A turnover of around 115 million Euros, in line with the estimated amount
Fira de Barcelona reasserts its leadership and international scope
Fira de Barcelona is closing 2012 with good results. In a difficult climate, its forecast revenue is around 114.9 million Euros, reinforcing its role as innovator and economic booster. The institution has reasserted its leadership in Spain in the field of industrial-professional shows and its benchmark position on the international scene with events such as the Mobile World Congress, Alimentaria, Smart City Expo, MIHealth and Seafood, as well as a presence in the Asian and American markets.
These aspects have been covered today at Fira de Barcelona’s General Board meeting, chaired by the city’s Mayor, Xavier Trias, during which the President of the institution’s Governing Board, Josep Lluís Bonet, and the CEO, Agustín Cordón, have given the results for 2012 and the objectives for 2013.
The mayor has highlighted the Fira’s role “as a sector business and meeting place” and has emphasised equally “how important it is for a city to attract and generated large events that provide economic activity and strengthen the Barcelona brand”.
Fira expects to close 2012 with revenues of 114.9 million Euros and an EBITDA of 11 million, in line with the estimated amount. This turnover is practically the same as in 2011 (114.7 million Euros), but significantly higher than in 2010, a comparable year in terms of trade fairs (101.6 million). These results, in a general climate of crisis, have been possible thanks to fulfilment of the trade fair calendar, level of internationalism, innovation policy, activity diversification, large events and expenditure restraint.
Outstanding trade fair activity
The President of Fira’s Governing Board, Josep Lluís Bonet, has said “with the prudence dictated by the difficulties faced by companies, one must give a positive assessment of the results of the institution, which focuses its efforts on combating the crisis by creating tools for economic activity and internationalisation”.
For his part, the CEO, Agustín Cordón, has stated “we have continued to strengthen commercial activity, prioritising support to companies and sectors represented in the different shows”, which are resized according to the needs of the economic climate.
Cordón has also said “the strategic actions implemented some years ago to anticipate new trade fair challenges are yielding results, are a counter-crisis instrument and contribute to creating new business opportunities”. In this sense, he reminded those present that Fira is a leader in industrial and professional event organisation in Spain and a benchmark in Europe.
At the end of 2012, the Montjuïc and Gran Via exhibition centres will have hosted 61 shows and congresses, as well as 60 various corporate, commercial and sports events. During the shows held in Fira, over 400 activities have also been organised. The list of important events that have been held includes Mobile World Congress (MWC), Alimentaria, Boat Show, Hispack-Bta, Hostelco, EIBTM and Smart City Expo, a show about innovation applied to cities that, in its second edition, became an undeniable international benchmark. Other events include the first MIHealth Forum, dedicated to healthcare management and innovation, and Seafood on the fishing industry.
During this year about to end, through the Barcelona Mobile World Capital Foundation, Fira has also contributed actively to the development of related projects and activities.
Presence Abroad
In accordance with international business development strategy, in 2012, many Fira de Barcelona shows have been present in other international events to help Catalan and Spanish companies to expand abroad, above all at a time of weak domestic demand. Highlights include the participation of Hostelco, hotel and catering equipment show, in Hotelex, Shanghai; the organisation of The Brandery Asia during Singapore’s Blueprint fashion fair; the participation of Piscina (Swimming Pool Show) in ME Pool & Spa, Dubai, and Construmat in Ficons, Recife (Brazil). The institution has also signed an agreement with Montreal to provide advice on the organisation of trade fairs, and has other projects in the pipeline.
For 2013, a year in which economic recession is still forecast and in which there will be no triennial trade fair on the calendar, the institution forecasts a turnover of 105 million Euros. Fira expects to organise around 55 important events, such as Construmat, Motor Show, Mobile World Congress, Boat Show, Swimming Pool Show, Carbon Expo, Graphispag Digital, EIBTM, MIHealth, Seafood and Smart City Expo, which will be held simultaneously with the railway industry show BcnRail and the global benchmark event EVS (Electric Vehicle Symposium), which was last held in May 2012 in Los Angeles.
Committed to innovation and medical congresses
Fira will also host large medical congresses, because of size and number of attendees, such as those of the European Neurology, Respiratory and Oncology Societies and the congress of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, as well as national events about Primary Care and Neonatology, which will bring together over 49,000 professionals overall.
It is outstanding congress activity that reinforces the institution’s strategy implemented a few years ago to attract important European and world events. Since 2006, the Montjuïc and Gran Via Exhibition Centres have hosted 37 medical events, many of them top level, such as the World Cardiology Congress and the European Cardiology ¿which will be held again in 2014-, Molecular Biology, Respiratory, Haematology, Urology and Toxicology Congresses, among others.
In the realm of technological events, for the first time, Fira will host two large international events of the companies SAP and HP. In line with the policy of innovating through the creation of new shows, next year, the institution is planning to hold Pharmaprocess, specialised in the pharmaceutical sector’s industrial processes, and Bodylife Barcelona, dedicated to fitness, which will coincide with the Swimming Pool Show, with the aim of generating synergies. There will also be a new phase of Forum Dental, organised from now by Fira in collaboration with the Col¿legi d’Odontòlegs de Catalunya.
Barcelona, 11th December 2012