Fira de Barcelona posts a €117.2 million revenue for 2013

Barcelona (ACN).- Fira de Barcelona - the Catalan capital trade fair organisation - expects to end 2013 with revenues of €117.2 million, meaning 10.9 % more than targeted, 1.7 % more than last year and 2.2 % more than in 2011, a year that was comparable to the current one in terms of business generated. Meanwhile, the EBITDA is expected to amount to €9.6 million with the building cost resulting from the inclusion of company ‘Alimentaria Exhibitions’. In this respect, the EBITDA is similar to the two previous years (2012 and 2011), when it was of €11 million. Fira’s management stressed that such good results came from the “ability to attract major international events”, such as the Mobile World Congress or the EVS27, dedicated to the electric vehicle. The foreign sector already contributes to 50% of the Fira de Barcelona revenues. Indeed, the institution, apart from welcoming professionals from all around the world, has also created other trade fairs in foreign countries and will continue doing so. For instance, it will develop fairs dedicated to the car-industry and jewellery sector in Qatar and another one on smart cities in Kyoto, Japan.

During a meeting chaired by Xavier Trias - Mayor of Barcelona, ​​​​Josep Lluís Bonet - President of Fira de Barcelona, and Agustín Cordón - Fira’s Director General, presented the evolution and prospects of the institution. Bonet was very optimistic, stating that “next year may be the year of recovery”. He added that these “satisfying results” in such a complex context as the current one, were the result of the institution’s strategy. A few years ago, Fira de Barcelona decided to “strengthen its own trade fairs, by welcoming a number of outstanding professionals, encouraging innovation and the diversification of its activities […] and holding important events at international level”. Such a strategy was reinforced during the economic crisis.

Fira de Barcelona creates fair trades in Qatar and Japan

Agustín Cordón said Fira de Barcelona was a leader in southern Europe for hosting trade fairs, with the budget of the institution providing a turnover of €117.2 million in 2014. He explained that the goal for next year was to continue “in this vein” and favour major international events. The foreign sector already contributes to 50% of the Fira de Barcelona revenues. Apart from welcoming professionals from all around the world, the institution has also created other trade fairs in foreign countries. And it is planning to continue doing so. For instance it will develop fairs dedicated to the car-industry and jewellery sector in Qatar and another one on smart cities in Kyoto, Japan.

Mobile World Congress or EVS27 amongst this year’s 70 events

In 2013, the institution, owned by the Catalan Government, the City Council and the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, has hosted 62 exhibitions and conferences, along with over 70 types of corporate, commercial, or sportive events. Over 450 activities were organised as part of these events, held mostly in the Montjuïc and Gran Via facilities.

In addition to the Mobile World Congress (MWC), which contributed to 20 % of its revenues this year, the Fira de Barcelona has hosted the EIBTM (‘the global meetings and events expo’), Smart City Expo, the Car Fair, MIHealth and Construmat, devoted to architecture and construction. The pharmaceutical trade fair PharmaProcess, dedicated to industrial processes, was organised for the very first time along with the ‘Handmade Festival’ and ‘Denim by Première Vision’, the denim fair trade previously held in Paris. The Fira de Barcelona has also targeted innovative sectors: the EVS27, the world's most important symposium dedicated to the electric vehicle, also took place in the Catalan Capital this year. EVS’ next edition, will be held in Korea in 2015. ​​