration Programme provides up to €30 000 in funding per selected project, along with technical support and access to an international network. Under the call, which has a total budget of €2.4 million, BEFuture will select at least 80 projects driven by SMEs from Belgium (Flanders), France, Germany, Italy, Spain (Catalonia) and the Netherlands. 

The Call is open from 5 December 2024 to 5 February 2025 (17:00 CET).  

“We need SMEs and other organisations to pitch fresh ideas that can take the business events sector forward. The development and scaling of innovative products, processes, services, and business models are key to making the sector greener, more inclusive, and more resilient,” said Sònia Serracarbassa, Director of the Catalunya Convention Bureau at the Catalan Tourist Board which coordinates the BEFuture project. “We are eager to invest in cutting-edge innovation and to partner with organisations that are ready to make a lasting impact.”  

“We are looking for innovations and solutions that could help tackle some of the business event sector’s most pressing challenges, such as climate change, skills and inclusion, better experiences and more impact,” highlighted Marta Rojas, Co-founder and Partner of B.Link and Project Manager of the BEFuture Acceleration Programme. “The programme also seeks to foster synergies with other fields impacting business events, such as the digital, energy, mobility and technology sectors.” 

Innovation categories 

The Acceleration Programme supports projects across four categories of innovation: 

• Radical: Creating new markets or transforming existing ones. 

• Disruptive: Leveraging cutting-edge technology to push boundaries. 

• Substantial: Significantly improving an existing offering. 

• Incremental: Offering upgrades that boost efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness. 

Call for mentors 

In addition to the financial support made available, the programme provides hands-on expert coaching and training to successful applicants. A separate Call for mentors was launched in October to create a pool of experts and consultants who can accompany SMEs from the first steps until finalisation of their projects. The costs of the mentoring sessions are funded through the financial support received under the Acceleration Programme. 

More information 

To submit your project under the BEFuture Acceleration Programme, visit the application portal.  

Explore our web pages for further details on the Call for mentors and on the Acceleration Programme in general. 

About BEFuture 

BEFuture is a three-year project co-funded by the European Commission under the Single Market Programme aiming to transform the business events sector and make it future-ready by harnessing the power of digitisation and fostering continuous innovation. Our goal is to create a new business model that strengthens the sustainability, digitalisation and resilience of the sector. By co-designing solutions with the entire business events ecosystem, we aim to make a positive and enduring impact. 

BEFuture is implemented by a partnership of 8 partners from 6 countries: Catalan Tourist Board/Catalan Convention Bureau (Spain), Tipik Communication Agency (Belgium), Visit Flanders (Belgium), Linkeus (France), Verband der Veranstaltungsorganisatoren (Germany), NHL Stender/European Tourism Futures Institute (Netherlands), UNIMIB – Milano University (Italy) and B.Link Barcelona Strategic Projects (Spain). 

The approval of the new Accessibility Code of Catalonia, in force since 1 March 2024, demonstrates a clear will of the autonomous region: to remove more barriers — of a physical, communicative and attitudinal nature — in order to guarantee equal opportunities for all and the non-discrimination of persons with disabilities.

The MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) tourism sector strives to adhere to this important collective commitment. For this reason, the Catalunya Convention Bureau of the Catalan Tourist Board has decided to promote this publication, which is addressed to all stakeholders involved in the organisation of MICE activity such as congresses, conferences, conventions, symposiums and general meetings.

The challenge of incorporating the principle of accessibility into events is a golden opportunity to help shape a more inclusive and friendly society which respects diversity and puts the individual at the heart of its decision-making. Making progress in this area will allow us to leave a legacy that brings added value to our activities. This publication sets out the path to follow and presents the tools we have at our disposal to take steps forward as a society. We’ll do it together, step by step.

ISTO AWARDS

This publication has been awarded by the International Social Tourism Organization (ISTO) as part of the ISTO Awards 2024. The event recognizes excellence in best practices among organizations and destinations.

Catalonia Convention Bureau presents the project Meetings & Sports at SPORTBIZ EUROPE, one of the most relevant sport business conferences in the world, which was held in Barcelona from October 8 to 11. After four editions in the city, the event has established itself as an unmissable appointment for a sector that continues to grow and is projected to reach a business volume of 622 billion euros by 2028, according to Statista.

With a multi-sport focus, SPORTBIZ EUROPE will bring together speakers from around the world who are leading the business strategies of some of the most important sports entities on the international scene. Over four days, they will share the main trends in the industry and how they are applying innovation and technology in their respective companies. This information is invaluable for glimpsing the future of the sector.

The conference is also an excellent opportunity for networking and exchanging ideas and knowledge, fostering ties between different sectors and regions of the world.

Internationally Relevant Speakers

The agenda will focus on six key themes currently shaping the industry: Fan Experience, Inspiring Brands, Content and Platforms, eSports & Gaming, Artificial Intelligence in Sports, and Innovation & Sportech.

Among the recurring attendees at SPORTBIZ are organizations such as the International Olympic Committee, Bundesliga, NBA, LA LIGA, Euroleague Basketball, FC Barcelona, Formula 1, Premier League, Fanatics, TikTok, Inter Milan, Ironman Group, Santander, FIBA, ISDIN, Nielsen Sports, CUPRA, and many other leagues, federations, clubs, and sport-related companies.

The CCB welcomes 19 new members. These companies strengthen the wide and diverse range of MICE suppliers in Catalonia. Discover them:

The “Fifty Fifty” campaign, promoted by the Catalan Tourist Board in collaboration with the Catalunya Convention Bureau, has been awarded the silver prize for “Best MICE audiovisual production” at the International Tourism Film Festival Africa, which was held in Johannesburg (South Africa) from 11 to 15 June.

The campaign promoting Catalonia as a business tourist destination seeks to demonstrate why it is an ideal destination for corporate events, congresses and conventions. The director of the Catalan Tourist Board, Narcís Ferrer i Ferrer, explained that the campaign “highlights how Catalonia manages to strike the perfect balance between innovation and tradition; the sea and the mountains; urban and rural settings; lifestyle and business excellence; and authenticity and experience.” The campaign focuses on two twins: one who embodies the essence of large professional gatherings, and another who represents the soul of small meetings and incentive trips. Through a tour of the region’s impressive landscapes and meeting venues, the twins demonstrate the variety of options that exist for added-value events in Catalonia.

Ferrer stated “Catalonia boasts a complete ecosystem of services, facilities and activities that make it the ideal place to host all kinds of professional meetings and gatherings. This new campaign reaffirms our commitment to the promotion of MICE tourism in Catalonia, with a focus on innovation, sustainability and the legacy of these events in our region.”

Aimed at priority international markets such as France, the United Kingdom and Germany, the campaign presents Catalonia as a well-balanced destination that manages to combine its cultural richness and impressive landscapes with an industrial dynamism and spirit of research, ensuring that its professional visitors are able to enjoy a memorable stay.

This latest award complements the “Golden City Gate Award” for the best MICE&EVENT film that the Catalan Tourist Board picked up at the latest edition of ITB Berlin. In addition to these two awards, the Catalan Tourism Board’s campaign has also been selected to be screened in the International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals (CIFFT).

Sustainable filming

The ACT’s commitment to sustainability even extends to its filming activity. When determining the locations for filming and the accommodation options for a team of forty people, the ACT made sure that the different sites and infrastructures held environmental certifications and/or promoted sustainable practices. This included the use of renewable energy, the efficient use of water and proper waste management.

These measures helped to reduce the environmental impact of the filming activity, demonstrating the ACT-hired production team’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Together with Sitges Convention Bureau, the Catalunya Convention Bureau has hosted, from 3rd to 5th June in Sitges, a fantastic edition of the Catalunya Business Meetings, organized by Business Meetings by Meet&Com. 30 French hosted buyers participated in various 1-to-1 meetings with Catalan suppliers and experienced exceptional moments discovering Sitges, a fascinating Mediterranean town just 30 minutes from Barcelona and 20 from its International Airport.

Catalunya Meetings & Sports, conceived by the Catalonia Convention Bureau of the Catalan Tourist Board, in collaboration with ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment and the Catalan Council of Sport, aims to promote Catalonia in the field of organizing and attracting international meetings, conventions, congresses, and fairs related to the sports industry.

The Secretary for Business and Competitiveness, Albert Castellanos, and the Secretary-General of Sports and Physical Activity, Anna Caula, presented March 13th at FC Barcelona’s Auditori 1899 the project Catalunya Meetings & Sports.

Albert Castellanos emphasized “the project’s transversality through its symbiosis between meetings tourism and sport, as well as the necessary public-private collaboration.” With this strategic relationship, the Catalan Government hopes to “strengthen two key economic sectors in Catalonia, to generate business, increase investments, improve international positioning, and drive their transformation.”

For her part, the Secretary General of Sport and Physical Activity has highlighted the role of sport as a “generator of economic activity and progress,” adding that “Catalonia is a land of sport largely thanks to a network of entities with the experience and expertise to organize major international sporting events successfully.” Events that “leave a legacy, it’s not just a few days of competition, but we promote the circular sport by creating parallel activities to grow the base of sport in Catalonia.”

The presentation event also included a roundtable discussion to debate the opportunities and challenges posed by the double idea of sports and business events. Participants included Albert Balcells, manager of OciSport; Maurici Carbó, coordinator of the AFYDAD Spanish Sports Association; Elisabeth Keegan, manager of Lloret Tourism; Carlos Rabaneda, president of Roc Roi; and Albert Mundet, General Director of Barça Innovation Hub.

Catalonia, a global leader in professional sports events

Catalonia stands out as the region with the highest concentration of sport-related businesses in Europe, boasting nearly 1,400 companies that generate over €6,500 million and employ approximately 32,000 people. Sport is an emerging sector within Catalonia’s productive ecosystem and accounts for 2% of Catalonia’s GDP. Furthermore, the city of Barcelona ranks fifth in Europe in terms of the number of sports industry startups.

This strength in such a specific sector is crucial for generating and attracting professional events and meetings. Currently, the city of Barcelona ranks seventh globally in terms of sports orientation, according to the Sports Cities Ranking 2023, and first in terms of international attendees, according to the ICCA ranking.

The organizational capacity, entrepreneurial and research spirit, excellent quality of sports facilities, and solid sporting foundation in Catalonia are decisive factors that explain the excellent positioning of Catalonia as regards attracting professional events within the world of sports.

Proof of the excellence of this region in this specialized tourism niche is the organization of the first World Congress on Sports Tourism, held in Lloret de Mar in 2021. This year highlights the hosting of the America’s Cup Barcelona 2024, which, although it isn’t an event focused entirely on the professional public, is a springboard for blue economy business events.

As regards the agenda of professional meetings related to the world of sports taking place this year in Catalonia, it is also worth mentioning PRO Women in Sports (Barcelona, March 20), the World Congress of the International Association of Sports Press (Santa Susanna, April 27 – May 2), Sea Otter Europe Connect (Girona, September 20-22), the European Sports Business Congress (Barcelona, October 8-11), the Annual Meeting of the International Association of Sports Travel Agencies-ISTAA (Barcelona, ​​November 16-18) and the recently held Sports Tomorrow Congress (Barcelona, ​​February 26 and 27) and Expo Sports (Barcelona, ​​March 8-9).

From January 25 to 26, the city of Barcelona hosted the annual meeting of the Strategic Alliance of National Convention Bureaux of Europe, organized by the Catalunya Convention Bureau. This gathering brought together prominent members of the alliance with the purpose of strengthening Europe’s position as a leading destination for international business events.

During the event, participants had the valuable opportunity to exchange experiences and share knowledge, focusing on strategies that contribute to positioning Europe as a reference in the MICE industry. The exchange of ideas and collaboration among national Convention Bureaux are crucial for the joint development of strategies that drive the industry in the region.

The program of the meeting included an enriching visit to the 22@, Barcelona’s Innovation District, as well as a tour of the Official Outreach Center of the 37th America’s Cup Barcelona. These visits provided participants with insight into the region’s assets to incorporate innovation into events.

Founded in 2014, the Strategic Alliance of the National Convention Bureaux of Europe is a collaborative network of 29 Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) with the common goal of consolidating Europe as a leading MICE destination. Since 2019, the Catalunya Convention Bureau is an active member.