Accessibility Tools for Meetings and Events
The Catalunya Convention Bureau has developed a series of tools to promote accessibility in professional meetings and events.
BEFuture Call for Best Practices
Join the revolution in Europe’s Business Events sector with the BEFuture Call for Best Practices! This initiative seeks groundbreaking projects or initiatives aligned with innovation, sustainability, digitalization, or resilience that apply or can be applied to the business events sector.
Key Details
- Application Deadline: March 30, 2024
- Presentation at IMEX Frankfurt: May 2024
Why Apply?
If you own an innovative project or initiative linked to sustainability, digitalization, or human capital within the business events industry, this is your chance to influence and potentially revolutionize Europe’s Events sector. By sharing your innovation, you contribute to sustainability, resilience, and planetary well-being. This is an opportunity to set a global standard for responsible, inclusive, and impactful events.
Who Can Apply?
Organisations operating within Europe that own a project fulfilling the criteria with a direct or indirect impact on the business events industry. This includes startups, SMEs, non-profit organisations, public administrations, foundations, and private citizens.
Eligible Practices
- Measures to minimise negative environmental, social and economic impacts of events.
- Tourism-related initiatives (leisure, business events, hospitality, etc.).
- Tools and solutions to measure, reduce, and offset carbon footprint.
- Technology solutions (AI, Big Data, IoT, VR, Blockchain, Gamification) improving the BE experience.
- Social initiatives promoting inclusion, equity, well-being, or social justice.
- Unique partnerships elevating psychological, social, urban, or economic welfare.
- Alliances connecting professionals and institutions to improve the BE industry and smart concepts.
How to Present Your Project
Go to the BEFuture platform: www.be-future.eu
Step 1: Choose a submission category from the provided list.
Step 2: Download and fill in the presentation template provided on the BEFuture website.
Step 3: Submit your project using the application form.
Submission Details
- Deadline: March 30, 2024
- Submit via: www.be-future.eu/best-practices
Evaluation Criteria
- Innovation & Creativity: 15 points
- Impact: 15 points
- Value: 15 points
- Transferability: 15 points
- SDGs Contribution: 15 points
- Tourism Transition Pathways Contribution: 15 points
- Ownership & Timing: 10 points
Don’t Miss the Chance!
Showcase your project and contribute to shaping the future of Business Events in Europe. The selected Best Practices will be presented at IMEX Frankfurt in May. Apply now and be part of the change!
Deadline: March 18, 2024.
Tools to help make your events more sustainable
The Catalan Tourist Board presents different tools aimed at the MICE sector to facilitate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the professional events and meetings held in Catalonia.
These tools consider the environmental, social and economic sustainability of events, initially prioritising those self-diagnosis actions that subsequently enable prevention or reduction measures to be adopted, as well as offsetting measures if necessary.
DOWNLOAD THE TOOLS:
GUIDE TO ORGANISING SUSTAINABLE EVENTS
A guide to incorporating sustainability criteria in events, both public and private, thereby making a contribution to achieving the SDGs.
A list of actions to help organisations plan and measure event sustainability.
EVENT SUSTAINABILITY CALCULATOR
Tool for calculating the sustainability of events to carry out a self-assessment process.
Document to request information from suppliers for the calculation of the carbon footprint and to sum it up to obtain the total CO2eq tons of the event.
Editable infographic template to communicate the results obtained on the sustainability of the events.
GUIDE TO GHG EMISSIONS OFFSETTING
Guide to offsetting the tons of CO2 that could not be avoided in the events.
Barcelona is the world’s 1st city with most conference participants
Barcelona, the vibrant capital of Catalonia, has once again claimed the top spot in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) rankings, solidifying its position as the world’s premier destination for conference attendees. According to ICCA, the Catalan capital also ranks 4th globally in the list of best cities based on the number of congresses hosted, behind only Vienna, Lisbon, and Paris.
Barcelona’s reign as a global congress destination spans over two decades, with 2022 marking another triumphant year for the city. The catalytic growth of the city’s conference industry is evident in its consistent first-place position in the delegate count for the period from 2013 to 2022.
Barcelona’s consistent domination of the ICCA rankings stands as a testament to the city’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in the MICE industry. As the industry continues to evolve, Barcelona remains an unbeatable choice for event organizers and attendees seeking an extraordinary and enriching experience.
The ICCA 2022 ranking also includes five other Catalan cities: Girona, Lleida, Tarragona, Lloret de Mar, and Banyoles. The inclusion of these cities underscores the diversity and richness of the congress landscape in the region, providing organizers and attendees with a wide range of options to find the perfect destination that suits their needs and preferences.
Catalonia, Mobile World Capital Barcelona and the Roca Brothers present a phygital gastronomic experience at IMEX Frankfurt
- The Catalonia stand (E430) will host a unique experience to reflect on the impact of technology in the way we communicate, interact and perceive reality.
- IMEX visitors will be able to taste chocolate bonbons created by the three-Michelin-starred Roca Brothers in a scenario that fuses digital and physical reality (phygital).
Mobile World Capital Barcelona and the Roca Brothers from Girona’s El Celler de Can Roca come together to create a gastronomic journey that breaks down all the barriers we know today. “Taste the technology” will be presented at Catalonia’s stand at IMEX Frankfurt and is part of “Feel the Technology” project, an initiative by Mobile World Capital Barcelona presented for the first time at MWC Barcelona 2023 where users were able to enjoy a unique experience to reflect on the impact of technology in the way we communicate, interact and perceive reality.
The Catalunya Convention Bureau invites each visitor to taste a chocolate bonbon with acid flavour (lime ganache and passion fruit) created by the Roca Brothers and their Bean-to-Bar chocolate factory Casa Cacao in a setting where digital and physical (phygital) reality converges. The latter marks the start of a digital journey, led by the master chocolatier of Celler de Can Roca (Damian Alsop), with virtual reality glasses that combines AR and VR. In total, 1,000 chocolates will be produced for this experience.
According to Francesc Fajula, CEO of Mobile World Capital Barcelona: “We brought the limits of technology further with a proposal that mixes the physical and digital worlds to produce new user experiences. We designed the experience for MWC Barcelona and now we are proud to share it internationally for the first time here in Frankfurt. Travelling through the flavours created by the best chefs in the world, the Roca Brothers, is now a reality that connects us to the latest technological trends.
In the words of Jordi Roca, one of the 3 brothers in charge of the Celler de Can Roca: “Technology allows us to play in a new field in gastronomy. With virtual reality we can enrich the experience of tasting bonbons. All this while we are on a sensory journey halfway between the real and virtual worlds. It’s amazing!”
Narcís Ferrer, Director of the Catalan Tourist Board, emphasizes: “Catalonia has a thriving technology ecosystem and a strong focus on innovation, with numerous technology companies and startups based in the region. This provides a fertile ground for the development and integration of cutting-edge technologies into the MICE industry. ‘Taste the technology’ experience is a good example of this positive alliance between meeting tourism and technology.” According to Ferrer, “Business tourism is a market segment that brings visitors with high potential economic return for the country and interaction with the local businesses. In addition, it is a catalyst for new opportunities, which is the change we are looking for in the Catalan tourism model”.
The experience has been possible thanks to the support of Futura Space, a studio specialized in the conception and production of immersive environments, interactive experiences and innovative projects.
ABOUT MOBILE WORLD CAPITAL BARCELONA
Mobile World Capital Barcelona is an initiative driving the digital advancement of society while helping improve people’s lives globally. With the support of the public and private sector, MWCapital focuses on four areas: the acceleration of innovation through digital entrepreneurship, the transformation of industries through digital technology, the rise of digital talent among new generations and professionals and the reflection on the impact of technology in our society. Collectively, our programmes are positively transforming the economy, education and society.
MWCapital hosts MWC in Barcelona and founded 4 Years From Now (4YFN), the startup business platform, present at MWC events around the world.
RETHINK MEETINGS
The Catalunya Convention Bureau stands up for innovation and technology as one of the main points of its strategy to consolidate Catalonia as a world leading MICE destination. Due to its continuous innovation spirit, Catalonia is firmly committed to use technological developments (VR, AR, touchless, big data, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things…) as a transforming driver for the meetings industry. The Catalunya Convention Bureau is together with the strong and growing local ICT industry in order to provide forward-looking professional events, to rethink meetings.
Catalunya Convention Bureau releases new Meeting Planner Guide
The Catalunya Convention Bureau is proud to announce the release of its new improved Meeting Planner Guide, featuring a dynamic and functional format designed to streamline the event planning process.
The new guide offers a comprehensive overview of Catalonia’s many meeting and conference venues, accommodations, and transportation options, as well as providing in-depth information on the region’s business culture and destinations. With its intuitive layout and user-friendly design, the guide is an indispensable resource for event planners seeking to organize successful Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions in Catalonia.
Catalonia turns into global hotspot destination for mobility events
Catalonia, with Barcelona as main host of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology Urban Mobility, is one of the world’s leading destinations in capturing and boosting associative and corporate events related to the mobility industry. Check the upcoming Automotive & Mobility focused meetings and events:
👉Rapid Applications for Transport Summit: entrepreneurial city challenge-based competition for start-ups and SMEs to help solve critical urban mobility issues (11 May, Barcelona).
👉Automobile Barcelona: the Fira de Barcelona International Motor Show (13-21 maig, Barcelona).
👉UITP Global Public Transport Summit: world’s leading international congress on public transport organized by the International Association of Public Transport (4-7 June, Barcelona).
👉FISITA World Congress: the world’s largest gathering of automotive and mobility engineers (12-15 September, Barcelona).
👉EuroBrake: the international braking technology community & event (12-14 September, Barcelona).
👉Euro Mobility Festival: under the umbrella of the Sea Otter Europe Costa Brava Girona (22-24 September, Girona
👉e-Mobility Experience: an experiential fair focused on electric mobility (7-8 October, Circuit Barcelona Catalunya)
👉Tomorrow.Mobility Expo World Congress: organized by Fira de Barcelona and EIT Urban Mobility; held within the framework of Smart City Expo World Congress (7-9 November, Barcelona).
👉International Mobility Congress: a professional meeting point to understand the new mobility, and make it safe, inclusive and sustainable (new dates to be confirmed, Sitges).
👉Barcelona Superblock International Meeting: gathering of the network of cities in the European project Tune Our Block (22-25 March, Barcelona).
Best-practice ideas to make meetings industry more inclusive
With this new guide, the Catalan Tourist Board through the Catalunya Convention Bureau, wants to make the world of meetings more accessible to everyone. With 14 very specific steps, meetings can be held taking into account all people and their needs before, during and after the event. The guide also includes an annex where you can find potential service providers to make the event even more accessible.
Meet Catalunya 2022
Catalonia is committed to consolidating itself internationally as a leading destination for meeting and event tourism. For this reason, the Catalan Tourist Board through the Catalunya Convention Bureau held a new edition of Meet Catalunya, the major benchmark business meeting for the Catalan MICE sector.
This event has led to more than 1,500 business meetings being held between 90 Catalan companies and entities and more than 60 tourist operators from 14 European countries (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and the United Kingdom and Sweden).
The dimension of the Catalan sector in the field of meeting tourism (with more than a thousand spaces suitable for hosting these types of business events), its tourist experience in other segments and the positioning of the city of Barcelona, which for more than twenty years in a row has been among the top 5 in the ranking of cities that organise congresses compiled by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), make Catalonia well-positioned internationally and mean it has high potential regarding the development of this activity. The Catalunya Convention Bureau is working to respond to the needs of a constantly evolving market, which calls for innovation and more experiential and personalised meetings, with the aim of positioning Catalonia as a world reference in this segment.
After the event, the buyers went on a tour to get to know the Catalan meeting tourism sector in situ, through various fam trips. Specifically, 8 trips were made to visit spaces equipped to host business meetings.
The legacy of the Olympic Games
30 years ago, Barcelona and Catalonia used the platform of the Olympic Games to transform the face of the city and the region, and to carry out large-scale projects to promote the practice of sport and boost the local economy. The benefits that the Games left behind are often cited as a positive example of Olympic legacy.
Do you want to discover it and organise your next event in an Olympic facility?
Olympic Canal
The sports facilities and areas of the Olympic Canal are the setting for an innovative range of team building activities.
Olympic Ring
The Olympic Ring is an incomparable setting made up of the Olympic Stadium, Palau Sant Jordi and the Olympic Esplanade, Barcelona’s Olympic Ring is a space of great beauty, the venue for a multitude of events of all kinds.
CAR Sant Cugat
The High Performance Sports Centre of Sant Cugat del Valles (CAR) offers its facilities to companies and organizations to carry out various activities within a distinctive and elite environment. Surrounded by high performance sports, they offer a large range of sports facilities with capacity to accommodate any kind of event.
Olympic and Sport Museum
The Joan Antoni Samaranch Olympic and Sport Museum offers several versatile and segregable spaces with ideal features for hosting different types of events: conferences, assemblies, press conferences, parties, etc.
Olympic Park
The Olympic Park offer a range of facilities and activities in the Pyrenees, enabling company groups to enjoy emotions and thrills in an unparalleled setting. Rafting is the star activity. This activity involves four descents in the Olympic white water channel. The first two are to gain knowledge, training and adaptation to the environment and the last 2 are timed descents.
Port Olímpic
Built in 1990 to host the sailing competitions of the Barcelona ’92 Olympic Games, the Port Olímpic has become an emblematic space of the city. Its gastronomic and leisure offer make it a point of attraction for MICE travellers.
Olympic Games: Sport team building
Olympic Games Experience is a thrilling sports team building, an activity for companies that makes you the protagonist of a competition full of action and emotions. The arrival at the stadium. The opening ceremony. The warm up. The challenge of each event. The record of the marks. The support of your team. The coronation of the winners. The closing ceremony. There is no lack of detail in an experience that you will never forget.
