Following a summer rebound in tourism, Barcelona expects a steady flow of visitors this Thursday as thousands of congress members arrive for the 70th meeting of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), one of the globe’s leading medical gatherings. Researchers and healthcare professionals from 161 countries will converge at the Gran Via Fira for the event, which runs from today until tomorrow and sets the stage for updates in cardiovascular science as autumn approaches.
The cardiology congress previously drew 33,500 attendees at its last face-to-face gathering in Paris in 2019, with Barcelona hosting editions in 1992, 1999, 2009, 2014 and 2017. This year combines in-person and online participation from the Fira venues, allowing many sessions to be streamed live. Organizers opt not to publish a forecasted attendance figure given the hybrid format.
According to Fira de Barcelona sources, the ESC congress will feature roughly 950 scientific and business sessions, involving about 3,800 international speakers, including 734 from Spain. More than 400 topics across diverse specialties will be explored, with 36 clinical trials presented to attendees.
full month end
The summer travel surge extends into the late weeks, and hotel occupancy is projected to rise to around 85 percent, notes Manel Casals, manager of Barcelona Gremi d’Hotels, with July and August seeing strong bookings. The peak season is expected to drive pricing and activity levels comparable to 2019, and congress visitors are anticipated to fill many downtown properties. “The shift from leisure to business tourism is a healthy transition,” he tells this newspaper. While autumn looks promising, operators remain prudent as reservations tend to be made at the last minute and often a month ahead.
A global calendar for cardiovascular medicine follows this major meeting, with August events such as the European Symposium on Peptides running from the 28th through September 2, tying into other gatherings like the World Congress of Lasers and Energy. In September, the European Respiratory Conference (ERS) is scheduled, followed by the European Annual Conference on Cognitive Therapies (EABCT). On the 10th, CIRSE, the annual cardiovascular radiology meeting, will convene at the International Convention Center (CCIB), with the month closing out at the Education Conference (EAIE) and the National Cosmetics Congress at the Fira Congress Palace.
Also on the autumn calendar are international meetings in pediatric oncology (SIOP) and prominent congresses in hematology, pediatrics, nuclear medicine (EANM), muscular dystrophy research, and breast cancer. An industry fair in a different field, IBTM World, brings together professionals across incentive and congress travel sectors.
In total, the latter half of the year will see about 98 meetings, including 21 congresses drawing more than 1,000 delegates, according to Barcelona Tourism. The Congreso Bureau (BCB) tracks these dates, with 163 confirmed congresses and around 150 open applications planned for the next few years, notes Eduard Torres, head of the consortium. The industry’s impact previously stood at 1.901 billion euros annually before the pandemic.
The importance of this form of tourism is emphasized as a strategic asset for Barcelona. Beyond direct revenue, it supports the knowledge economy and helps position the city as a hub for medical and scientific innovation, according to Constantí Serrallonga, Managing Director of Fira de Barcelona. Hosting such large-scale events strengthens the city’s international profile and creates lasting legacies in research and collaboration.
The plus of seasonal adjustment
Barcelona consistently ranks among the top five cities worldwide for conventions, a status recognized by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). The presence of convention tourism helps diversify visit patterns and reduces overpeak periods in the city center, a benefit highlighted by organizers and industry observers alike.
Incoming data show that October and November remain busy, while spring tends to be the peak season for conventions. On average, more than 80 percent of international courses span about 3.21 days, though congress attendees often stay up to five days on average.
Surveys indicate that roughly 60 percent of participants decide on their level of involvement within Barcelona. Using 2019 benchmarks, nearly seven out of ten attendees extend their stays for additional sightseeing, pushing non-hotel spending to around 188.69 euros per person per day.