Short distances Barcelona always occupies a prominent place in the ICCA statistics and is known worldwide as one of the main MICE destinations. However, other cities such as Sitges, Tarragona, Girona, Lloret de Mar and the Baix Llobregat area can be also good alternatives and are a short distance away by train (maximum 1 hour) and from Barcelona's international airport. Girona and Reus also have international airports. Catalonia stands out, without a doubt, for its accessibility and great connectivity. A variety of unique spaces Catalonia has four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona. During my week in Catalonia, I was able to experience the diversity and variety of options for events organizers. Whether you prefer an event on the shores of the Mediterranean, in a historic site like the Roman Amphitheatre in Tarragona or in a creative and dynamic coworking space like the Espai Valkiria Hub in Barcelona, Catalonia offers many options. I visited different premises and venues for receptions or dinners during my tour, and they all had a unique touch. The local cuisine Good food makes a good event. During a nice dinner, delegates can close a business deal or simply connect with each other and enjoy the benefits of in-person events, while savouring the local cuisine. It is an excellent region as it is be able to grow most of its food locally, so the fish, meat and vegetables offered to your delegates are local, which matches perfectly with a sustainable business event agenda. Accompany your local-based dinner with any of the excellent wines the region has to offer such as a Llum d'Alba, which I was able to taste at Terra Dominicacellar premises. Catalonia is recognized worldwide for its gastronomy. If you add a few days after the event, you have the possibility to eat in one of the 70 restaurants with a Michelin star, such as AbaC or The Can Roca Cellar. Make sure you make your reservation well in advance Connection with nature After the global pandemic, many of us have experienced a renewed appreciation for nature. Event organizers can include nature as part of their business events to help relieve stress, increase creativity and productivity, as well as make participants aware of sustainability on different levels. I am convinced that delegates are looking for different experiences and new session formats, for example getting out of meeting rooms and having a talk session outdoors in order to get new and fresh ideas. Catalonia's meeting spaces offer a wide range of possibilities to include a more natural options to a conference, whether it is hosting part of the program outdoors or an outdoor night activity. With an average of 300 days of sunshine, and an average temperature of 18.7 ºC / 65.5 F the climate is perfect for any outdoor activities and business events. Collaboration within cities 'We try to be as helpful as possible. When we have an event in the city, both the public and private sectors work together', says Montse Belisario, director of the Lloret de Mar Convention Bureau. Both Montse from Lloret de Mar’s Convention Bureau, as well as all the local and regional CVBs in Catalonia, work with this principle in mind. Business events are part of the city, and the support of the local economy and its inhabitants is very strong. " Economic clusters can create many projects together with congress and event organizers to bring quality to cities and create an impact beyond the economic " , Christoph Tessmar, director of the Barcelona Convention Bureau. Collaboration within events business itself, but also from cities and local agents is very important. In addition to the economic impact, it is essential to create relationships and connections so that people can discover the region with their own eyes, like I did. I discovered the region as a professional meeting planner and was amazed at the wide range of options, all within a relatively short distance from Barcelona airport. I hope to be back soon to organize my next business event. Sina Bünte is an event organizer from Germany with extensive experience in the organization of hybrid, online and in-person events. In 2022 she was listed as one of the 100 most influential people in the events industry. Bünte is the founder of DigitalMind.events and co-founder and events director of SheSharp, a foundation for promoting diversity and inclusion in the technology and business world. She is also the manager of EventProfsBreakShit, a project that brings technology closer to MICE professionals.