The Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, announced this Thursday that the new permanent headquarters of UN Tourism in Spain will be inaugurated on June 29. The offices will be located in a wing of the Palacio de Congresos complex, next to Paseo de la Castellana, in Madrid.
Hereu made the announcement during the 126th Executive Council of UN Tourism, which is being held in Toledo. In his speech, he emphasized the strategic importance of Spain, an international benchmark in tourism, continuing to host discussions on the future of this industry. With the new headquarters, the country strengthens its position as a global cluster for governance and sustainable transformation of the tourism model.
The new headquarters of this United Nations agency, which is the main body for public governance of tourism at the international level, is a modern and functional building located in the financial center of the capital and near the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, famous for the large mosaic by Joan Miró on its facade. The renovation works, which began at the end of October 2023, were carried out by Ferrovial at a cost of 24.8 million euros. According to an agreement signed between the Kingdom of Spain and UN Tourism in 2022, the new headquarters is granted to the agency for a period of 75 years.
The complex will feature a modern convention center, office areas, exhibition spaces under the garden, and a renovated underground parking lot. Specifically, the Palace will contain a large auditorium of 500 square meters intended for major presentations; a translation room with simultaneous translation booths prepared to serve 300 people; an office area, offices, and modern and sustainable administrative facilities for the staff of the UNWTO; dining spaces: an internal café, and exhibition rooms, with multipurpose areas for cultural or sectoral displays and exhibitions.
