Clarion Gaming has negotiated a cumulative Barcelona hotel discount of up to €2.4 million on behalf of the industry during January's ICE and iGB Affiliate shows, the first editions to be held in the Catalan City. 

The rates, which are delivering an average saving of 34% per night compared to what's available by going direct, have been secured as part of the landmark relocation of ICE and iGB Affiliate and are only available through Clarion Gaming's official accommodation partner bnetwork https://icehotels.bnetwork.com/ 

Clarion Gaming Managing Director, Stuart Hunter confirmed the value of being able to access competitively priced accommodation. He said: “From the outset of the competitive bid process to host the world leading b2b shows which began March 2023 a non-negotiable requirement for the city/venue bids was the availability of comfortable overnight accommodation at significantly discounted rates and across key price points.

“Part of the Barcelona bid was a guarantee that we could secure a minimum of 40,000 hotel nights each year at the lowest rates possible for the duration of the five-year tenancy. This has been delivered with the rooms only available via BNetwork, the official accommodation partner that we have appointed.”

He added: “The feedback that we are receiving anecdotally from the industry and confirmed by the booking data is that attendees are making their arrangements earlier and are alsoscheduling their trips to arrive in Barcelona on the weekend preceding the show opening.  

“To a large extent visitors are treating their annual pilgrimage to ICE/iGB Affiliate as a City Break and we are planning a suite of Clarion Gaming curated hospitality offerings to deliver a blended ‘work, rest and play' experience.”

“We will be launching ‘The Road to Barcelona' guide which will talk through the best ways for visitors to attend ICE/iGB Affiliate and enjoy their time in the historic city. 

“We are being told by the market that exhibitors more so than at any time in the past will be using the global platform provided by ICE/iGB Affiliate to launch their game-changing new products and innovations to what promises to be the biggest gathering of gambling professionals in history.”