The Conference Centre celebrates 27 years of connecting the city: an economic engine that has generated 2.7 million overnight stays in the city
Councillor Paula Llobet emphasised that ‘since 1998, this institution has accompanied Valencia’s transformation with a forward-looking vision, with innovation, sustainability and global impact as its hallmarks.’
This July, as the Valencia Conference Centre marks its 27th anniversary, it ‘reaffirms its role as an economic driver, a hub for global connection, and a benchmark in sustainability’. Since opening its doors in 1998, the building has hosted 3,400 events, welcomed more than 2.5 million attendees and generated 2.7 million overnight stays in the city, summarised Paula Llobet, Councillor for Tourism, Innovation, and Investment Promotion.
Of the total events held, over 1,000 have been conferences and conventions, drawing 730,000 participants. ‘In addition, in recent years, international activity has grown significantly. In 2024 alone, the Conference Centre increased its international activity by 63% compared to the previous year,” added the councillor, noting that ‘this growth reinforces the institution’s direct impact on positioning Valencia as a leading international conference destination’.
According to the latest report by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Valencia now ranks 39th globally and 23rd in Europe. ‘The Conference Centre has been pivotal in Valencia’s internationalisation strategy. Thanks to its proven track record, the city has strengthened its image as a destination for top-tier conferences, particularly in fields such as medicine, where Spain leads the global rankings,’ stated the councillor and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Conference Centre.
‘It is a building that has consistently remained at the forefront of its sector. Today, it not only serves as an outstanding venue for hosting events but also champions values such as sustainability, inclusion, and technological innovation,’ she added.
From economic to social and environmental sustainability
Councillor Paula Llobet reiterated that, throughout its 27 years, the Conference Centre has evolved in parallel with Valencia, accompanying the city in its transformation towards a more open, sustainable, and connected model, with its impact now measured not only in economic terms but also through projects that generate social and environmental value’.
On a social level, ‘particularly in recent years, the building has championed initiatives that make its facilities available to organisations with a social impact, such as the Espacios Solidarios programme and the agreement with the Asindown Foundation, which has transformed the venue into a training centre for people with intellectual disabilities,’ Llobet noted.
‘In the environmental sphere, sustainability is a cross-cutting pillar of the management model. The Conference Centre has been a pioneer in implementing energy efficiency measures and calculates and offsets its carbon footprint. This approach is another example of how the Conference Centre aligns its agenda with that of the city, which was named European Green Capital in 2024,’ continued the councillor, who emphasised that these and other initiatives are carried out in collaboration with the Centre’s suppliers, strategic allies who enable progress towards a more sustainable model, including actions such as employing staff at risk of social exclusion within the venue’s event and catering teams.
A space that evolves with the city
The anniversary of the Valencia Conference Centre is being celebrated under the slogan: ‘27 years later, the place where the future begins,’ a phrase that captures the spirit of an institution that has successfully adapted to and anticipated the needs of its surroundings.
As part of this commemoration, the Conference Centre reflects on the building that opened its doors in 1998 and has achieved significant milestones, including being recognised twice as the best conference centre in the world by the AIPC.
‘We are celebrating 27 years with pride in the journey we have taken and with our sights firmly set on the future, guided by the principle that technology is the how, and people are always the why. Today, we can say that the Conference Centre is a meeting point where Valencia connects with the future,’ said Llobet.
