2013 SUMMARY
18 | 19
Due to the great
importance of
professional shows and
major congresses and
events, Fira is the leading
trade fair in Spain
and a point of reference
in Europe
A year with major events
During 2013 the institution consolidated its
leadership in the Spanish trade fair sector with
over 2.5 milion visitors and its positioning in
Europe, mostly thanks to its professional shows
–63% of the total–, and to major congresses and
events. Well-established international shows
and emerging and innovating new ones coexisted
with shows affected by the recession that are
nevertheless trying to offer new opportunities to
exhibiting firms, especially abroad.
The Montjuïc and Gran Via venue hosted more
than 60 shows, congresses and events, some
of them with a long history in Fira de Barcelona,
yet also conditioned by the recession. Worthy
of note in this context was the support given
to The Barcelona International Motor Show
by manufacturers and importers, as it is the
only benchmark event for the sector and driving
force of this industry in Spain. During the show,
there was a meeting between Spanish President
Mariano Rajoy and the main representatives of the
leading automotive companies.
Construmat focused mostly on generating
business abroad, in places likely to provide
business activity for companies, especially in
emerging economies as Brazil. The International
Boat Show, consolidated on its stage at Port
Vell in Barcelona, proved that, despite the
recession, it is still a benchmark event for the
sector distinguished by innovation and a firm
commitment to sustainability.
Once again, one of the most remarkable shows
of the year was The Mobile World Congress,
global leading meeting of the sector of mobile
communications, held for the first time in the Gran
Via venue, and receiving 72,500 professional
visitors, 1,700 exhibiting companies and 3,000
accredited journalists.
One of the most international shows was also
Piscina Barcelona, one of the great events
of the sector, with 62% exhibitors and 45%
visitors from abroad. Also important was the 7th
Barcelona event of EIBTM, global leading meeting
for business tourism, which has renewed its
permanence in Barcelona until 2016.
Also important was the 3rd edition of Smart City
Expo, consolidated as the international leading
meeting in the field of smart cities and also being
hosted by other countries. In 2013 it was held in
Bogotá and a Kyoto event has been announced
for 2014.
Other relevant events for their impact on
the productive fabric and on the institution’s
assessment were graphispag.digital; Carbon
Expo, specialised in the carbon emissions
market and jointly organised with the World
