Madrid to welcome more large-scale international congresses this year

With easy accessibility, an extraordinary cultural wealth, lush green spaces and avant-garde infrastructure, it’s hardly surprising that Madrid is the No.1 MICE destination in Spain, and the third city in the world for conference tourism.The city’s reputation as a world-famous MICE destination will further be consolidated as seven major international congresses are already confirmed as taking place in the capital in 2017, expecting to generate more than 700,000 overnight stays in the city and a direct expenditure of 180 million euros.

Madrid is also well prepared this year to host a large number of congresses of up to 21,000 delegates, including some of the most important international congresses in the medical and air transport sectors such as the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR) with 14,000 delegates; the European Congress of Medical Oncology (ESMO) with 20,000 delegates; and the 22nd Congress of the European Haematology Association (EHA) with 15,000 delegates.

From modest three-star accommodation to five-star luxury hotels, Madrid offers a wide variety of quality accommodation to fit every taste, offering more than 740 hotels and over 42,000 guest rooms. Just this year, five hotels from the Hotel Business Association of Madrid (AEHM) received the hotel industry’s ‘Oscar’ for the excellence and quality of their services at the 15th edition of TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards, showcasing the hotel sector’s firm commitment to offering guests with unmatchable value for money, a full range of exclusive services and a long list of experiences that encompasses everything from gastronomy to culture and leisure.

When it comes to gastronomy and culture, Madrid is authentic and diverse in its offerings from nature to heritage and everything in between. Named the world’s No.2 city with most green spaces, Madrid is home to over 70 museums (e.g. the Prado Museum, the world’s largest art gallery with some 10,000 works of art), 85 art galleries, six UNESCO sites within proximity and more than 3,000 places to eat, including 14 Michelin-starred restaurants and the world’s oldest restaurant.

To guarantee that any event held in Madrid runs smoothly, Madrid Convention Bureau (MCB) serves as the intermediary between companies and organisations linked to the meetings industry throughout the city and provides assistance in finding venues, planning and managing site visits, coordinating accommodation, promoting the event and more.

www.esmadrid.com