Press Notes

• The archipelago billed close to 31 million euros in 2015 after clocking more than 29,000 people attending conference, trade fairs and workshops
• This amount of conference tourists is a third greater than in 2013 and a thousand more visitors than in 2014
• Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE) tourism accounts for 0.2% of the total number of tourists visiting the Canary Islands every year
• The archipelago has 79,500 beds in four- and five-star hotels on the islands that are included within the Spain Convention Bureau network
• The islands have an extensive assortment of conference centres, unique spaces and activities to receive large meetings and events

The Canary Islands, 5 December 2016 – Modern and functional infrastructure in a mild year-round climate, as well as the ideal network of communications in an attractive setting are some of the main reasons why the Canary Islands attract large events such as conferences, conventions and events.

In 2015 the archipelago attracted more than 29,000 people related to this sector, generating a turnover of around 31 million euros. This amount of visitors attending conferences, trade fairs or workshops is a third greater than the number recorded two years previously, in 2013, after a 43-per-cent increase was noted for this visitor group.

Although Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE) tourism accounts for 0.2 per cent of the total number of tourists visiting the islands every year, MICE visitor spending is considerably higher than holiday tourists. As such, average daily travel expenditure in 2015 was 175.47 euros for conference visitors, while holiday-makers spent an average of 133.60 euros a day. Nevertheless, MICE tourists stayed on average 7.5 days, two days less than the visitor profile of those choosing the archipelago for their holidays. Some 65.6 per cent of this group are tourists who have already visited the islands and 13.5 per cent have already been to the Canary Islands on more than ten occasions.

Due to its unusual landscapes, pleasant climate and extensive range of conference centres, unique spaces and activities, the Canary Islands are a sought-after destination for incentive travel, trade fairs, workshops, conferences and conventions. The archipelago also has 79,500 beds in four- and five-star hotels located in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, the four islands that are included within the Spain Convention Bureau network in collaboration with the Spanish Tourism Institute (TURESPAÑA).

The islands’ various conference centres with the “best climate in the world” are as follows:

TENERIFE

• Tenerife’s “Adán Martín” Auditorium: designed by the architect Santiago Calatrava, it is one of the most unique sights in the city of Santa Cruz and the island of Tenerife, and has more than 15 indoor and outdoor, multi-purpose, open-plan and flexible spaces to host every type of event or conference.
• International Trade Fair and Convention Centre: also designed by the architect Santiago Calatrava and very close to the auditorium, it occupies an area of more than 40,000 square metres to accommodate a multi-purpose state-of-the-art space. The main nave of 12,000 square metres is completely open-plan, and there is also a second room of 3,800 square metres also without columns, a function room for 334 people and various smaller rooms.
• La Pirámide de Arona Convention Centre: this has an auditorium of over 200 square metres that can accommodate 1,800 people, equipped with the latest audiovisual technology, 18 meeting rooms and an exhibition area of 1,300 square metres.
• Puerto de la Cruz Convention Centre: located in the middle of more than 110,000 square metres of subtropical gardens with sea and mountain views, the convention room can accommodate a thousand people and can be divided into various rooms by insulated movable panels.
• Magma Art & Conventions: located in the centre of the Adeje Coast, this has 19 versatile spaces in the 6,000 square metres it has inside, as well as another 4,500 square metres outside for events accommodating up to 2,500 guests, 2,000 of whom can also eat there.
• Other unique spaces: the island of Tenerife also has other unique spaces for holding professional gatherings that are further enhanced by infrastructures such as the cable car, taking visitors up Teide. Its summit is also home to one of the most important astronomy observatories in the world thanks to its mild climate, clean air and the altitude of the volcano where there are never any clouds. The island also boasts the newest water park in Europe, Siam Park; the Parador de Las Cañadas del Teide hotel, constructed more than 2,000 metres above sea level; the Franchy Gardens, an exclusive setting for business meetings in the heart of La Orotava; wine cellars; estates; mansions; and renowned clubs such as the Hard Rock Café.

GRAN CANARIA

• Canaries Convention Centre –Alfredo Krauss Auditorium: conceived by the architect Óscar Tusquets, it is located in one of the most emblematic corners of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with more than 4,700 square metres of commercial showroom and 25 meeting rooms able to accommodate 4,600 participants. The largest is the Symphony Hall, with a capacity of 1,668 people, which is one of a kind due to the large glass window at the back of the stage designed to connect conference-goers to the Atlantic Ocean.
• Gran Canaria Convention Centre: with a surface area of 70,000 square metres for trade fairs and exhibitions, the venue is located within the Trade Fair Institute of the Canary Islands (INFECAR) and showcases the latest in technology. Inside it offers 7,500 square metres for hosting any kind of event and next to the building there are several pavilions with more than 10,000 square metres of exhibition space.
• Expomeloneras: this is a multi-purpose convention centre that has a surface area of 14,000 square metres, of which 9,264 are set up to host conferences, exhibitions, concerts, sporting events, fashion shows, meetings and various other events. The main room has a surface area of 3,600 square metres to accommodate 6,000 people and can be divided into 15 spaces. It is surrounded by another 4,000-square-metre space where additional exhibitions can be set up. The auditorium can hold 804 people.
• Why Gran Canaria? The island has historic and unique buildings, excellent flight connections, endless leisure options (Maspalomas dunes, western cliffs, deep pine forests in the centre, water sports, walking trails and wellbeing centres), varied cuisine with local products (fish, cheeses, gofio toasted grain flour, mojo sauce, tropical fruits) and a wide range of professional, creative and stylish quality restaurants.

FUERTEVENTURA

• Fuerteventura Training and Convention Centre: modern and multi-purpose, this has more than 5,000 square metres over two floors and can accommodate a total of 1,500 people. It also houses an amphitheatre, six conference rooms that can be converted into spaces of various sizes, lounge areas and the Chillida Hall for trade fairs and exhibitions that takes up almost 1,200 square metres.
• Auditoria: as well as its Training and Convention Centre, the island of Fuerteventura has three other auditoria. The largest is known as the Auditorio Insular de Fuerteventura (Fuerteventura Island Auditorium) with a seating-capacity of 550 and whose stage has seen the likes of numerous national and international artists. Gran Tarajal and Corralejo are the two smaller infrastructures.
• Numerous hotels for conferences: the island has good communication links thanks to its direct airport connections with various European countries. Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, it offers an extensive range of activities from volcanoes to ravines, endless beaches or water and adventure sports. It also has several thalassotherapy centres which make the most of the mild climate, the sea and the native aloe vera to provide excellent treatments.

LANZAROTE

• Los Jameos del Agua Auditorium: with a 550-person capacity, this forms part of artist César Manrique’s creation to offer the visitor a space, through a series of open-air lava tubes, in which to contemplate nature in harmony with the artistic creation inside the volcanic tunnel.
• Numerous hotels for conferences: Lanzarote offers a broad variety of first-rate hotel facility services and locations for hosting conferences, conventions and incentive trips, combined with the beauty of its natural seascape and molten lava surroundings with the island’s exceptional year-round spring climate.