Science, sea and gastronomy drive the MICE sector in San Sebastián
The city combines knowledge, research, emblematic locations and experiences intertwined with Basque culture
San Sebastián backs up its appeal as a MICE destination by relying on a solid ecosystem of science and innovation, an outstanding network of venues and an incentive proposition that connects events with the identity of the Basque Country. The combination of cuisine, sea and nature makes it possible to design meetings, conventions and incentive trips with a strong local character that are capable of incorporating professional content, unique experiences and a direct connection to the region. The strength of the destination starts with its very scale. San Sebastián is a city in which it is easy to get around on foot, with pedestrian zones, bike lanes and promenades that run along the coastline. The city’s dimension makes it easy to combine the professional agenda with moments of discovery in the bay of La Concha, the Old Town or in cultural and culinary spaces that are an integral part of urban life. Added to this accessibility is a knowledge ecosystem that is particularly relevant for congress tourism. According to the Nature Index 2018 Science Cities, San Sebastián ranked among the top 200 scientific cities in the world and held fourth place among Spanish cities.
The destination expands its MICE offering with an extensive network of venues spread between the city and its surroundings, allowing each event to be tailored to different formats and ambiances. In San Sebastián, you’ll find the Kursaal, Miramar Palace, Anoeta Stadium, Victoria Eugenia Theatre, Basque Culinary Center, Tabakalera, Olarain, Gipuzkoa Chamber of Commerce, Urumea Eventos and GOe (Gastronomy Open Ecosystem). On top of these, at various points throughout Gipuzkoa, are spaces with a strong experiential component such as Chillida Leku in Hernani and the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum in Getaria, as well as cider houses and txakoli wineries. It is precisely in the realm of incentives that San Sebastián offers ways in which to extend the event experience beyond the meeting. Gastronomy offers a natural guiding theme: visiting a cider house, discovering the surroundings of the vineyards and txakoli wineries or linking an activity to the Basque Culinary Center or GOe enables team cohesion exercises through flavours, produce and creativity. Basque culture also opens up other possibilities such as regional dances, improvisation by bertsolari poets or rural sports.
The surrounding sea and nature add another unique dimension to the programme. The possibility of organizing experiences linked to the marine environment, incorporating outdoor activities or using spaces such as Albaola in Pasajes and the San Sebastián Aquarium allows for the creation of workshops alternating professional content with discovery of the destination. This concept is complemented by museums, architecture and contemporary creation centres as well as the support of the Incentives Guide, Premium Catalogue and DMC agencies to help you structure programmes adapted to each group. This strategy is also underpinned by sustainable commitment. Under the Donostia Green Destination brand, the city incorporates efficient public transportation, 21 m² of green spaces per inhabitant, gastronomy based on local and seasonal products and projects aimed at reducing plastic use and waste. Additionally, the Kursaal operates with an environmental management system certified according to the ISO 14001:2015 standard since 2007. Investments in the Kursaal and the Palacio Miramar aimed at rehabilitation, the upgrading of equipment, efficiency and digitization add to these efforts.
Location
San Sebastián, the capital of Gipuzkoa, is located in the Basque Country, on the Cantabrian coast and near the border with France. It can be accessed via the A–1, AP–8 and AP–15, as well as the A–63 from France. It has a railway station in the city centre and an airport in Fuenterrabía, 22 kilometres away. The airports of Biarritz, 45 kilometres away, Vitoria-Gasteiz, at 100 kilometres and Bilbao at a distance of 105 kilometres expand air connectivity.