Catalonia
Premium venues in a Mediterranean or mountain setting

Why Catalonia for your next meeting or event?

Catalonia boasts an extensive network of congress centres, trade fair venues and locations, offering a wide range of unique indoor and outdoor spaces equipped to host all kinds of meetings and events. With its strategic geographical location, open and innovative society, mild year-round climate, exceptional combination of sea and mountain landscapes, considerable cultural and historical wealth and an attractive culinary scene combining traditional and contemporary cuisine, Catalonia is an excellent destination for business events. Premium quality infrastructure and expert suppliers offer an exceptional degree of professionalism based on the renowned Catalan entrepreneurial spirit.

All this helps to explain why Catalonia is one of the biggest international driving forces in the business tourism sector, offering innovative urban settings, natural landscapes, scenery, culture, creativity, uniqueness, know-how, authenticity and business excellence. Barcelona has played a fundamental role, reaching a Top 5 world ranking for business tourism by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).

Only in Catalonia

Less than two hours away, a destination with the Mediterranean as its backdrop to envelop your guests in its warmth and light. Or the purest, most breathtaking mountains. History carved in millennial stones. The most spectacular views. Complement it with the best wines, innovative cuisine based on ancestral techniques and the chance to experience historic cities with an exciting past and a vibrant present. Imagine miles upon miles of beaches and coves. Land of castle keepers, fishing communities, magical mountains, universal artists, vibrant culture, business and the arts. Add the dynamic city of Barcelona, and choose from a magnificent range of event venues. This is CATALONIA.

Travel essentials

Meeting Planner Guide

Catalunya Convention Bureau

Email: [email protected]

Local currency: Euro

Power: AC 220 volts, 50 Hertz

Time zones: GMT +1 hour

Weather: Mild climate with more than 300 sunny days a year

Taxes: rates vary according to type of accommodation, its category and whether it is in the city of Barcelona or elsewhere in Catalonia.

Transportation in and around the area

By train

The train is one of the most comfortable and sustainable ways to get to Catalonia. High-speed trains to Barcelona operate from Paris, with its many European connections, on SNCF and from Lyon and Marseille on Renfe services.

It is also easy to connect from France to Catalonia by train through La Tor de Querol-Enveig (line R3) and Cervera (R11).

High-speed trains offer fast connections from Madrid, Zaragoza and Seville, as well as the four Catalan capitals, Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona via TAV or AVE services.

By road

Getting to Catalonia by private transport is easy. The AP-7, the highway that runs the entire Mediterranean coast, is the connection route to the cities of Girona, Barcelona and Tarragona, the main beaches of the territory and most important tourist centres. Several expressways serve the interior including the A-2, AP-2 and C-25. All connect Lleida with the AP-7.

This extensive road network also offers good bus connections to many European cities.

By air

The territory has four commercial airports with regular and seasonal flights. The most important by passenger volume is Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat airport, which offers connections to more than 180 destinations with around 80 airlines making it a truly international destination.

Girona and Reus airports provide easy access to the Costa Brava, Costa Daurada and the Catalan interior. These two airports significantly increase commercial activity in high season with Girona offering almost 40 connections with cities all over Europe. Reus serves 23 destinations, most in the United Kingdom and others in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

Lleida-Alguaire airport offers flights to the Balearic Islands and provides a quick connection to the Pyrenees and its ski resorts.

By sea

For sheer pleasure, consider reaching Catalonia by sea. Popular with visitors arriving on private boats and yachts, it is increasing its prominence on the maritime routes that cross the Western Mediterranean. The Port of Barcelona has several ferry connections to other destinations in the Mediterranean.

The ports of Tarragona, Palamós and Roses are well located in the heart of the Costa Daurada and the Costa Brava.

Meeting & event venues

 

Catalonia offers a wide range of hotels suitable for events. From glamorous beachside resorts and elegant historic hotels to cosy rural hideaways, there is also a good selection of modern properties. Many offer sophisticated event spaces as well as outdoor terraces and gardens to make the most of the Mediterranean climate and stunning landscape.

Palau de Congressos de Catalunya: this contemporary, multifunctional and versatile space is perfect for holding all kinds of events in Barcelona including conferences, congresses, symposia, exhibitions and cultural events. It is strategically located in the neighbourhood of Pedralbes, near the iconic Avenida Diagonal, one of the city’s main thoroughfares. It is close to many of the key attractions and just 15 minutes from Barcelona Airport. This unique and bright complex boasts cutting-edge technology and some incredible outdoor spaces with almost 25,000 sqm of historic gardens surrounding the building. An urban resort that will exceed your expectations.

CCIB: located by the sea, the CCIB (Barcelona International Convention Centre) is an icon of Barcelona’s avant-garde architecture. A modern, versatile and functional building of 100,000 sqm, it has ceiling heights of up to 12m high and capacity to host up to 15,000 delegates, it was designed to give prominence to light.

World Trade Center Barcelona: surrounded by the sea with spectacular views of Barcelona’s historic centre and just 15 minutes from the airport, the World Trade Center offers more than 4,000 sqm for events across 20 rooms. With natural light and flexible space, it can accommodate small business meetings to gatherings of more than 1,000 people. Offering a wide range of services and an experienced team, there is also the on-site five-star Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel offering 291 guest rooms.

Barcelona Congress Centre: Barcelona’s conference centre, the Palau de Congressos, is in Parc de Montjuïc, near Plaça d’Espanya, and boasts nearly 100,000 sqm of indoor floor space. It also has almost 40,000 sqm of outdoor space. Its six exhibition halls play host to some of the world’s most important international trade fairs.

Gran Hotel Rey Don Jaime: this hotel offers a conference centre with an auditorium that can accommodate more than 350 guests and an adjoining building with eight meeting rooms that have natural daylight. It also has wonderful views of the sea and mountains, air-conditioning, disabled access and high-tech audio visual and telecommunications.

Palau de Congressos de Girona: occupying an area of 10,000 sqm at the western edge of Devesa Park, a protected green space in the centre of Girona, this congress centre is only a 10-minute walk from the Historic Quarter and the train station with its high-speed rail line. An unbeatable location that makes it easy for attendees to reach.

Tarragona Exhibition and Congress Center: offering spacious and modern facilities perfectly equipped with the latest technological features for holding all kinds of fairs, meetings and conferences. It has two auditoriums, exhibition space, several rooms and multipurpose spaces for corporate, business, institutional, social, cultural, musical and sports events.

La Llotja de Lleida: on the banks of the Segre river, in the economic heart of the entrepreneurial city of Lleida, this 5,000 sqm venue has been designed to accommodate events for up to 2,000 attendees.

Olympic Conference Center: situated in Lloret de Mar, this events venue offers more than 4,900 sqm of meeting rooms and between 40 and 800 sqm for conferences, conventions and banquets. It includes a new auditorium with capacity for 770 people. Equipped with audiovisual and Wi-Fi technology, it is integrated within the Evenia Olympic Resort, with 793 guest rooms, including 330 suites.

Costa Brava Conference Centre: the Gran Casino Costa Brava congress centre is located on the casino building’s second floor. Its column-free space is ideal for events up to 1,000 people.

Eurostars Sitges: featuring 26 column-free meeting rooms of all sizes (two of which are plenary rooms) and more than 2,175 sqm of adaptable meeting spaces, there is also a spacious garden with panoramic views of the sea for outdoor receptions and events.

Meliá Sitges: a benchmark hotel for congresses and conventions, it features a versatile 4,500 sqm Convention Center, 26 rooms and an auditorium with capacity to accommodate up to 1,384 people, fully equipped with the latest state-of-the-art electronic and audio-visual technology.

firaReus: this trade fair and convention centre has new, modern and functional facilities with halls that can be adapted to the needs of any exhibition or congress. With an indoor exhibition area of 6,500 sqm spread over a single column-free floor, panels can be installed in three halls of 1,860 sqm, 2,900 sqm and 1,700 sqm. The conference rooms offer space for meetings of between 50 and 400 people, an indoor auditorium for 750 people and an outdoor one for 4,000 people.

PortAventura Business & Events Convention Centre: at the heart of the Costa Dorada, the PortAventura Business & Events Convention Centre has 24 multifunctional and modular rooms fitted with state-of-the-art technology, ideal for hosting events such as conferences and conventions. The rooms are distributed over two spacious floors (20,000 sqm), with capacity for groups of 10 to 6,000 people.

What’s new for events

 

Meetings & Sports is a new programme that has been launched to highlight Catalonia’s attributes for professional events linked to the Sports industry.

The Hotel Torre Melina Gran Melià has opened its doors, thus reclaiming one of Barcelona's most iconic five-star hotels, the former Hotel Juan Carlos I. Its direct access to the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya, the gardens of Torre Melina and its avant-garde culinary offer make this hotel a unique venue in the city.

Maresme Events is a new programme managed by the Costa del Maresme Tourism Promotion Consortium and designed to promote and strengthen the meetings and events industry in the region.

Things to do

Travel to enjoy. Discover to experiment. Feel the essence of a place and become a part of it. Catalonia is a land of sea and mountains, of culture and history, of emotions and life. A landscape of contrasts and friendly people that offers unforgettable experiences. Because Catalonia is seen and, above all, lived. And after visiting, it will be impossible not to carry a part of this small nation full of big things inside.

From sporting adventure in the mountains or on the Mediterranean, memorable and fun team building activities, magical culinary experiences and immersion in its ancient traditions or up-to-the-minute modern art and design, Catalonia offers a host of unforgettable opportunities. Take a look here for lots of inspiration:

107 experiences to enjoy Catalonia

For further information on hosting an event in Catalonia, contact the Catalunya Convention Bureau