Responding to criticism of Barcelona as the venue for the prestigious Mobile World Congress here, a GSMA spokesman has told Mobile Software Insight it will stay in the city "for the foreseeable future."
Indeed, David Pringle claims that crime was down from last year's event. Approximately half of the reported crimes happened within the Fira exhibition centre and the other half outside.
On the subject of hotel rooms, Pringle claimed, "We will pay particular attention to the rates charged by hotels." He admitted, however, that he is still seeking data on what the typical premium is on hotel rates. The hotel Mobile Software Insight stayed in almost doubled its rate. Today a room would cost €145 while during the show it was €256.
As far as the 2009 Congress is concerned, the GSMA says that will it definitely take place in Barcelona and – all things being equal – the MWC stay in Barcelona after that, too.Many delegates complain, however, that when the show was in Cannes it had a small 'campus' atmosphere whereas in Barcelona they fell lost in a big city.
