Fira de Barcelona will close the 2023 financial year with a record turnover of 250.2 million euros, a figure that represents a growth of 17.9% compared to 2022 and above the 219 million in 2019, before the pandemic. Operating profit, or ebitda, stood at 39 million, 6.6% more.
The data was provided this Friday within the framework of the meeting of the General Council of Fira, chaired by the mayor of Barcelona, ??Jaume Collboni. The president of the board of directors, Pau Relat, and the general director, Constantí Serrallonga, anticipated that 2024 will be even better, given the number of events already planned, both in salons and international conferences. This year, more than 270 events have been held in the three venues, as highlighted by Pau Relat, who recalled that in addition to the Montjuïc and Granvia space, the management of the Barcelona International Convention Center (CCIB) has been incorporated. Relat has highlighted that “all” the major international events that had to change cities have chosen Barcelona as their new venue.
“We did not expect a year as successful as the one we have had,” Serrallonga admitted, adding that the budget for 2024 reaches 260 million and it is expected that between 270 and 300 events will be held.
Of this budget, 20% depends on the Mobile World Congress (MWC); 10%, from Alimentaria
Collboni has stressed that Fira de Barcelona is about to “take a historic leap and open a new stage” coinciding with the commemoration of the centenary of the 1929 International Exhibition and with the expansion of the space. According to the mayor, the works planned for the Montjuïc and Gran Via campuses will strengthen the institution’s relationship with the city.
Along the same lines, the Minister of Business, Roger Torrent, has highlighted the “essential” role of Fira de Barcelona as an engine of growth for the Catalan economy in 2023, which he has described as “a great year”, with record exports and attracting foreign companies.
“We are on the right path,” highlighted the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Josep Santacreu, who highlighted the Fair as a good example of how “public-private collaboration can give great results.”
