'Wherever you're from, you're welcome': City's international talent gathers at Barcelona Global event

Every September, Barcelona Global likes to break the ice with a welcome event for international professionals who live and work in the city.

This year's 'Hola Barcelona! Cocktail' – in collaboration with the city council – took place on Tuesday evening at the Palau de Pedralbes, where over 1,500 guests from 90 countries attended the gathering.

The 12th edition of the networking event featured speeches by the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, and the President of Barcelona Global, Ramon Agenjo.

Carolina Martinoli, President and CEO of low-cost airline Vueling, originally from Buenos Aires, also shared her personal experience of her recent relocation to the Catalan capital.

"Open mindset"

Originally from Düsseldorf, Germany, event attendee Yasmin Ouiriemmi moved to Barcelona eight months ago and works at Integrated Systems Europe. 

"I've never seen such a city,” she told Catalan News. “It's so international but still local, and what I love is this open mindset: wherever you come from, you're welcome, you can do your business.”

Another guest, Daniel Gosling, shared how working in Barcelona has been positive for his personal as well as professional life. 

“Actually, I've become a lot healthier since living here,” said Gosling, who hails from Ireland and enjoys the Catalan mountains outside of his work at SAP. 

This year's Hola Barcelona! Cocktail kicks off celebrations for the 15th anniversary of Barcelona Global – a non-profit association that brings together 281 companies, entrepreneurs, universities, and cultural institutions in the city, along with more than 1,020 professionals who "aim to make Barcelona one of the best cities in the world for impactful talent and economic activity."