IFEMA MADRID billed 230.2m. euros in 2024, driven by trade fairs

The main growth driver was the trade fair business, both in its own production – which accounts for 70% of revenues – and in external business (congresses, conventions, and events organized by other promoters). In 2024, the major fairs at IFEMA MADRID performed exceptionally well, including FITUR, FRUIT ATTRACTION, GENERA, SICUR, EXPODENTAL, CONSTRUCTION WEEK, and ENVIRONMENT WEEK.

These outstanding results also reflect increased business participation and visitor attendance in 2024. Throughout the year, IFEMA MADRID brought together 34,468 companies and 4.06 million visitors, a 6.8% increase from 2023.

Activity on the rise

Regarding activity, IFEMA MADRID showed very favorable performance across its various business lines, with a 23.89% increase in total events held. In 2024, IFEMA MADRID hosted 740 events, including 100 fairs and congresses (30 of them digital), 58 music and entertainment proposals, and 578 professional conventions and meetings. Additionally, the institution organized 4 fairs outside Spain.

Leader in international congresses

Once again, IFEMA MADRID maintained its position as a leading venue for hosting major international congresses and professional events organized by companies worldwide. In 2024, IFEMA MADRID’s MICE sector hosted 16 events, attracting nearly 83,000 attendees to its exhibition grounds. Notable among these were several important international congresses, such as the World Hemophilia Congress and the European Diabetes Congress.

Internationalization

2024 was a pivotal year in IFEMA MADRID’s international development, highlighted by the successful debut of FRUIT ATTRACTION SÃO PAULO in Brazil, co-organized with Fiera Milano Brasil. This event marked IFEMA MADRID’s most extensive international fair project to date and a significant milestone in achieving the institution’s Internationalization goals under its Strategic Plan.

Alongside this fair, IFEMA MADRID also carried out three other projects abroad in 2024. MOTORTEC CHILE held its third edition in Santiago de Chile in June. In August, IFEMA MADRID participated for the second time in organizing ESS+, the International Security Fair of Colombia, established in Latin America under the auspices of SICUR, Spain’s major security fair. Meanwhile, ARCOlisboa in May reaffirmed its status as a must-attend event on Portugal’s artistic and cultural calendar.

Digitalization

As part of its digital transformation strategy, IFEMA MADRID continued to enhance the functionalities of its LIVE Connect platform in 2024, a key application for improving the experience of exhibitors and visitors at its fairs. During this period, the platform welcomed 390,566 visitor users, a 34% increase from the previous year, along with 25,701 exhibitor users. Moreover, the platform facilitated 189,257 contacts that generated 43,220 business leads for exhibitors, a 73% increase from 2023.

Investments

In 2024, investments totaling 13.4 million euros were made, focusing on various technological applications such as CRM implementation, IoT network, Lora Network, Web 3.0 project, and platforms for DataDriven, digital fairs and events, and demand and service management, among others.

Sustainability

In 2024, IFEMA MADRID continued to demonstrate its effective and transparent commitment to sustainability and combating climate change, achieving its goal of zero emissions. For instance, as part of its efforts to enhance the sustainability of its fairs and events, the institution began individually analyzing the carbon footprint generated during their events in 2024. This initiative aims to achieve Scope 3 carbon footprint measurement, following four consecutive years of achieving the “Calculate and Reduce” certification for Scopes 1 and 2 within the Carbon Footprint, Compensation, and CO2 Absorption Projects Registry of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, resulting in a 91.88% reduction in its carbon footprint.

Additionally, significant reductions were achieved in various consumption ratios compared to 2018, including electricity (43.20%), natural gas (51.14%), potable water (54.04%), waste generation (58.87%), and paper usage (83.82%). To optimize energy consumption, traditional outdoor luminaires were replaced with LED lighting in all pavilions, changing rooms, and stands at IFEMA MADRID.