Bilbao exhibition centre generated an economic impact of 92 million euros in 2016

  • The Basque Tax Office collected €11.3 M
  • It generated 1,937 jobs in 2016
  • 901,437 people visited the BEC
  • It fulfilled the main goals set out in the 2013/2016 Strategic Plan
  • BIEMH 2016, the star of the year
  • Growth in Trade Shows, Conventions and Shows
  • 2017: A year of opportunities and new initiatives

[button href=”http://www.portalbec.com/portalbec/bec/2017/IMPACTO-2016.pdf” target=”_blank”]Impact study[/button]

The activity developed by the Bilbao Exhibition Centre in 2016 generated an economic impact in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 91,976,392 Euros. This impact implied a collection of taxes of 11,338,741 Euros for the Basque Tax Office, and the generation of 1,937 jobs. Since its inauguration in 2004, BEC has had an accumulated impact on the GDP of 1,024 million Euros.

During the past year, the BEC held a total of 188 events of different types (trade shows, congresses/conventions, concerts, shows, etc.), which amounted to an occupancy rate of 283 days.

In regards to the participation in all the events held in 2016, the Bilbao Exhibition Centre welcomed a total of 901,437 visitors.

The different activities developed within the Bilbao Exhibition Centre were distributed as follows:

  • 27 Trade shows, that hosted a total of 2,825 exhibitors.
  • 145 Events at BEC Conventions.
  • 18 Events at the Bizkaia Arena.

The resulting economic impact generated by the BEC is derived from the external activities in the hotel and catering services, transport, commerce and recreational and cultural activities, which amounted to 71% in 2016, as well as from the trade show activity developed at the BEC, which accounts for the remaining 29%. Therefore it is important to highlight that close to 3/4 of the economic impact takes place in external activities and has direct relevance on activities that are not considered directly as trade-show related.

In terms of the source of the economic impact, about 80% comes from the trade show activities and the remaining 20% comes from BEC Conventions and Bizkaia Arena. Likewise, 63% of this impact is generated by the exhibitors and organisers, while the remaining 37% is from the visitors.

A COMPLETED STRATEGIC PLAN

It is also important to highlight that the 2013/2016 Competitiveness and Sustainability Plan ended this year. This plan advocated for the appreciation of available spaces and an overall reduction of costs, in addition to the development of a solid offer of shows and the attraction of new events from third parties, among other issues. All of these goals have been achieved, including the attainment of a positive result for 2016.

Right now, the Bilbao Exhibition Centre is drafting the new 2017/2020 Strategic Plan that will lead the way during the next years; a plan that focuses on growth in activity and organisational improvement.


BIEMH’2016, THE STAR

In 2016, the Bilbao Exhibition Centre was the scenario for a large range of activities from very different sectors. Due to its relevance in the BEC’s results, it is essential to highlight the success of the 29th edition of the International Machine Tool Exhibition. Its progressive recovery following the financial crisis, in terms of the volume of the exhibition, with over 1,533 exhibitors from 30 different countries, and the attendance of 40,000 visitors, which implied an increase of 13% over last year’s figures, was one of the greatest achievements of the year. But it wasn’t the only one. The BEC was also sensitive to the situation of the younger generation that are at the gates of their first job and, during the celebration of the BIEMH, they held WORKinn, Employment and Training Forum focusing on the youth, to bring the employment market and offers of the machine tool industry closer to the students. The industrial context provided by the BIEMH exhibition was also used to create new events such as ADDIT3D, the first additive manufacturing and 3D trade show in Spain that is exclusively for professionals, as well as the Oil&Gas Conference and the Maintenance International Conference, which had relevant international speakers and leading exhibitors from the represented sectors.

The celebration of BIOSPAIN, an international platform for the presentation of the Spanish biotechnological sector, which was held for the second time at the BEC, was also outstanding. BIOSPAIN is aimed at companies, academic staff, researchers, investors and organisations related to the Spanish and international biotech sector.

In 2016, Gustoko also stood out. An event from the food sector that seeks to set the basis for quality, sustainable production, product sourcing and the appreciation for the elaboration and tasting of products. And of course other well established events in the calendar of the Bilbao Exhibition Centre like Expovacaciones, Egurtek, Biocultura, Retroclásica, Motorshow, Nagusi, the Used Car Fair, Japan Weekend, Tendencias Creativas, BIME, Euskal Encounter, Stock Fair or Expobodas were also hosted.


GROWTH AND DIVERSITY IN CONVENTIONS AND CONFERENCES

The congress sector is gaining an important market share while growing, in percentage, within the BEC activities. The trade show sector is increasingly linked to the conference sector through the “confexpo” strategy, which promotes synergies between these two areas.

Therefore, the Bilbao Exhibition Centre is growing in the field of Conventions and Conferences and in other types of events such as mass exams, rallies, professional meetings for corporate executives, or public entertainment, to mention a few.

Similarly, the BEC facilities welcomed in 2016 the Iberoamerican Congress of Neuropsychology; Wind Europe Workshop; Banco de Sabadell Convention; 2nd CFO National Congress of APD; Mary Kay Convention; Bizkaia Businesses Meeting; INTERGUNE; Gira Schneider; Convention- Presentation of the new SEAT León; Public Job Vacancies on Education; the concert-dinner with “Los Secretos”; the children’s musical “Campanilla” (Tinkerbell); the Bizkaia Chess&Gazte; and the Bizkaia Young Chess Show, among others.


THE GREAT CONCERTS ARE BACK

At the Bizkaia Arena the Bryan Adams concert stood out. He came back to the BEC 12 years after inaugurating our multi-purpose hall; Paul Simon, The Cure, El Barrio, Eros Ramazzotti, Joan Manuel Serrat, Ana Belén, Victor Manuel, Miguel Ríos, Il Divo or the tribute band “Good save the Queen” were some of the bands and singers that performed on the at the Bizkaia Arena stage, gathering and entertaining thousands of people.

The Bizkaia Arena also held other types of events like “Disney on Ice”, “Las Noches de Comedy Central”, the Free Style motorbike show and, for the first time at the BEC, a Wrestling Master Series, which brought together several thousand fans. Along the line of this event, superstars from the WWE, US wrestling league, were also present.


AFE PRESIDENCY AND THE GLOBAL EXHIBITIONS DAY

On the other hand, in January, Xabier Basañez, General Manager of the Bilbao Exhibition Centre, was elected President of the Spanish Fair Association (AFE) during the General Meeting. This organisation brings together most of the fair organisations in the country and other companies related to this services sector.

Likewise, the “Global Exhibitions Day”,  created by UFI (The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry), with the support of the Spanish Fair Association (AFE) was held for the first time. The Global Exhibitions Day sought to highlight and make official bodies, organisations and private companies globally known, raising awareness of the importance of the trade show sector, and its essential contribution to each local and national economy, together with its economic impact for the environment in which the event is held.

140,000 FOLLOWERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

With respect to Social Media, the Bilbao Exhibition Centre has 140,780 followers divided between Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Regarding the Web site, the figure of 1,200,000 visits to the 31 pages of the BEC site has been recorded.


2017, A YEAR FOR OPPORTUNITIES AND DEVELOPMENT

2017 will be a year to host new initiatives, consolidate recent ones and further develop those that are a part of the traditional events calendar of the Bilbao Exhibition Centre.

On the one hand, the BEC has already scheduled two new exhibitions. One of them called Bilbao Mueble, which is a meeting platform for professionals of the furniture sector where they can showcase advances and gain new contacts.

Another new event is the Food Truck Forum, the first professional fair of the sector, that has been created with the purpose of becoming a European benchmark for this new type of restaurant. It will accommodate vehicles with specific bodies, in addition to conferences and gastronomic courses intended exclusively for professionals.

The Bilbao Exhibition Centre is also committed to become an international reference space for the maritime, port, fishing and energy sector with the celebration of the WORLD MARITIME WEEK, composed of SINAVAL, focusing on the naval sector; EUROFISHING, concentrating on the fishing sector; MARINE ENERGY WEEK, organised by EVE, Tecnalia, Azti and the BEC whose main sponsor is Iberdrola, and dealing with renewable marine energy, especially in offshore wind power and wave power; and FUTUREPORT, focusing on ports.

Similarly, it is important to highlight in the 2017 calendar the simultaneous celebration of six industrial fairs: SUBCONTRATACIÓN, International Fair of Manufacturing Processes and Equipment, ADDIT3D, International Trade Show on Additive and 3D Manufacturing, FERROFORMA, International Hardware, DIY and Industrial Supplies Fair, FITMAQ, International Fair of Bargain & Used Machinery, MAINTENANCE, Industrial Maintenance Fair, and PUMPS & VALVES, International Trade Show for Pump Systems, Valves and Equipment for Industrial Processes. This enables to strengthen the profile of these events as a space for business and transfer of knowledge.

It should also be noted that alongside the aforementioned events, WORKinn, an employment and training forum that seeks to bring the work market and job offers of the industrial sector closer to the students, and Polveri & ecoCoating, an event that combines an exhibition and a congress focusing on powder coatings and low environmental impact paints and framed within the Subcontratación show, will also be held.

Moreover, there are also some shows undergoing their consolidation phase, such as the Japan Weekend or BIME, together with more traditional ones like Expovacaciones, Expobodas, Nagusi, Tendencias Creativas, RetroClásica, FVO, Stock Fair, Desembalaje or PIN/UGP.

In addition to the fairs, the Bilbao Exhibition Centre also has several relevant events scheduled in its calendar. The first will be the ŠKODA World Dealer Conference (WDC) that will take place from 23 January to 3 February, and will welcome over 4,500 car dealerships, sales staff, fleet clients and suppliers from 75 countries. During 12 days, the new ŠKODA KODIAQ, the first large SUV of the brand, will be the focus of the work sessions and sales messages at the ŠKODA World Dealer Conference.

The celebration of Aero Innovation Event Bilbao (AEROIE) is also important. This event will take place on 15 and 16 March, 2017. This pioneer event within the Aeronautics Sector will use the most innovative methodology to give due response to the critical questions that the directors of the sector consider when creating their innovation strategy to increase their competitiveness.

In addition to these events, some others have already been confirmed such as the Banco Sabadell Management Meeting, Laboral Kutxa Management Meeting, Txema Elorza Awards, ESTIL&MODA-Shoe Trade show, Intergune, Santa Lucía Convention, CEO Congress for APD, etc.

As regards the Bizkaia Arena, several concerts have already with confirmed with artists such as Izal, Gente de Zona and Juan Magan, Carlos Vives, Ghost, Dream Theater, Deep Purple, Joaquín Sabina, those related to BIME Live, and the Súper Enduro World Championship.

Last of all, we would like to highlight that the ICEX granted the “Fully International Award” to the fairs Tendencias Creativas, World Maritime Week, Subcontratación and Ferroforma, t, all of which will be held at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre in 2017.

Pumps&Valves, Maintenance, Fitmaq, Addit3D and Expovacaciones have also been given the “International Customs Award”.

These certificates prove the high quality of the events organised by the Bilbao Exhibition Centre, as well as the fact that every year they become more and more international. With these international awards, the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, and specifically the State Secretariat for Commerce, grant the exhibitors at BEC tax advantages.

[button href=”http://www.portalbec.com/portalbec/bec/2017/IMPACTO-2016.pdf” target=”_blank”]Impact study[/button]

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