Meliá Hotels International has taken over management of the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya in Barcelona,  Spain, and reopened it this month following a refresh of its spaces and equipment.

Closed since 2020, the emblematic event and conference center is strategically located in the Pedralbes district, next to Avenida Diagonal, one of the city’s main arteries, the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya is only 15 minutes from Barcelona Airport.

The building, which covers an area of more than 376,700 square feet, has been conceived as a modern, bright, versatile and multifunctional space designed to hold all kinds of events: conferences, congresses, meetings, exhibitions and cultural events, to name a few.

Upgrades and improvements at the facility include new insulation, ceiling protection and renewed furniture as well as upgraded technology and audiovisual equipment and services (new 18-metre long screen in the main auditorium, new sound equipment, new light systems, etc.).

In addition, the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya now has its own food and beverage team guided by Meliá Hotels International’s signature innovation, sustainability and quality philosophy.

“With this new beginning, our desire is to position ourselves as a leading venue to attract the growing demand of the MICE sector, besides the experience provided by Meliá Hotels International in this new stage of management, which is confirmed by the growing volume of requests that we’re already receiving,” says Ramón Vidal, the centre’s general manager.

The Palau de Congressos de Catalunya features:

• 39 adaptable rooms of different sizes
• an auditorium with cutting-edge technology and capacity for more than 2,000 people
• a conference room with 357 rooms
• an exhibition hall of more than 45,000 square feet
• and 269,000+ square feet of landscaped gardens and outdoor spaces.

It is also home to an iconic hotel with 391 rooms. Born as “Rey Juan Carlos I” during the 1992 Olympic Games, Meliá will reopen the property under its luxury brand, Gran Meliá, after completing a complete refurbishment at the beginning of 2024.

The incorporation of the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya and its hotel into Meliá’s portfolio strengthens the presence of the company in the area, where it now has a total of nine hotels with more than 2,300 rooms and 166 meeting rooms.