PORTLAND, Maine – After 28 years at the Brussels Expo in Belgium, the Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global is moving to Barcelona, Spain, in 2021.
Organized by Diversified Communications (www.divcom.com), the 29th edition of the event will be produced April 27-29, 2021 at Fira de Barcelona, which offers more than 200,000 square meters of floor space in eight exhibit halls.
This year’s Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global was the largest in its history, featuring more than 2,000 exhibiting companies and 29,000 seafood buyers and suppliers from around the globe. In 2019, the event expanded into Hall 3 and Hall 4, nearing maxing out the available exhibit and meeting space of 115,000 square meters at Brussels Expo.
Diversified reports it’s making the move as the result of extensive market research based on exhibitor and attendee feedback and an evaluation of major destinations throughout Europe. In addition, Diversified says Barcelona’s hotel offerings will provide attendees and exhibitors with considerable value and a larger, modern venue that will offer more opportunities to expand the event as the expo continues to grow.
“The location of our event contributes to our customers’ overall experience,” said Mary Larkin, President of Diversified Communications USA. “The Brussels Expo and the city of Brussels were great partners to launch and grow this event, and we appreciate the services and support they provided over the years. Moving the event to a larger city and venue, with opportunity for long-term growth, is a necessary evolution. It will enhance the visitor experience and the business being done between buyers and sellers.”
Diversified’s global seafood portfolio of expositions and media includes Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, Seafood Expo Asia and SeafoodSource.com. Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America ranked No. 74 on Trade Show Executive’s Gold 100 Class of 2017. Held in May in Boston, the Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America drew 22,169 attendees and 1,314 exhibitors covering 256,690 net square feet.
Annually, Fira de Barcelona hosts about 150 events, including the Mobile World Congress. Integrated System Europe announced last July that it’s moving from Amsterdam RAI to Fira de Barcelona in 2021. In February, Fira de Barcelona announced plans to expand and renovate its the Gran Via venue with an increase of 60,000 gross square meters of exhibit space. The project’s completion date is set for 2024.
“Barcelona is an international destination and major seafood hub in Europe, which makes it the perfect location to hold a global event like Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global,” said Liz Plizga, Group Vice President at Diversified Communications. “Everything our customers and attendees have come to appreciate about the expo will still be there. Choosing Barcelona is about combining the value of doing business at the event, with the networking experience the city has to offer.”
“The event was born in Brussels and has grown significantly over the last 28 years,” said David Boon, General Manager, International Business Development, Brussels Expo. “It’s been great to work with the Diversified team, and we look forward to one more edition of the Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global in Brussels in 2020.”
Reach Mary Larkin at (207) 842-5542 or mlarkin@divcom.com; David Boon at [32] 2 474 8470 or d.boon@brussels-expo.com.
