Maspalomas, the economic capital of the Canary Islands, is determined to establish itself as a leading destination for congress, incentive, and event tourism. The objective is clear: capitalize on our renowned air connectivity and excellent hotel facilities to attract a high-value visitor segment. Gran Canaria, as a whole, is projected to host around 150 MICE events in 2026, with an estimated 300.000 participants by year-end. These figures demonstrate the growing ambition and capacity of the sector on the island. Maspalomas, with its modern congress centers, is a key player in this strategy.
Maspalomas' commitment to meeting tourism is based on first-class infrastructure. The ExpoMeloneras Conference Center, for example, is a benchmark in the area, offering a Gran Sala Maspalomas with capacity for up to 4.500 people in cocktail format and a Las Tirajanas Auditorium with capacity for 902 attendees. It also has more than 10 additional meeting rooms, with capacities ranging from 60 to 450 participants. In addition, the high-end hotel infrastructure offers a wide variety of function rooms and event spaces, adding up to considerable capacity. The hotels near ExpoMeloneras alone can provide thousands of rooms, essential for accommodating large delegations. This combination of professional spaces and accommodation offers a strong position for us.
While southern Gran Canaria has made significant progress, the path toward fully consolidating MICE tourism in Maspalomas presents challenges. Direct connectivity with key source markets remains a priority, with efforts to increase flight frequency and open new routes, especially outside the traditional European capitals. Optimizing internal transportation for large groups and streamlining transfers from Gran Canaria Airport (which exceeded 12 million passengers in 2023) are aspects undergoing continuous improvement. Work is also underway to digitalize MICE services to streamline event planning and promote tax incentives that make Maspalomas even more competitive compared to other established destinations, with the aim of increasing the contribution of business tourism, which currently represents a growing share of total tourist spending on the island.
One of the greatest attractions of MICE tourism for Maspalomas is its ability to combat seasonality. While sun and beach tourism peaks in winter and summer, conferences and events can be scheduled during the traditional "low season" months, such as May, June, September, and October. These periods offer exceptionally pleasant weather (average temperatures between 24°C and 28°C), fewer crowds, and often more competitive prices for accommodation and services. This allows for more balanced hotel occupancy throughout the year, stabilizing local employment and generating ongoing income for the sector, diversifying an economy that has historically depended on holiday leisure. The goal is to increase the number of MICE events by at least 10% during these key months.
Maspalomas is making a decisive and strategic commitment to MICE tourism. It is no longer just a destination for relaxation, but an ideal place to connect, innovate, and do business. With the continuous improvement of its infrastructure, the overcoming of logistical challenges, and the clear advantage of its year-round climate and natural beauty, we are building a future where Maspalomas not only welcomes millions of leisure tourists, but also thousands of professionals who choose our paradise as their base for the exchange of ideas and growth. This diversification is vital to the resilience and long-term prosperity of our destination.
