BEC will have held around 40 events in person by the end of the year. Can we definitely talk about reactivation now?  

Yes, most definitely! For many months now we have been working to fill up our calendar of events as soon as possible, in order to achieve the economic impact that comes with them. And now it’s time to hold these events. 

Over the past year we have been holding events, but adapting ours to make them more feasible, either hybrid or completely digital, as well as launching new projects. At the same time, BEC has also been a place at the service of citizens, like when it was used as a mass vaccination centre.  

But  we can finally go a step further and boost in-person activity with a large number of events in our three business areas. Thanks to the great success of the vaccination campaign and the progressive easing of international travel restrictions, we are very optimistic about the last quarter of the year. 

 

The number of industrial events in BEC’s calendar for October does not go unnoticed. Which one would you highlight? 

Yes, correct. Industry, which is in our DNA, will be the main focus when the venue’s calendar of events restarts and gets back on track. There will be important events which were postponed due to the pandemic, like World Maritime Week and +Industry, as well as a new steel event, Steel Tech. 

In October, BEC will once again become a meeting point where professionals from important sectors such as maritime, energy, iron and steel and advanced manufacturing will finally meet face to face again and boost innovation, knowledge, personal connections and business.  

 

 Have in-person events become more important since the pandemic started? 

Definitely, yes. Direct contact and meeting people face to face is something that cannot be replaced.  The most recent studies carried out by important national and international associations and companies in the sector made this clear. Most of the professionals who took part in the surveys said that they preferred an event in person, and they considered it to be more personal, profitable and effective. 

The demand for in-person events at BEC has been high – our clients need to attend benchmark fairs to position their companies and study the market, meet old clients and suppliers and gain new ones, showcase and discover the latest technology, analyse investments and strategic alliances… and simply move forward. All these interactions at different levels and in different spaces – commercial exhibitions, conventions, conferences, workshops, B2B programmes, social gatherings, etc. – create a dynamic environment and energy that is impossible to replicate online.  

 

All the in-person events that have been held so far have proven that this kind of venues are a safe space.  

That’s correct. We have been applying very strict safety protocols for over a year now, which exceed the required standards and were awarded the safe tourism mark by the Institute for Spanish Tourism Quality (ICTE). This award certifies that the venue is a safe space, and those who have attended business meetings, presentations, exams, fairs, conventions and concerts will have been able to see that.  

We will continue to rigorously apply all the processes that deal with access control, preventive capacity management, social distancing, cleaning, sanitisation and environmental safety, because safety continues to be a priority for us in all our events.  

 

How will digital resources be used now that in-person events are returning?  

Digital experiences have been on the rise due to the pandemic and all the restrictions that came with it, and these experiences have enabled us to continue being active and offering our services. The use of certain technological resources will surely be an excellent complement to our in-person events. They will help us go even further: a wider audience, more internationalisation and making events not bound to a specific date. 

At BEC we continue to work hard to offer our clients a range of services, from simple connections to sophisticated TV sets.  

 

After a year of transition like 2021, how are you facing 2022? What projects on next year’s calendar would you highlight?  

For us, 2022 will be a year to consolidate our activity and we are already working with that approach on projects like BIEMH-International Machine-Tool Biennial Exhibition, which we will present internationally in Milan at the beginning of October, as well as Wind Europe, Food for Future, Empack, Logistics & Automation Bilbao, and other international events that we will confirm shortly. 

Just a year and a half ago, before the pandemic started, our sector was expanding and, according to data, we were experiencing an upward annual trend. And we’ll get back to that. Now, more than ever, we must be an ally, a reference point for the industry, and a friendly and committed venue.