The European Outdoor Group (EOG) has announced that the fourth annual European Outdoor Summit (EOS) will be taking place from 29 – 30 September 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.

EOS was founded by the EOG in 2013 and each year brings together around 300 senior executives from the European outdoor industry to explore the major issues facing the sector. The summit moves to different locations in Europe and has so far been held in Sweden, Germany and the UK. The event is managed by the EOG in partnership with a host organisation in each country. For 2016, the EOG will be working with the Spanish sport industry association Afydad.

Barcelona has been chosen as the location of the EOS 2016 because of its cosmopolitan nature, excellent location and easy transport links, making it accessible for delegates to attend from across Europe, as well as for those coming from further afield.

Barcelona offers plenty of urban culture with quirky art and architecture, imaginative food and a vibrant and bustling street life. It is conveniently situated between the sea and the mountains and is an excellent location for outdoor enthusiasts looking to pursue an active lifestyle. The city was revamped to accommodate the 1992 Olympic Games, creating new beaches and green areas and it also received substantial investment in its sports and training facilities, leading to the country producing world-class athletes.

EOS 2016 will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Barcelona, which is set in the heart of Montjuic, the largest urban green area in Spain. It is one of the most important cultural areas of the city and is home to Europe’s largest climbing wall, Climbat, which offers 800m² of scalable surfaces.

The Crowne Plaza Hotel offers excellent meeting and conferencing facilities and is only 25 minutes from Barcelona’s International Airport and a short walk from the underground station Espanya, which allows quick and easy access to the attractions of Barcelona city centre and the famous Las Ramblas.

Since its foundation in 2013, EOS has quickly become one of the key outdoor trade events on the calendar.  Supported by the sector’s largest brands and organisations, the summit offers the outdoor industry a unique opportunity to come together and listen to some truly inspirational and motivational speakers and participate in engaging seminars and networking sessions, with the ultimate aim of improving business practices and stimulating sustainable growth and innovation. For 2016, and following the feedback from past attendees, the event aims to focus on global content, with topics being chosen to represent the diverse nature of delegates, companies and interests.

Mark Held, General Secretary of the EOG, comments: “After a superb summit this year, it is with great pleasure that we have confirmed our partnership with Afydad and have chosen Barcelona as the venue city for EOS 2016. Not only is Afydad a great forward looking partner, but the city and surrounding area offer an eclectic mix of vibrant Catalan culture, a beautiful landscape for outdoor pursuits, and top of the range facilities for business. Barcelona is an ideal location for the outdoor industry to come together and once again listen, learn and network, continuing the excitement and momentum generated by the previous summits.”

Details about how to book a place at EOS 2016 will be available in due course. For more information about the summit, visit www.europeanoutdoorsummit.com.

Conference management, organisation and marketing will be handled by specialist outdoor PR and event management agency MCS.

INFO: EOS 2016