Welcome to PR Vibes™, created by Calysto Communications to provide you with key insights into the publications and events in the communications industry. Today, we’re featuring a short interview with Michael O’Hara, Chief Marketing Officer, GSMA, to learn more about the GSMA’s decision to host the Mobile World Congress conference and exhibition in Barcelona from 2012 to 2018, naming Barcelona the “First Mobile World Capital.” Enjoy!
What is your role with GSMA? What do you consider your/its mission?
I am the chief marketing officer for the GSMA, the organization which represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide. Spanning 219 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators, as well as more than 200 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset makers, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies, and media and entertainment organisations. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as the Mobile World Congress and Mobile Asia Congress.
What is the “first” Mobile World Capital? What does this entail? What is the vision?
As the Mobile World Capital, Barcelona will be the home of the mobile industry’s must-attend event, the GSMA Mobile World Congress, and will also develop a range of other programmes and activities that will span the entire year and will benefit not only the citizens of Barcelona, Catalonia and Spain, but also the worldwide mobile industry.
The cornerstone of the Mobile World Capital is the Mobile World Congress, a four-day event which in 2011 attracted more than 60,000 attendees from 200 countries, including 3,000 CEOs, government delegations from 131 countries and more than 2,900 media representatives. The 2012 Mobile World Congress will be held February 27 – March 1. Starting in 2013, the Mobile World Congress will be held at the cutting-edge venue, the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via. The dates for the 2013 Mobile World Congress are February 25-28, 2013.
Beyond the Mobile World Congress, the Mobile World Capital also features two additional elements: the Mobile World Centre and the Mobile World Festival. The Mobile World Centre will comprise permanent and temporary exhibitions which meld culture and technological innovation, facilities for the development and incubation of mobile solutions, and retail and hospitality venues. The Mobile World Festival, which is targeted to the general public, will incorporate a range of activities including sporting events, music and art festivals, film awards, applications and technology fairs and more.
Who were the other finalists for the Mobile World Capital?
The other cities competing to be named the Mobile World Capital included Milan, Munich and Paris.
The GSMA indicated that Barcelona “demonstrated a great Mobile World Capital project.” What does this mean?
Yes, Barcelona did demonstrate a great Mobile World Capital project, with great public/private support for the initiative and great passion. However, the full criteria and specific details remain confidential.
Why pick Barcelona over other cities and countries? What were the criteria?
All of the cities who competed for this title presented extremely innovative and compelling bids, but in the end, Barcelona truly demonstrated that it deserves the title of the Mobile World Capital, with its combination of outstanding exhibition and conference facilities, its transportation and hospitality infrastructure, its commitment to expanding the reach of mobility throughout Barcelona, Catalonia and Spain, and the strong support of the public and private sectors.
The selection of the Mobile World Capital was based on many criteria and took into consideration all aspects of what a city can offer. Meeting the needs of our members and customers remains our most important priority. The city’s development strategy for all of the elements of the Mobile World Capital is critical, and of course, logistics, weather, crime rates, prices of services or hotels are part of the decision making process. However, the full criteria and specific details of the selection process remain confidential.
What is the benefit to attendees and exhibitors? Media and analysts?
Barcelona will continue to host the mobile industry’s must-attend event, the GSMA Mobile World Congress. More importantly, it will develop a range of other programmes and activities that will span the entire year and will benefit not only the citizens of Barcelona, Catalonia and Spain, but also the worldwide mobile industry.
What’s unique about mobile and Barcelona?
Barcelona will be creating an enduring legacy as a hub of mobile communications. As the Mobile World Capital, Barcelona will be transformed into a benchmark city in terms of mobile phone use in all areas of the lives of people and companies, a “living lab” which fosters the growth of the existing industrial fabric, technological development and favors the creation of new highly qualified jobs. The Mobile World Capital is meant to create a new technology cluster that will build an enduring legacy for the citizens of Barcelona, Catalonia and Spain.
What other events besides the GSMA Mobile World Congress will be held in Barcelona? Can you provide specifics?
As mentioned previously, beyond the Mobile World Congress, the Mobile World Capital also features two additional elements: the Mobile World Centre and the Mobile World Festival. The Mobile World Centre will comprise permanent and temporary exhibitions which meld culture and technological innovation, facilities for the development and incubation of mobile solutions, and retail and hospitality venues. The Mobile World Festival, which is targeted to the general public, will incorporate a range of activities including sporting events, music and art festivals, film awards, applications and technology fairs and more.
We are working with the City of Barcelona and plans are already underway for various elements of the Mobile World Capital. We should hopefully see the first activities and programmes taking shape next year but it is too early to confirm exactly what these are.
What are the projected dates and venues?
As noted previously, we are working with the City of Barcelona and plans are already underway for various elements of the Mobile World Capital. We should hopefully see the first activities and programmes taking shape next year but it is too early to provide any details in terms of dates and venues.
Why the move to the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via? How does it compare organizationally to the Fira Montjuic?
The Gran Via is a new, cutting-edge exhibition and conference facility which provides greater space and flexibility, and should accommodate the Mobile World Congress into the future. The Fira de Barcelona Montjuic is an outstanding facility, and we will of course be looking at different uses of that venue, even after the Mobile World Congress moves to the Gran Via in 2013.
More information can be found at http://www.mobileworldcapital.com/qa/qa.htm.