As an entrepreneur, you know that building a large and diverse client base is the best way to ensure profitability and give your company an edge in today’s competitive times. And in our increasingly globalized business environment, having clients dotted around the world gives you more freedom and flexibility, reducing your reliance on a single market or home territory.
If you have clients in Europe or Spain, you might want to consider the benefits of hosting a corporate event in Barcelona, one of the most beautiful cities the country has to offer. Below, we’ve put together some of the reasons why a corporate visit could be good for business…
Find new clients
With the right market knowledge and prior planning and relationship building, you could find new clients on your visit to Barcelona. Whether you sell marketing services or clothing, being able to reach out to business owners in Barcelona and other parts of Spain to arrange business meetings, demos and presentations offers the best way to make a name for yourself and break down the barriers of the internet, which can often people from converting.
Of course, to maximize the value of your trip, you should reach out to prospects before you make your journey and create an itinerary of events so that you can meet with as many interested parties as possible. The chances are that you’ll only be staying in the city for a few days or a week, so knowing that you’ve got 50 people to meet with before you go will make it a more worthwhile experience and ensure you find at least some new clients on your trip.
That said, attending one of the city’s many exhibitions and trade shows can also help you to position your business as an authority and meet potentially thousands of new customers overnight. From the International Tourism fair and International Cosmetics Fair through to more specialist events like the International exhibition for savory snacks and nuts and the International caravan exhibition, you’re bound to find an event that works for your business.
Experience new sights
Broadening your horizons and taking yourself out of your comfort zone from time to time is a good way to change the way you think about your business and let off steam. And so there’s no better place to visit than a city like Barcelona, which not only offers great weather and some of the best hotels in Spain but breathtaking sights that have to be seen to be believed.
From the La Sagrada Familia and Park Güell to the Casa Milà and Gothic Quarter, there’s something for everyone, and that’s without mentioning the miles of beaches, the markets, and the shopping quarters, where you’ll find gifts to take back home to friends and family.
Learn the lingo
Another benefit of planning a business trip to Barcelona is that you get to put your spanish to English to the test, and mingle with the locals. If you’ve been practicing at home, you can stop by the Mercat de la Boqueria on Las Ramblas and chat with the local stallholders about their fresh fruit, vegetables, and meats. If you’re feeling brave, you can even haggle down their prices, and as a shroud business owner, you might be able to get a discount off your evening meal.
If you’re not clued up on Spanish, fear not. Most staff across the city’s gift shops, bars, restaurants, hotels, and markets speak English and will be able to give you some pointers, and there are several language translation services schools dotted around the city if you’re planning to stay for several months and want to challenge yourself and pick up a new skill. Bilingualism will make your business more competitive, allow you to unlock new revenue streams and client opportunities, and open up social and cultural opportunities, so put in the effort and learn!
Get closer to your team
Another reason to consider a corporate visit to Barcelona is to bring your team together.
As a business owner, it’s easy to lose sight of your staff when you’re focused on winning contracts and spending all of your time in board meetings, so taking everyone out of their comfort zone, out of their offices and out of their home countries is a sensible way to press the “reset” button and bring everyone closer together. The even better news is that there are companies that offer team building in Barcelona, pre-organized day trips and experiences that are designed to challenge your team to work together and experience new things.
Granted, corporate holidays are expensive – you’ll need to pay for flights, accommodation, and their food and drink, but it’s a business expense that delivers double-digit returns. Treat your staff and invest in their wellbeing and professional development, and you’ll build a team that delivers great results and takes your brand in new directions, away from the usual grind.
Celebrate your achievements
Finally, a corporate trip to Barcelona can be a great way to reward your hard-working staff for all of the efforts they’ve put into growing your business. Though you probably cannot afford to take a team of 200 on a European city break (that would run into hundreds of thousands of dollars), you can incentivize your higher-level team with the promise of a free vacation if they hit targets, such as reducing absenteeism across their team or hitting new sales records as your business grows and develops. Dangle a carrot, and they’ll perform at their very best.
A corporate holiday should offer some benefit to your business, so plan a few presentations at high-profile businesses or meet with your clients to retain them, but for the rest of the time, let off some steam and have fun. There are several hotels in the city with rooftop bars and pools (Grand Hotel Central, Mandarin Oriental Barcelona, Cubik, Ohla Barcelona, Yurbban Trafalgar Hotel and Hotel 1898) and there are endless activities and excursions to keep your staff busy and fulfilled. Pack as much into your trip as you can and treasure the memories.
There you have it – just some of the reasons why you might want to consider planning a corporate visit to Barcelona in 2020 and beyond. Think about the lifetime value of a trip rather than the short-term benefits, and it could pay dividends for many years to come.
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