MWC out of Barcelona in 2012 ?

Even though things have improved quite a bit since 2006, Barcelona is still a disaster, the worst major global show organization ever. I remember this year queuing for hours before the show began to get help on plants and TV stands for our booth. When finally someone was finally condescending to help us, we were told that the "tree guy" and the "tv guy" were from different unions and did not work on Sunday. Duh. Then why doing a show that starts on Monday then. And let's not talk about hotels or trying to get dinner ... Why not have the show in Las Vegas ? At least they know how to trade show. 
(via GSMA)

GSMA shortlists six cities for new Mobile World Congress deal

The GSMA has announced that Amsterdam, Barcelona, Cologne, Milan, Munich and Paris will battle for the rights to host the Mobile World Congress for a five-year period from 2013 through 2017. The association expects to cut this list further in January 2011, with a winner announced “in mid-2011.” Thirty cities were involved in first-stage evaluations, before the six were named. In a statement, the GSMA noted that “many criteria” will be taken into account when deciding on the venue for the 50,000+ attendee event, claiming it will take “all aspects of what a city can offer into consideration,” but added that the selection process will remain confidential.

The association was also keen to stress that the Mobile World Congress will remain in Barcelona – home of the event since 2006 – until at least 2012. A statement from the GSMA heralded its partnership with Barcelona as a “tremendous success” and noted that, as the city has hosted Mobile World Congress for the past five years, it has “the assets to deliver an outstanding event.” Next year’s event runs 14-17 February, 2011.