Valencia – a city full of surprises

Valencia is increasingly becoming a popular destination for conferences and events. We recently project managed a small meeting in Valencia, which was strategically organised to dovetail with a larger conference which was taking place immediately afterwards.

Valencia is the third largest city in Spain after Madrid and Barcelona and is definitely a location to consider when you are looking to book an event in Spain.

Accessibility

Valencia is well-connected by air, rail, and road. The international airport at Valencia, Manises, serves numerous international flights, making it convenient for attendees flying in from different parts of the world. Additionally, the city’s public transportation system is efficient.

Cultural Attractions

Valencia offers a rich cultural experience. From historic sites like the Valencia Cathedral to contemporary attractions like the City of Arts and Sciences, attendees can enjoy a blend of history and modernity.

Beautiful Beaches

The city is located along the Mediterranean coast, providing attendees the opportunity to relax on beautiful beaches, offering a perfect balance to business activities.

Gastronomy

We mention about paella making contests at the Oliva Nova Beach & Golf Resort below and Valencia is known for its culinary scene – it reminds us a lot of Seville.  Delegates can enjoy authentic Spanish cuisine, including paella of course, in a variety of restaurants and cafes.  We found that several restaurants, even relatively small ones, have a private dining room which they can offer for groups.

Non-hotel large conference venues

Valencia boasts modern and state-of-the-art conference venues and facilities. The City of Arts and Sciences complex, for example, offers impressive spaces for conferences, conventions, and exhibitions. The Palacio de Congresos de Valencia was voted the World’s best Convention Centre in 2018 and 2010.  It is a sprawling modern convention centre offering 3 auditoriums and a grand, light-filled exhibition hall.

The other convention centre is The Feria Valencia which was founded in 1917 to host trade fairs in Spain. The space offers 231,000 metres of space for exhibitions.

Varied Accommodation

There are numerous hotels in Valencia catering to different budgets and preferences. From luxury hotels to boutique accommodation, attendees have a range of options.  The Melia Valencia and Sercotel Sorolla Palace hotels are, for example, located very close to the Palacio de Congresos.  We stayed at the SH Valencia Palace Hotel in the centre of the city, within walking distance of the shopping district and numerous restaurants.

Unique Venues

Apart from traditional conference centres, Valencia offers unique venues like historical buildings, museums, and even beachfront spaces for events, providing organisers with creative options for their conferences and events.

Here are just a few of our favourite venues in Valencia

A 5 star boutique property, located just 500 metres from the historic centre of Valencia. This 19th century mansion, an authentic Valencian manor house, embodies the maritime spirit and the values of Valencia. The Ampar Restaurant offers a taste of Valencia with delicious dishes where the fresh produce from the Valencian orchard, seafood and, of course, rice in all its variants are the main ingredients.

Hotel Hospes Palau de Mar has meeting facilities (all with natural daylight) with a capacity for up to 180 guests, with the spaces ranging from 20 to 180sqm.  You can also host an evening event outdoors in the landscaped outdoor areas.

As an added bonus, the hotel has a Spa, divided into two areas: the treatment area on the first floor and the wellness area on the ground floor, with an indoor swimming pool-Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and fitness area.

With regard to the proximity to other local attractions, the Mestalla stadium is just 10 minutes’ walk from the hotel door, while those interested in history can visit the Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace and the Basilica de los Desamparados which are all very close by.

This Hotel is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. The hotel is located only a few metres away from the Malvarrosa beach and back in 1898 it used to be a historical, antique SPA. The hotel opened its doors in 2006 and combines the old building with the new modern complex using high quality materials, bringing it back to life again!

The hotel has 21 meeting rooms, the largest room having a capacity of 500 theatre style.  Each conference room has a view either over the sea, beach or the spectacular gardens and all are equipped with the most modern technology.

Being next to the beach and also very close to the city centre, this could be a good location for your next event in Valencia.

A residential complex located south of the province of Valencia, surrounded by mountains and orange fields. The international airport at Valencia is 95km away.  It enjoys a special microclimate with mild temperatures all over the year and a lot of sunshine.

The resort has a four-star hotel with 205 bedrooms, an 18-hole golf course designed by the renowned Spanish Golfer Seve Ballesteros, a spa, a gym, paddle and tennis courts, natural grass fields and a high-performance equestrian centre. There is also a wide leisure and gastronomic offering.

All this makes it a unique space to hold any kind of corporate event: meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.  It is also therefore a great setting to organise team-building activities such as golf classes, geo-catching, fitness or even a paella contest!

In terms of meeting space, the hotel’s largest conference room, Gran Centells, can fit 252 people classroom style or alternatively the room can be divided into 4 independent rooms. These rooms are equipped with a modern audio-visual system and Wi-Fi network.  The rooms also have direct access to the outdoor areas of the Hotel.

The city and local businesses often collaborate to host events, creating a supportive environment for conferences and conventions. Local authorities are usually keen on promoting Valencia as a conference destination.

Further, Valencia hosts various festivals and events throughout the year. Event organisers can leverage these local events to enhance the experience of conference attendees, giving them a taste of the city’s vibrant culture.

Did you know Valencia’s motto is Vivir Sin Dormir – ‘Live Without Sleep’ ……

If you are looking to book an event which has a great choice of Hotels, some of the best food in Spain, historic buildings and year round good weather why not consider Valencia?

DeSouza Associates can help you with all your International venue finding requirements as well as the UK