Catalonia, a picturesque region in Spain, offers myriad reasons to host a sports MICE event here. Among the top reasons are its accessibility and geographical diversity (360 miles of coastline and mountains soaring to over 9,800 feet high), a vibrant social and industrial fabric, a sporting tradition embodied in more than 9,000 clubs and over 4,000 sports services businesses, an exceptional climate and a globally prestigious brand in Barcelona. Catalonia is unquestionably the prime setting for any type of professional event involving sport.
-(1)_1366.jpg?tr=w-920%2Cfo-auto "Catalonia stadium 2")
Catalonia has the greatest concentration of sports businesses in Europe. For over a century following the emergence of contemporary sport, research and training centers, clubs, associations, federations, governments and enterprises have built an ecosystem which has fashioned an extremely vibrant sports industry. This growth took a qualitative leap forward in 1992 when the Olympic Games turned Barcelona into the world capital of sport. And that flame has not gone out but rather the Catalan capital and Catalonia as a whole are still setting the standard in sport and major events.
Catalonia hosts a wide range of sports and event amenities, venues and services that specialize in combining sports with MICE events: hotels with unmatched sports facilities, international competitions with the finest hospitality services, meeting venues within sports facilities and a portfolio of unique products and services for MICE events with a sports focus.
High-level Competition Venue
Coupling a corporate event with an elite sporting event is an outstanding opportunity to capitalize on the prestige, excitement and large audience which come with these competitions. This furnishes planners with a one-of-a-kind platform to raise their profile, enhance their brand image and build meaningful connections with target audiences. Picking Catalonia as a destination for an incentive trip tied in with an elite sporting event can also unlock new business opportunities, strategic partnerships and relationships with industry leaders. Options include taking in a men’s or women’s Champions League game at Spotify Camp Nou, the Open Sabadell tennis tournament box and village, the MotoGP and Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, soaking up the atmosphere of the Euroleague or ACB basketball league, and following a stage of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya.
Sport and Innovation
Catalonia is one of the foremost idea and entrepreneurship laboratories in the sport tech industry in Europe. Catalonia unleashes innovation applied to sport via strategic partnerships between ecosystem stakeholders including start-ups, technology and research centers, universities and sports organizations. Renowned for its diversity and vibrancy, Catalonia’s sport tech ecosystem has forged an environment conducive to attracting investors and entrepreneurs from around the world along with hosting professional meetings and events which power the development of this ever-changing sector.
_1366.jpg?tr=w-920%2Cfo-auto "Catalonia ski")
Pyrenees: High-altitude Meetings
Featuring over 435 skiable miles (10 Alpine ski resorts and six Nordic ski resorts) and over 621 miles of marked trails, the Catalan Pyrenees host a unique range of MICE experiences in the high mountains.
_1366.jpg?tr=w-920%2Cfo-auto "Catalonia dragon boats")
The Sea Takes Center Stage
Its prime location on the Mediterranean coast means this region can offer event and congress planners a one-of-a-kind setting in which to combine meetings with sea-based activities. On top of outstanding MICE facilities, Catalonia also has an extensive nautical infrastructure which includes marinas and water sports resorts. It additionally hosts traditional high-level sports competitions such as the Christmas Race in Palamós and the Conde de Godó Sailing Trophy in Barcelona.
When it comes to events and the sea, look no further than the world’s primary sailing competition and the oldest in the history of the sport, the America’s Cup, which was held for the first time in 1851. Barcelona is the host city for the 37th race and in this role is seeking to solidify its position as a world leader in sport, sustainability, innovation and education in the nautical realm and the blue economy. To achieve this status, a program is being drawn up featuring legacy projects which will reach beyond the competition itself and lay the foundations for the immediate future.
To learn more about hosting your next MICE sports event in Catalonia, click here.