Fira_de_Barcelona
Photo: Fira de Barcelona

Fira de Barcelona reached a historic milestone of 300 million euros in revenue in 2024 and a record EBITDA of 53 million. The year has been an extraordinary one in terms of the size and nature of the events held, which allows the group to look forward with good prospects to 2025.

Fira continues to beat records in terms of turnover and activity. It expects to close 2024 with revenues of 300 million euros, an increase of 16% compared with 2023, and an Ebitda of 53 million euros, 24% more than the previous year, achieving a pre-tax profit of around 20 million. These are great results thanks to the number and volume of events held at the Montjuïc, Gran Via and Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB) venues. In total, 270 fairs, congresses and various events have taken place, in addition to those jointly organised in other countries.

The Chairman of the Governing Board of Fira Barcelona, Pau Relat, and General Manager, Constantí Serrallonga, today presented these extraordinary results, as well as the forecasts for 2025, during the meeting of the General Council of the institution, which is chaired by the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, and whose vice-presidents are the Minister of Business and Labour of the Government of Catalonia, Miquel Sàmper, and the President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Josep Santacreu. A meeting in which the renewal of Pau Relat as Chairman of the Governing Board.

Pau Relat highlighted “these magnificent results, which consolidate the institution’s path of growth, reflect its economic strength, allow it to gain international presence and strengthen its leading position in the competitive European trade fair market.” Likewise, he expressed his satisfaction with the renewal of his position. In this regard, he looks forward to his new term of office “with the enthusiasm of continuing to advance in Fira’s major expansion projects to strengthen its legacy and continue to be a powerful economic and social powerhouse of the city and the region.”

BIG TRADE FAIRS FOR TECHNOLOGY, FOOD AND HEALTH 

In 2024, major events were held such as MWC Barcelona, Alimentaria & Hostelco, Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), Smart City Expo World Congress, Seafood Expo Global, Hispack and the congresses of the European Societies of Medical Oncology (ESMO), Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO) and Intensive Medicine (ESICM), among others. Other highlights include the meetings of hi-tech companies such as Gartner, SAP, HP and VMware; the McDonald’s global convention, the United Nations Ocean Decade Conference, the UNESCO Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination and the editions of Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week, CineEurope, Shoptalk Europe, Construmat, IOT Solutions World Congress, Barcelona Wine Week, Graphispag, Liber, Barcelona Gastronomic Forum and the Manga and Comic Show, the Education Show, B-Travel, Bizbarcelona and the Saló de l’Ocupació (Recruitment Fair).

Abroad, in addition to managing two exhibition venues in China, Fira has jointly organised 13 shows: Smart City Expo in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, the US and China and also firs editions in Saudi Arabia and Chile; as well as Alimentos Cuba and the launching editions of IOT Solutions World Congress and Tomorrow.Blue Economy in Brazil, Tomorrow.Mobility in Mexico and Alimentaria in China.

Fira_de_Barcelona
Photo: Fira de Barcelona

NEW SHOWS IN 2025

The expectations for 2025 are very positive. The institution expects to exceed the turnover levels of 300 million euros in a year in which, although no triennial show is due to be held, major events are scheduled, notably in the fields of technology, food and health, such as MWC Barcelona, ISE, Smart City Expo World Congress, Seafood Expo Global and the world congresses on Lung Cancer (WCLC), Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Cardiovascular Radiology (CIRSE), Rheumatology (EULAR) and Nuclear Medicine (EANM), among others.

Among the new events scheduled feature Vitafoods Europe and Labelexpo Europe, the world’s leading events in the industries of nutraceutical foods and label and packaging printing, respectively. The institution will also take over the organisation of the Padel World Summit and the Vibra fair, on women’s well-being and health.

Next year’s calendar will also include Automobile Barcelona, Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week, Piscina Barcelona, Infarma, CineEurope, Shoptalk Europe, Barcelona Wine Week, IOT Solutions World Congress, Ibtm World and Gastronomic Forum Barcelona, as well as the corporate meetings of the multinationals Gartner, HP, Workday and McKinsey. In 2025, the usual editions of Caravaning, Boat Show, Comic and Manga, B-Travel, the Education Show, Bizbarcelona and Employment Show, among others, will return.

A great deal of activity is also expected abroad with 15 events scheduled, further consolidating its international expansion, especially through the editions of Smart City Expo in other countries, which in addition to its editions in Brazil, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, will hold its first event in Malaysia. Mexico Hospitality Expo by Hostelco and Tomorrow.Mobility Brasilia will also be a newcomer. Alimentaria and Tomorrow.Mobility in China and IOT Solutions World Congress and Tomorrow Blue Economy in Brazil will round off the calendar, as well as managing the fair venues of Nanchang and Xuzhou in China.

Fira_de_Barcelona
Photo: Fira de Barcelona

PROSPECTS FOR GROWTH

Fira de Barcelona looks ahead to 2025 with great major infrastructure projects in progress and prospects for growth. From January onwards, it will take over the management of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, ushering in a new stage aimed at promoting and diversifying the activity of this great venue with the aim that, in addition to hosting major motor competitions such as the Formula 1 and MotoGP Grand Prix, it will be the setting for fairs, congresses and musical and cultural events, as well as a hub for the development of the sustainable mobility industry.

Regarding the remodelling project of the Montjuïc venue, it is expected that during 2025 the architectural firms chosen to carry out the first phase of the works will be selected, which will transform it into a modern, urban and unique trade fair space in Europe, combining trade show activity with new uses for the general public and have permanent spaces for innovation in trade fair-related sectors. A significant part of this refurbishment is expected to be completed in 2029, coinciding with the centenary of the 1929 International Exposition.

In addition, the construction works of Hall Zero, the new hall of the Gran Via venue, continue to make progress. Once completed, it will expand the venue to reach 300,000 m2 of gross exhibition area, consolidating it as one of the most important exhibition facilities in the world.

Fira_de_Barcelona
Photo: Fira de Barcelona

SUSTAINABILITY

In 2024, Fira de Barcelona took new steps in its commitment to the sustainable development of its activities. It has obtained ISO 50001, the most important certification in the world in energy efficiency, in addition to ISO 14001 in environmental management. Furthermore, it has continued to promote actions to reduce water, energy, and waste consumption.


For more information, visit firadarcelona.com.

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