How to survive MWC 2016

Last updated: 19 February 2016

MWC survival

 

Mobile World Congress is almost upon us, and if you’re heading out to Barcelona this year, you’re going to want to be prepared. Trade shows can take their toll on even the most seasoned professional, so whether this is your first show, or you remember when MWC was still in Cannes, this survival guide will make sure you’re not caught out.

Before you go

Preparation is the key. Ahead of boarding that flight to Cataluña, you’ll want to make sure that you pack:
• At least two travel chargers
• All the necessary printed work documents you’ll need out there
• Extra USB / Lightning cables
• A back-up mobile battery pack to top-up on power in the afternoons
• Cash for day-to-day expenses, even though MWC is very NFC payment friendly
• Your comfiest shoes as you’ll be doing a lot of walking

It is also a good idea to load all of the contacts you’ll be meeting at the show into your mobile, and have the address of a local print shop handy too.

During the show

Trade shows are notorious for their long days, so do start the day with a hearty breakfast even if you’re not that hungry!

The MWC 2016 organizers are providing everyone with a free public transport pass, and this year there is a new subway station open at the Fira Gran Via itself! No more taxi queues or a trek to the railway station. The L9 Sud will take you directly from the show floor to the heart of Barcelona.

Another no-brainer is downloading the official MWC App which can link to your entry badge, and let you access all sorts of information about the show.

You should also consider grabbing a map from the hotel, as well as downloading an offline map of Barcelona too. Traffic can be an issue, so do leave yourself a 30-minute buffer ahead of your first meeting of the day.

And one final tip, is that you might want to try an app like Evernote that will sync your notes across platforms. So whether you meet someone briefly and scribble something into your phone, or type-up conference notes on your laptop, they’ll always be together.

We’re in the final stages of preparing our MWC 2016 booth, so if you’re coming to the show, do stop by at Hall 5 stand 5A80. And don’t forget to share any of your survival tips with us either in the comments section below or on @GemaltoMobile.

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