YNOT – During its second year in existence, the Barcelona Summit (Feb. 19-21) attracted 435 participants from 30 countries, leading its organizers to declare the event a rousing success.
“With industry shows in general showing a decline in participation, the summit managed to grow 35 percent this year, in line with the predictions of the management team,” Barcelona Summit representative Andreas said.
Of course, he noted, a certain amount of the show’s success must be attributed to what Andreas called “the atmospheric setting” of the ME Hotel. The hotel took seriously its job as headquarters for the summit, and together with show management, created a dynamic business-to-business atmosphere that was nonetheless intimate and relaxing.
In addition to speed-networking sessions and panel discussions addressing search engine optimization, mobile content delivery and a variety of other adult-industry-specific topics, the 2010 summit also included what organizers believe was a first: an erotic art exhibition. Andreas said the art was well-received.
If only the weather could have cooperated.... Rain dominated the first day, but that actually worked to everyone’s advantage, Andreas said. Stuck indoors, attendees clustered on the show floor and in the bar to talk business instead of escaping to explore the historic Spanish city.
Most attendees seemed happy with the event and its attendant opportunities to expand their businesses into the European Union and across the Atlantic, Andreas noted. Some participants told him they picked up as many as 200 business cards from new contacts. A color-coded badge system helped to facilitate meetings between complementary business interests, he added.
Parties, of course, were de rigueur. Cybersocket and Epoch kicked off the event with an opening-night bash, followed on Saturday by a trip to the F.C.Barcelona soccer match and a typical Spanish flamenco floor show at the hotel.
Also on Saturday, “speed painter” David Machuca entertained attendees with a demonstration of his artistry. Machuca’s works were auctioned over brunch the following day in order to raise funds for the Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection and victims of the recent earthquake that devastated Haiti. The auction raised more than U.S. $10,000, Andreas said. Adult Webmaster Empire, EPG Bill and MojoHost were among the top bidders.
For more information about and pictures from the 2010 Barcelona Summit, visit TheBarcelonaSummit.com.
Sue Denim is a freelance journalist specializing in sexuality and the adult entertainment industry.
