2022 was a year of great activity in the Bilbao Exhibition Centre’s three business areas, which closed the year with a contribution to GDP of 135.3 million euros. After a first quarter that witnessed rapid recovery, activity returned in full force at the Basque venue, where a total of 232 events were held involving 621,609 visitors and an occupancy rate of 297 days. As a result of this rate of activity, an estimated 17.2 million euros in tax revenue for the Basque Treasury and the creation of 2,664 jobs.

The impact study, whose results for 2022 show a very notable difference compared to recent years, which were marked by the pandemic, is key to the BEC’s commitment as an economic and social driving force and an important piece of infrastructure for the competitiveness of the Basque Country. The report establishes, among other things, the fact that 74% of the expenditure generated went back into activities outside the trade fair itself, such as the hotel and catering industry, which absorbed 48%; transport, with 16%; recreational and cultural activities, with 8% and retail trade, with 2%.

All these figures are the result of an extensive programme featuring 232 events throughout the year, divided into the categories of Trade Fairs, with a total of 21 events, in which 2,138 exhibitors took part; Conventions, with 181 events held; and the Bizkaia Arena, which hosted 30 shows.

In terms of trade fairs, the BIEMH-International Machine Tool Biennial was a milestone, offering, after four years, a gathering for the highest-level manufacturers, importers, distributors and buyers from all over the world. The event rounded out its tour of advanced industry with the parallel fairs Addit3d, BeDigital, IMIC-Industrial Maintenance Innovation Conference and WORKinn-Talent Hub. Egurtek, WindEurope and Food4Future also featured prominently in the field of professional events with an international perspective.

In parallel, this space ran a full agenda of trade fairs aimed at the general public, such as Gustoko, Expovacaciones, FVO-Feria de Vehículos de Ocasión, Desembalaje, Retroclásica, Motorshow, Caravaning, Japan Weekend, Euskal Encounter and BIG-Bilbao Intenational Games Conference.

For its part, the BEC Convention Centre, which was already showing a clearly positive trend, held a record number of events, with a total of 181. This space hosted a wide range of events, including the 21^st CEDE Directors’ Congress; Intergune+; the General Assembly of the Energy Cluster; various events and meetings involving the Basque Government Department of Education; the filming of a new vehicle commercial; IX Fair of Suppliers and Partners of the Avalco Group; the APD International Innovation Congress; the 1^st Offshore Wind Energy Congress and the General Assembly of the CIRP-International Academy of Production Engineering.

Likewise, in 2022, tours by the most famous groups on the national and international music scene returned to the Bizkaia Arena. In the 30 events held, more than 220,000 fans of Rosalía, Aitana, Camilo, Juan Luis Guerra, Estopa, Bad Religion, Alejandro Sanz, Rigoberta Bandini, Hertzainak, C. Tangana or festivals such as Zeid Fest, Ura Bere Bidean or Distrito Urbano enjoyed their favourite artists’ live music. Moreover, in 2022, a new proposal to host small-format concerts in the Sala Luxua was launched at BEC.

All this activity was reported on BEC’s various social media channels, which currently have more than 193,000 followers on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube, 7% more than in 2021. For their part, BEC’s 25 websites have had a total of 1,600,000 visits.

Digital transformation and sustainability; strategic cornerstones in the coming years

Today, BEC has integrated a multitude of digital resources to improve the user experience and is constantly working to update them. The latest improvements include digital exhibition floor plans and a new accreditation system with various QR technologies. In the field of cybersecurity, BEC has implemented a new SIEM-Security Information and Event Management tool to detect potential risks to system security.

BEC is working on sustainability through a specific committee responsible for aligning its internal and external activity with the SDG Agenda set by the UN. In terms of energy, the venue will soon be expanding its photovoltaic solar plant, which will reach a power capacity of one megawatt and will make possible to 10-12% self-sufficiency.

Moreover, BEC has begun to accredit its events as sustainable with the Erronka Garbia seal, reinforcing the specific plans for the control and management of consumption and waste. This recognition, which has already been granted to events such as Expovacaciones or Egurtek, is a guarantee of quality in relevant areas such as mobility, purchasing, water or infrastructures, among others.

Finally, BEC collaborates with multiple entities to form solid alliances to foster coordinated sustainable development. By way of example, it adheres to the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative supported by UFI-Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.

Forthcoming milestones

BEC begins this new year in a mood of optimism, supported by a solvent and competitive events industry that has returned to the high levels of pre-pandemic activity and offers effective commercial and communication solutions to meet today’s challenges. Thus, the venue is preparing to host new events, many of which have recently received recognition from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism for their external projection.

In 2023 BEC will enhance its technological-industrial profile by holding events linked to strategic and unquestionably innovative sectors, such as Empack, Logistics & Automation and Transport & Delivery Bilbao, World Maritime Week, Food4Future, +Industry and Steel Tech.

The calendar will also feature a variety of leisure and cultural events, such as Tendencias Creativas, Japan Weekend, Expovacaciones, Caravaning, FVO and Biocultura, and, covering sport, Ausartan Race and Hyrox, the new fitness competition.

Regarding the performances planned for the Bizkaia Arena, several concerts have already been confirmed with acts such as Queen Extravaganza, Hans Zimmer, Joaquín Sabina, Iron Maiden, Marea and the Zeid Fest festival.

Finally, BEC has recently been confirmed as the venue for the WindEurope Annual Event for the third time, following the 2019 and 2022 editions. The 2024 event will build on last year’s success, which attracted visitors from 78 countries and generated more than 19 million euros for the local economy.