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Revenues doubled compared to 2020, although still far less than pre-pandemic levels

The facilities were used for medical services until May 31, consolidating the social and transformational role of the Convention Centre in Palma

With more than 120 events already planned for 2022, business travel in Mallorca is on the road to recovery

Palma Convention Centre, managed by Meliá Hotels International, presented its 2021 Activity Report today, reflecting the gradual reactivation of meetings and events in Mallorca after the Covid-19 pandemic. With 127 events (+98%) and 24,420 attendees (+46.7%), the Convention Centre started along the road to recovery after reopening in June thanks to the efforts made to sustain confidence in the destination, the ability to adapt to the growing demand for hybrid events, the flexibility offered to customers, and the adoption of rigorous health and safety measures for events.

Working together with the public authorities and Mallorca Convention Bureau during the pandemic was a key factor in maintaining interest in the destination and providing the stimuli required to reactivate the MICE segment. This led to the island becoming the first destination in Spain to host a major medical congress after Covid-19: the congress of the Spanish Association of General and Family Physicians, held in a hybrid format in June. It also hosted three other major congresses with a total of more than 5,000 people attending in person, generating more than 13,000 roomnights in city hotels.

Over the full year, the Palma Convention Centre and the adjoining Meliá Palma Bay Hotel generated total revenue of €8.3 million, doubling the figure for 2020, a year which was severely affected by the pandemic and the closure of the facilities and their use for medical services. However, revenues were still 41% below the figure for 2019. The direct impact of the activity of the Convention Centre and hotel on the island in 2021 and its indirect impact on other accommodation, restaurants, transportation, shopping, etc., is estimated at more than €16 million.

Driver of transformation

In addition to the financial impact, Palma Convention Centre once again demonstrated its important social contribution to the island. The use of the facilities for medical services until May 31, 2021, was another stimulus for improvements to a responsible management model in which it continues to play a key role in the development and professionalisation of the MICE segment in Mallorca, attract knowledge and research to the island, promote innovation in the worlds of academia and business or act as a driver of the transformation of the city as a fundamental component in the development of the Nou Llevant district in Palma, among others.

The Convention Centre has also continued to reinforce its commitment to the environment, including participation in the "Finhava" circular hospitality project with Tirme to improve waste management and reintegrate waste into the economic cycle. Through this project, organic waste generated by the Convention Centre and the hotel was converted into compost and donated to local farmers, whose produce was then purchased by the Convention Centre and hotel, representing a total of 3,828 kg of food.

This and other actions to improve energy efficiency and better manage natural resources allowed the Palma Convention Centre to reduce its environmental footprint per stay by more than 51%. It should be noted that the facilities use certified green energy and that it also has a sustainable events programme (ecoMeet).

Positive trends

With the utmost prudence, and pending the evolution of the pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine, the outlook for 2022 remains optimistic. In general, the tourist season is expected to be very favourable in Mallorca, with a strong boost in the meetings and events segment as people begin to meet face-to-face again. To date, Palma Convention Centre has already confirmed 120 events for 2022, including 10 major medical and educational congresses, to which many more are expected to be added given the current trends in last-minute bookings. There are also already a number of events scheduled for 2023, including a major automobile-industry event that is expected to attract more than 15,000 visitors from across Europe in the first four months of the year.