Andorra is a destination for professionals thanks to its proximity, leisure and gastronomy offer, and safety. The Pyrenean country is home to facilities for hosting meetings and conferences such as the Andorra La Vella Conference Centre, as well as a wide hotel selection with quality marks for professional events.
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Andorra is a prosperous country mainly because of its tourism industry, which services an estimated 10.2 million visitors annually, and also because of its status as a tax haven. It is not a member of the European Union, but the euro is the de facto currency. The people of Andorra have the 2nd highest human life expectancy in the world — 82 years at birth.
Andorra is not a member of the European Union, but enjoys a special relationship with it, such as being treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products. Andorra lacks a currency of its own and uses that of its two surrounding nations. Andorra used the French franc and the Spanish peseta until 1999 when both currencies were replaced by the EU's single currency, the euro. Coins and notes of both the franc and the peseta, however, remained legal tender in Andorra until 2002. Andorra is negotiating to issue its own euro coins.
Andorra has one of the world's lowest unemployment rates, with the statistics on June 2009 showing almost 100% employment within the country.
There are several reasons making Andorra stand out as a professional setting for organising events, meetings, conferences and even congresses with a capacity for up to 500 attendees. The leisure and shopping selection, as well as its easy access from different locations on the Spanish road network, have made the Pyrenean country into an alternative for professional destinations or business incentives thanks to its wide selection of open-air activities.
The country’s safety is one of the keys that make Andorra a destination chosen by companies, since it has one of the highest levels of citizen safety in Europe. In addition, there is the commitment to offering a quality hotel service. Andorra has 23 hotels with a special business and meeting mark (nearly 38,000 beds) and 6 with a special congress mark.
Conference Centre
The certificates approved by the Principality cover a set of conditions the hotels must meet. In this way, in order to obtain the business and meeting quality mark, the venues must have a meeting room covering at least 30m2 and an additional events room measuring 14m2. Those hotels holding the congress certification must have a room measuring 300 m2 and a separate conference room with a capacity for 150 attendees. In both cases, the venues must have the latest technology systems in place.
Andorra is also home to a Conference Centre, located in Andorrra la Vella, which has the largest capacity in the country with an auditorium for nearly 500 attendees. The centre can host conferences, congresses, meetings and shows, but it is not the only venue, since there are further complexes: the Ordino Conference Centre and the Lauredià Arts and Conference Centre in Sant Julià de Lòria, the Les Fontetes Tourism and Cultural Centre in La Massana, the Prat de Roure and the Events Room in Escaldes-Engordany, and the Events and Conference Room in Encamp, amongst others.
In recent months, Andorra has hosted events such as the 10th Aerospace Medicine Symposium, the 4th Future of Europe Summit, the National Convention of the Danone Group, the Spanish Conference on Intelligent Transport Systems and the 14th Latin American Tourism Sector Committee, amongst others, as well as seasonal music and dance shows.
Wide leisure, gastronomy and shopping selection
The small size of the country, covering 468 km2, means tourism and leisure services are concentrated in hotel areas. The gastronomy available is yet another attraction in the country. Visitors can savour original dishes in the traditional bordes which also offer typical products. In addition, Andorra also offers a wide selection of restaurants serving international cuisine.
Andorra is a destination close to major Spanish cities thanks to the good road connections, also making it an ideal place to go shopping. Andorran shops offer cheaper prices and flexible opening hours.
The Pyrenean country is renowned for its winter tourism, especially for ski and snow sports lovers with 285 kilometres of slopes. It is also a nature paradise, thanks to its glacial and mountainous origins. There are spots and routes to discover that have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, such as as the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley. Andorra offers unique experiences in a spectacular setting where visitors can also relax in the wide selection of spas.
Contact Andorra Tourism SAU for availability: