In 2007, the Congress Centre of Islantilla hosted 50 national and international events, attended by more than 14,000 professionals from all over the world. These results show the venue’s importance in the Andalusian meetings and event industry and, above all, in that of the province of Huelva, where it plays a key role in the area’s socioeconomic development.
Eighty-five percent of the events held at the congress centre in 2007 were meetings or professional activities of a national or international character, such as congresses, business conventions, seminars or conferences, while 15% were cultural events.
The Mc Donnald National Convention, with 400 delegates from all over the world, the national convention of the prestigious CPA and management consulting firm Price Water House Coopers, with 320 delegates, the German Bank Convention, with 800 international delegates, the 7th Convention of Remax, Portugal’s leading real estate agency, with 700 delegates from all over Portugal, and the convention of the British tour operator Futur Travel, with 400 delegates, were among the events held in 2007 with the greatest social impact.
Important national events featured the National Cardiology Congress, the seminars organised by the Andalusian Regional Government’s health department and the Andalusian Health Council, and the convention of the well-known magazine QDQ, with over 700 attendees, which was presented by the ex TV reporter of Caiga quien Caiga Agustin Jimenez.
The choice of the congress centre as the venue for the Partido Popular’s summer courses marked the high point of the summer season. Thanks to the congress centre’s marketing campaigns, the municipalities of Lepe and Isla Cristina had the chance of playing host to Mariano Rajoy, leader of the opposition, as well as four ex-ministers belonging to the political party’s former government.
Huelva’s 2nd Professional Tourism Exhibition, a seminar for chief executives of Huelva’s chemical plant, attended by the director of the CEPSA refinery in La Rabida, among other key players, and the seminars of CEP Huelva were among the most important provincial events hosted by the congress centre.
The Islantilla Congress Centre’s intense activity has had an important economic impact on the Municipalities of Lepe and Isla Cristina, as result of the high hotel occupancy and the spending of event attendees both within the congress centre and outside, all of which made a significant contribution to the growth of Islantilla’s tourist industry.
Due to its versatility and the fact that it houses the largest auditorium in the area – which is also one of the largest in Andalusia – the congress and exhibition centre has consolidated its position as the province of Huelva’s leading cultural venue. Accommodating an audience of 1,104, cultural events hosted by the venue in 2007 featured Pasion Vega in concert, Mozart’s Requiem, the International Fado Festival and the popular musical Peter Pan, which was seen by a large number of families last November.
