By Mewati Sitaram
Spain is stepping up efforts to strengthen its position as a global hub for tourism and international events through a major redevelopment of the iconic Madrid Congress Palace, alongside the establishment of the future permanent headquarters of UN Tourism in the Spanish capital. Authorities said the combined initiatives will significantly enhance Spain’s standing in global tourism, congresses and high-value business events.
The Ministry of Industry and Tourism, through its tourism body Turespaña, has floated a 40-year public works concession to rehabilitate, modernise and operate the long-shut Madrid Congress Palace on Paseo de la Castellana. The tender, approved by the Council of Ministers on May 6, has been published on Spain’s Public Sector Contracting Platform and in the Official Journal of the European Union (DOUE), signalling the formal relaunch of one of Madrid’s most prominent event venues.
Under the concession, Buildings A and C of the complex will continue to be dedicated to congresses and exhibitions. The selected concessionaire will be responsible for drafting the execution project, carrying out rehabilitation works and managing the palace and its parking facilities for the duration of the concession, while paying an annual fee to Turespaña.
The 40-year term includes 12 months for project design and 36 months for construction. The estimated investment for the works and subsequent management is €105.7 million. Authorities said all key documentation, including the feasibility study and the preliminary and basic project with updated assessments, has been made available through Turespaña’s Transparency Portal.
Officials explained that the public-private partnership model places responsibility on the concessionaire to finance, execute and maintain the redevelopment, as well as operate the complex once completed. The approach is intended to optimise the use of public assets, attract private investment and ensure efficient, sustainable and professionally managed operations. Turespaña will retain the right to use the entire palace for up to five days each year for institutional events, in addition to five days of partial use.
Inaugurated in 1970, the Madrid Congress Palace was for decades a flagship venue for international conferences and exhibitions before being closed in 2012 due to safety concerns. Its revival has been long awaited by the tourism, cultural and business communities.
According to Turespaña, the redevelopment of the Congress Palace, together with ongoing works on Building B—which will house the future permanent headquarters of UN Tourism—will create a consolidated international events ecosystem in Madrid, reinforcing Spain’s leadership in global tourism and international engagement.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
