Exhibitions, shows and congresses. In a history of more than 40 years, Ifema Madrid has become a benchmark for organizing events throughout the country. There are over 100 million visitors and 760,000 companies that have participated in gatherings in this space in the Spanish capital, which is now also consolidating its commitment to quality leisure tourism with concerts and music festivals. Since the opening of this new business line, in 2016, more than 150 shows have been held with more than five million visitors. “It has established itself as one of the main cultural and recreational centers”, emphasizes José Vicente de los Mozos, president of the Executive Committee of the venue.

And this year he has taken decisive steps to strengthen that position. The Starlite Group and Ifema Madrid have signed an agreement to jointly organize and bring the Starlite Occident Marbella festival to the capital in a new format called Christmas by Starlite. This event, which combines great concerts with cultural experiences and gastronomy, will feature internationally and nationally renowned stars. It will run from December 14 to 16 and will feature a global line-up of various exhibition artists. Among those confirmed is British musician Sting, who will be giving a recital on the second day of the event, as part of their My Songs world tour.

“It is an honor to join forces with the value brand Starlite which is recognized worldwide for its spectacular formulas and extraordinary range, and that we have been chosen as partners to work together to bring this prestigious festival to Madrid”, explained De los Mozos. “We have long wanted to bring Starlite Occident DNA to Madrid, it’s just that we couldn’t find a space that met our expectations, until we analyzed the great opportunity Ifema Madrid, and that’s why we launched it”, added Sandra Garcia-Sanjuan, president of the festival and Starlite Foundation.

Starlite Occident is the most important music festival in Spain due to its huge economic impact, media impact, audience size and duration. By 2022, it calls for around 362,000 participants leaving an economic impact of more than 315 million euros, according to an analysis carried out by consultancy PwC. Since its first edition, in 2012, the gathering has received more than 1.7 million visits, has generated around 31,925 jobs, and has contributed around 1,440 million euros to the national economy. According to the report, 48.3% of the public is international, coming from 95 countries, highlighting the UK and Germany, the two countries that have been the most representative of international tourism in Marbella over the last decade. For its part, among national tourism visiting the festival (51.7%), Andalusia, Madrid, Basque Country, Valencian Community and Catalonia stand out.

Starlite Occident joins the various music gatherings that Ifema Madrid has. Last year, the venue hosted 21 such events, with over one million visitors. This represents 6% of the institution’s revenue in 2022, and is expected to reach 8% in 2023. To continue to sustain this niche, the institution is working on Ifema Madrid Bulevar, a project that will host long-term successful events. nowhere in the center of the capital. The development includes five concert theatres and is expected to be completed in two to three years. The Spanish capital is now also a meeting point for music.

magnet for tourism

Madrid is one of the 35 most visited cities in the world, with the ratio of tourists arriving in the capital for fun and entertainment increasing to 1 to 4. Likewise, Madrid has established itself as one of the most preferred destinations by both national and international travelers. international. , ahead of Barcelona, ​​​​​​Seville, Valencia and Benidorm, with an average of more than nine million visits a year, according to information provided by Ifema. “With the expanding range of recreational events, a qualitative leap has been made in the commitment to high-quality cultural and leisure offerings,” the institution said. “This helps put the city at the forefront of the international circuit as a tourist destination for shows, a sector in which Spain currently ranks third in the world.”

Grupo Starlite will be here to strengthen the destination, because its vocation is able to mobilize tourists from all over the world. “It is one of the main promoters of the music and leisure events sector”, emphasized them from Ifema. The company will raise the level of music events, adding added value to the leisure offer in the capital city of Madrid. “From the moment the participants pass through the Christmas door by Starlite, they will enter a world where illusion and magic know no bounds,” concluded the organizer.

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