In recent years Valencia has positioned itself as a destination for international meetings, rising as the third city in Spain in terms of the number of meetings it hosts. According to the ranking of the International Association of Congresses and Conventions (ICCA), 38 international congresses are held annually, compared to 10 that used to take place two decades ago. This growth can be seen in the meetings that currently take place in the city, such as the Congress of European Microbiologists and the Dreamhack Festival, which were just completed, or the Pan-European Youth Congress, which will take place in August. Similarly, the exposure that the city has had as a meetings destination has also increased in recent years. This month Valencia is prominently presented in seven-page features in two highly regarded specialist publications, Meet and Travel in France and Punto MICE in Spain.
Valencia, Headquarters of Great Congresses and Meetings in 2017
This development is the result of a complete offering of venues and services, as well as the promotion of the destination in key markets jointly by the sector and the Valencia Convention Bureau, which has always been committed to innovation and sustainability. Recently, the organisation participated in Gala Eventoplus, attended by more than 800 influential professionals in the sector, in which Valencia sponsored the awards in the category for Best Responsible Event.
Contributing to the increase of meetings in the city, the Valencia Conference Centre recently celebrated 19 years, having hosted 2,700 events and 1,875,000 visitors so far, and having been awarded the Best Congress Centre in the World in 2010.
Valencia is a destination with a great offering that complements itself, a dynamic city where things keep on happening. The opening of the Bombas Gens Art Centre or the Manolo Valdés exhibition in the City of Arts and Sciences are a testament to this, transforming this Mediterranean city into a supreme destination for holding all types of meetings.
