The directors of The District, the international real estate fair that is being held at the Fira de Barcelona, have charged today against the detachment, if not hostility, of public administrations and especially the City Council, and suggested that the next edition could be held in another city.
“I hope The District stays in Barcelona. I would like to and I will do everything possible, but it has to be up to the circumstances” assured Juan Velayos, president of the fair who did not hide that “some institutions, which I do not want to name, it is worth not supporting, but not bothering And yes, they have bothered.
More forceful has been Albert Planas, general director of Nebext, the company organizing the show, who stated that its location in “Barcelona is an accident. The salon could be held anywhere. You come because of the people you meet, because of who's in there."
The show's organizers, who want to displace the MPIM from Cannes and turn it into the largest real estate show in Europe, have a contract with the Fira de Barcelona for future editions.
The irruption of a group of demonstrators inside the hall on Monday, and the humiliations inflicted on some participants, who received insults, paint and, according to the organizers, "some blow" have caused great discomfort in the organization against the Fira. "We have spent weeks coordinating security with the Mossos and the Urban Guard," Planas assured. But finally the demonstrators found a security gap that the Fira did not take into account” since they entered the venue through a side door that was not protected.
This, according to Planas, forced the Mossos to use more force for the eviction and ignited the spirits. It so happens that the mayor, Ada Colau, is president of the general council of Fira de Barcelona, and that this institution organizes its own real estate show, Barcelona Meeting Point, with which The District competes tangentially. Unides Podem, the mayor's party, also called a demonstration against the salon on Wednesday.
"The institutions could have done something more," insisted Planas. “Generalitat and City Council are exhibitors, they have a stand, but they wanted to take advantage of the political moment to launch another message”. The show also had stands from Lisbon, Porto, Bilbao, Malaga and Madrid, and representatives from their respective town councils, who want to take advantage of the event to attract investors. "Other cities that have had a presence here already support us," said Velayos.
This director, president of JV20 and former CEO of Neinor and Renta Corporación, explained that "I had personally asked many important directors for the favor of coming as speakers, and they have done so with no other remuneration than coming to support our effort to turn Barcelona into a city of international reference in the sector. And many have come and have had a hard time, which would have been avoidable. I've already apologized to everyone."
In his opinion, the incidents go beyond the exercise of the right to demonstrate. “This does not represent Barcelona. And I will not say any names, but it should not be supported or promoted, and even less so from the institutions. Those of us who love this city must say that this cannot be admitted at any time”.
The District, which closes today, has brought together more than 7,000 attendees from the world of real estate investment in the city. Velayos pointed out that among the main conclusions of the show, the moment of impasse in which the sector finds itself stands out, due to the uncertainty about the evolution of inflation and the rise in rates. “Until we are clear about what can happen, few operations will be carried out. And we can be talking about six months.”
