Everything ready for the Mobile World Congress
Everything is ready for the celebration of the Mobile World Congress, which will be inaugurated next Monday, February 26 and will last until the 29th, at the Gran Via exhibition center in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat. It will be a congress that, as always, will collect the latest innovation in the field of mobile technology, and that this year will also be imbued by the irruption of artificial intelligence.
The drought in Catalonia
But the most important congress to be held at Fira Barcelona will also be marked by the drought that Catalonia is suffering, immersed in an emergency situation that is historic, and from which no one can remain on the sidelines, not even GSMA, the organizer of the event in collaboration with the Fair.
Awareness of visitors
El Mobile has a forecast of more than 95,000 attendees (including exhibitors, lecturers and visitors) from more than 200 countries, many of whom are not aware of the situation facing Catalonia. For this reason, both the organization, as well as Fira de Barcelona and the Hotel Guild, are making a great effort to raise awareness to let visitors know the reality that is being experienced.
Measures for the drought emergency
From Fira Barcelona, a series of additional measures have been adopted due to the state of emergency due to drought that the Government decreed last February 1. This includes emptying the lakes in the Gran Via site and reusing the water for watering the parks in the area, disconnecting the ornamental fountains, removing the drinking fountains distributed throughout the pavilions, replacing the faucets in the toilets with more efficient, and install air filters on all taps to save water.
Saving water at Fira Barcelona
Fira Barcelona has already been implementing water saving measures since 2020, such as a digitized water consumption control system, preventive maintenance of the water distribution network and replacement of sections at risk of leaks, and the progressive replacement of urinals by ecological units without water. With these measures, it is estimated that water consumption has been reduced by 25%.
Petition for responsible use of water
To raise awareness among visitors, a communication and awareness program has been launched on the drought situation in Catalonia. This campaign includes sending emails with water saving guidelines, communications on the congress website, mobile apps and social media.
Saving water in hotels
The Hotel Association of Barcelona has also taken measures to reduce water consumption, such as recycling greywater, installing low-consumption showers and toilets, automatic taps and checking pipes to prevent leaks. They have also distributed information leaflets in hotel rooms to offer guests tips on how to save water.