According to the 2014 Barcelona Congress Market report, drawn up annually by Turisme de Barcelona, last year revenue for MICE tourism stood at almost 1.47 bn euros. The city hosted a total of 1,969 events with more than 40 delegates. 77% of participants were international (30.5% of whom were from outside Europe) whilst the remaining 23% were Spanish.

During the first quarter of the year, the number of Spanish tourists visiting the city rose by 8%, confirming the upturn registered in 2014 following five years of slight falls due to the economic crisis. The rise in the number of Spanish tourists, who have remained loyal to Barcelona as a destination, is slightly higher than the national average.

The tourist information offices at Barcelona Airport, which are co-managed by Turisme de Barcelona and the Turisme de Catalunya Directorate General, have recently celebrated their 15th anniversary. During this time the offices have dealt with a total of 7.5 million queries.

Winemaking company Bodegas Torres will be Turisme de Barcelona’s major sponsor over the next three years (2015-2018), following the signing of a collaboration agreement designed to boost the city’s tourism promotion and the wine tourism and food and wine offer.

Turisme de Barcelona has now reached the record figure of 951 partner companies, clear proof of the strength of the tourism industry and confirmation of the success of the private-public model our consortium is based on.

Boasting a prime location in the heart of Collserola Nature Park situated just 20 minutes from the centre of Barcelona we find the innovative INOUT tourism complex. This Special Employment Centre for the hospitality industry opened in 2005 as a hostel, and 90% of the staff have some form of disability.