The Valencia Conference Centre generated 69.2 million euros for the city in 2009

The report reveals that 137 meetings were held last year. 87,806 visitors came to these events which generated ?69.2 million for the city. This takes the total amount generated since the Centre opened to 571.50 million (euros), more than 19 times the amount it cost to build.

Fifty-four of the total number of events were national and international meetings, which is a 6% increase over the figures for 2008. Twenty-nine congresses and 13 conventions were held at the Centre.

In the words of the Valencia Conference Centre´s CEO, José Salinas, these figures “show the Centre maintained its occupancy rates during 2009. Moreover, the significant numbers of Spanish and foreign visitors enabled the facility to continue to be a benchmark for event tourism“.

On the economic front, and against the background of an extraordinarily difficult climate, the Conference Centre´s management generated positiveoperating results. Congress revenue rose by 0.7´% whilst EBITDA increased by 21.4%. In addition, the venue managed to contain spending and reduced costs by 7%.

The Valencia Conference Centre already has over 150 events booked until 2014 including the 11th European Congress on Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis, the International Liver Transplantation Society (ILTS) Annual International Congress, the International Citrus Congress and the International Conference on Coordination Chemistry.

A benchmark venue
The Centre´s progress and its busy schedule of events have helped the city of Valencia grow 218% in the number of international meetings held from 1999-2008, according to the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA).

According to José Salinas “the Valencia Conference Centre is an essential facility to encourage tourism in the city. The Centre runs like clockwork and improves year after year thanks in part to its economic self-sufficiency and constant investment which help us to maintain our position as one of the best conference venues on the international stage“.

Events in 2009
The main international congresses held in 2009 included the 2nd World Congress of Thoracic Imaging and Diagnosis in Chest Disease, the Fifth Mediterranean Emergency Congress, the International Conference on Fixed Combination and the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology meeting. National conferences featured the National AIDS Conference, the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine Conference, the 4th National Architects Conference and AECOC 2009. On the corporate front, the Centre organised its first sustainable event for the multinational Hay Group, in addition to welcoming the 2009 Festival of Media, an event which has once again chosen our facilities for 2010.

In parallel with these events, 2009 was also the year in which the Valencia Conference Centre became a benchmark in two key areas: innovation and sustainability. These areas enabled the building to continue to be a pioneer in everything it does and be looked upon as a referent both at home and abroad.

In fact, the organisation became the first Spanish conference centre to obtain the UNE 216301:2007 for Energy Management Systems certification, a continuous improvement system which promotes the use of renewable energy and controlling the energy we use. The venue´s photovoltaic roof played an important role in obtaining this certificate. Since it was started up and until the end of 2009, the roof generated around 400,000 kwh of energy, thus avoiding the emission of almost 200 tonnes of CO2 which would have required over 75,000 trees to absorb it. 

In addition to this award, the Centre has also received the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 quality and environment certificates and the Q for Quality certificate. The venue also has the highest European management accolade, the European Foundation Quality Management (EFQM) Recognised for Excellence (4 stars) award, and is the only conference facility in Spain and the second in Europe to be given this distinction.

This period has also seen the culmination of the VCC´s Sustainability Plan with the aunch of the ECO (Ecolo´gically Committed Organisation) Project, which positions the Centre as the perfect venue for attracting and holding sustainable events. The ECO Project was put forward for the Green Supplier Award, which is held during Frankfurt´s IMEX Fair, for the International Association of Conference Centres´ Innovation Award and for ICCAs Best Marketing Award, three international accolades for which it was shortlisted.