4 comments:

1. Barcelona is highly valued amongst business decision makers and its top five position has consolidated in recent years with high scores in almost all the important categories with exceptional scoring in the office availability and value for money fields. It also consistently ranks first in the quality of life category.

   Commented by Oriol Barrachina - October 5, 2009 at 4:05 pm

2. The results of the study are certainly good news for Spain, which has recently suffered from negative press internationally. The strides both Madrid and Barcelona have made over recent years are now being recognised, notwithstanding the greater competition from more cities. There is a difference between perceptions and facts and probably there appears to me to be a time lag between things becoming reality and the surveyed business leaders being conscious of them. I would strongly encourage any business leader, who has not visited Spain recently, to do so and to note the major changes at macro level that have taken place and that I am sure will continue

   Commented by Roger Cooke - October 5, 2009 at 4:06 pm

3. This is very interesting because I have business and relatives in Barcelona and things are getting worse. I realize that this can impact a city on a long term but what I am trying to understand is why is such a huge difference between what the report says and the general perception, information and local economic reports.

   Thank you

   Commented by Roxana Pavel - October 9, 2009 at 10:23 pm

4. I share Roxana’s observation, not only for Barcelona but also for Madrid. Until last year I could understand why these cities scored higher, but it does not make sense anymore in 2009! Spain is facing a serious crisis, the speculative real estate and construction industry bubble has burst and unemployment is almost 20%! I get the impression more in general that the European Cities Monitor is rather measuring ‘where would you like to go’ than ‘do you have concrete plans to move your company to a certain city’. Of course, everyone likes to be in Barcelona, if only for a few days. But how many CEOs would like to have their headquarters there permanently? is it really such a great place to do business?

   Commented by Marco Bontje - October 13, 2009 at 2:45 pm