A sense of innovation and a taste for tradition: while Catalonia is at the forefront of world-class scientific infrastructures such as the ALBA Synchrotron and pioneering organisations like Tech Barcelona, the region also offers travel back in time, from the modernist architecture of Gaudí to centuries gone by. Organisers of MICE events have a vast choice to choose fromThese include a multitude of combinations, from the most classic to the most playful and futuristic, such as the innovative immersive experience designed for corporate events by PortAventura World and Bmotion Audiovisual.
Cosmopolitan and modern, Barcelona's innovative atmosphere is a perfect setting for major technology events such as Mobile World Congress, Smart City Expo and IoT Solutions World. These international events set the tone and put companies and investors from all over the world in touch with local talent. The Catalunya Convention Bureau intends to build on this link through its Ambassadors programme, helping to create new business opportunities by hosting trade fairs, conventions and major congresses.
To host all these events, the Catalan metropolis has a number of top-quality venues. Starting with its the iconic World Trade Center business parkThis is the perfect venue for workshops, conventions and gala dinners, with spectacular views. All of this is complemented by contemporary architectural gems such as the Torre Glòries, designed by Jean Nouvel, whose viewpoint lends itself to professional height shots. Meanwhile, the Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower, designed by Richard Rogers, can host major events with its twenty or so meeting rooms, auditorium and grand ballroom with a capacity of 1,800.
Prestigious and innovative venues
But Barcelona also has a rich past to offer. Would you like to celebrate your meeting at Casa Vicens, Casa Batlló or La Pedrera? Some ofAntoni Gaudí offer space for events. As well as another of the city's most photogenic buildings, the National Art Museum of Catalonia, or the Poble Espanyol, an open-air architecture museum with life-size replicas of the country's most famous buildings.
Old and new: like Barcelona, the city of Lleida plays on contrasts with, on the one hand, the modernity of its congress centre, whose original architecture was designed by the Dutch firm Mecanoo, and, not far away, the tranquillity offered by a former 12th-century abbey, the Avellanes monastery, surrounded by woods and vines. The Catalan hinterland also has other heritage gems to offer, from Château Jalpi, with its garden ideal for team-building activities or cocktail parties, to the Hotel Parador de Cardona, housed in a 9th-century fortress.e century with thick walls.
Like Lleida, the other provincial capitals also have a wide range of MICE facilities. Just 35 minutes from Barcelona, Girona boasts a state-of-the-art convention centre designed by AMM Arquitectes and integrated into the city's green lung, the Parc de la Devesa. In Tarragona, where history dating back to antiquity can be felt around every corner, the Convention Centre combines the past with the present, revisiting an old quarry from the 19th century.e century into a high-tech meeting place.
Catalonia, a land of tradition and genius
A perfect blend of innovation and history, Catalonia also knows how to combine culture and nature. The backdrop to these events is the breathtaking beauty of the rocky coves of the Costa Brava, the turquoise waters of the Costa Daurada and the verdant landscapes of the Catalan Pyrenees. Near Lloret del Mar, surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation, participants can enjoy uninterrupted views of the sea from the Jardins de Santa Clotilde. In a more mountainous setting, the Xalet de Prades combines meeting rooms and team-building activities in the heart of a nature park.
But if you're visiting Catalonia, you need to get a taste of its culture. Its great culture, that of Dali, Miró or Gaudí, as well as its culture born of long traditions. To explore one of the region's most emblematic traditions, events will be enhanced by a visit to the Castellers de Vilafranca, an ideal place to discover one of the most impressive Catalan traditions: the castells. In workshops, groups are taught the basic techniques for building these vertiginous human towers. Here, as in any business, teamwork is key.
In Catalonia, innovation and talent can go hand in hand with tradition and culture. Want to see for yourself?
