Hila said that one of Palma's greatest challenges as a tourist destination is being able to manage its success and the volume of tourists. The city is therefore looking for tourism diversification to tackle seasonality and generate wealth throughout society.
The Palacio, he noted, will be a point of attraction for business tourism, conventions and incentives, especially in the low-season months. "This is a tourism segment of economic and strategic importance to the city, and one from which no one should feel excluded."
He thanked Joana Maria Adrover, the tourism councillor, for the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of her efforts and those of her department in bringing the Palacio to fruition. He also thanked Melià for its commitment to Palma and to the type of tourism the Palacio will bring.
The mayor pointed out that the Palacio has been long in the waiting and that after many years of delay, it is now ready. "There are no legal obstacles of any kind," which was a point echoed by Escarrer.
The Melià boss said that the aim is to make Palma a MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) destination of the first order. He wants it to become one of the top fifty destinations of its kind. In around four years, he predicted, the Palacio will have had more than 77,000 visitors and generated over 21,000 million euros.
In line with the centre making inroads into the low season, Escarrer added that there will be a motor show at the end of October, start of November this year.
The Palacio will open on 1 April. It can hold up to 3,100 people. The adjoining Melià Palma Hotel has 268 rooms and has additional meeting rooms.
5 comments
To be able to write a comment, you have to be registered and logged in
On the other hand, today´s Diario de Mallorca also states a date of four years, but instead quotes 77.000 attendees making an expected anual PROFIT of 21 million Euros.They also say that in October, Mercedes will be launching a new model and will be using Palma´s Congress Palace for it´s European launch.
Just to make clear that the figures quoted in the online edition of the DB are the same as those quoted in the online edition of the UH, but NOT in the printed version, whereas they are in the DB printed version.
I have just read todays Ultima Hora, and, as I thought, the DB has got it´s figures totally wrong. How anyone could imagine that the centre could generate 21THOUSAND million euros, needs to go back to school. The figure quoted in the UH is that after FIVE years, they are hoping to have an attendance of around 71.000 persons per year, generating an annual income of around 21 million ( 21.000.000 ) euros.
How appropriate it will open on April 1st. A complete waste of money that will fool no-one.
21.000.000.000 euros ?