Mobile World Congress and Barcelona agree on tacit contract renewals from 2030

Mobile World Congress has agreed to tacitly renew its contract with Barcelona from 2030.

This agreement, which was announced on Wednesday, means the world's largest mobile industry trade show could continue to take place in the Catalan capital well beyond eight years from now. 

"It's exciting to continue our relationship with Barcelona until 2030 and beyond, possibly forever," said Mats Granryd, the director general of GSMA, the company that organizes the event. 

Granryd spoke of the "incredible relationship" GSMA has forged with the city over the past 16 years: "It's hard to think of one without the other."

Pau Relat, the president of the Fira de Barcelona conference venue, expressed a similar sentiment as the agreement "allows Barcelona to become designated the permanent site of the Mobile World Congress."

Other officials, like Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, celebrated the "historic day," while Catalan vice president and digital policies minister Jordi Puigneró described the Mobile World Congress as Barcelona's "21st-century Olympics" 30 years after hosting the summer games. 

Hotel reservations and further investment

The deal also includes the reservation of 25,000 hotel rooms annually during the event and an agreement to maintain the cooperation between the trade show and the businesses in the city.

It will also see Spanish, Catalan, and Barcelona authorities allocate €8 million each towards the event – €3 million more than is currently the case. 

Economic impact

The 2022 event attracted over 60,000 attendees from almost 200 different countries – down from the 2019 figure of 109,000, but, according to GSMA, still "phenomenal" given the pandemic – as well as 1,900 exhibitors. 

"This year, we expected to generate €240 million and 6,700 part-time jobs," GSMA CEO John Hoffman said. "We are delighted to announce we exceeded our forecast creating an economic impact of €267 million and 7,100 part-time jobs."