There are some very good reasons to be cheerful in 2017, especially if you live in Palma. The new convention centre, which will finally open in March, is expected to attract up to 50,000 people in its first year of opening. Many of these people will be attending a convention during the so-called low season and it will help give the city a winter lift. I visited the convention centre earlier this year and I was impressed. Granted that it has cost in excess of 110 million euros but it has been beautifully designed and the hotel is first rate. The Melia Group have won the contract to administer the hotel, therefore it is to be a major success.
But there are other reasons. Palma is expected to welcome a record number of cruise ship passengers again next season. I was talking with the mayor of Palma, Jose Hila, during the recent World Travel Market in London and he basically indicated that Palma was on a roll. He is not wrong. I think the city has plenty of potential and obviously the new convention centre is going to be a real asset. If our capital city can get on the world convention centre map, then the city can look forward to a bright future. It will mean more flights, especially during the winter. The only low point is that the International Golf Travel Market, which is now taking place at Son Termes, couldn´t take place at the convention centre, because it wasn't ready yet. However, at the moment the future looks very bright for Palma.