1. Can I attend Alimentaria + Hostelco if I work in food and drink but not as a buyer or seller?

Yes. Access is open to all professionals whose commercial activity connects them to the food, beverage or hospitality industry. This includes packaging suppliers, logistics providers, food technology companies, marketing agencies, food scientists, regulatory consultants and journalists. The organisers run an active attendee qualification process and may request proof of commercial activity at any time. The rule is straightforward: your company must buy, sell or provide services to the food or hospitality industry. Students enrolled in food, hospitality or HoReCa-related courses can attend through a separate group registration programme managed directly by the organiser at alimentaria.com/en/visit/student-groups/.

2. What actually happens if my badge date is wrong or I need to change it after purchase?

Once registration is completed, badge types and dates cannot be modified under any circumstances. If you bought a 1-day badge and need more days, you can upgrade by logging into your Registered Users Area and clicking "Add product / upgrade" -- this extends your access but does not replace the original purchase. Refunds are not issued for any badges or activities under any circumstances, including cancellations, travel disruptions and visa refusals. The only exception to the no-changes rule is upgrading to a longer access period; downgrading or date changes are not possible.

Q3: I need a visa to attend. How do I get an official Invitation Letter and what does it actually contain?

Purchase your badge first through the official registration system, as the Invitation Letter is only available to confirmed registered attendees. Once your badge purchase is complete, log into your Registered Users Area and navigate to the Visa and Travel section, where the application form for the letter is available. The letter can be used to request a travel visa for Spain at your consulate for the trade show dates. A list of countries that require a visa to enter Spain is linked directly from the official Alimentaria FAQ page at alimentaria.com/en/faqs/. For any issues with the process, contact the organiser team at the official support email listed on the same page.

Q4: How does the Lead Retrieval system work and what does it cost for exhibitors?

Lead Retrieval is Fira de Barcelona's official badge-scanning contact capture tool, purchased separately from the stand package. It consists of a mobile scanner app and a web portal. The scanner captures visitor badge data -- name, company, job title, email -- instantly into a cloud database accessible via the web portal, where contacts can be filtered, tagged, surveyed and exported as an Excel file. Pricing before February 23, 2026 is €168 for a single licence (Small Business Edition) or €403 for three licences (Enterprise). After February 23, 2026, prices rise to €224 and €505 respectively. Device rental (an Android smartphone with 4G data) costs €112 extra before the deadline. Order through Fira Store at store.firabarcelona.com.

Q5: How does the Hosted Buyer Programme work and who qualifies?

The Hosted Buyer Programme is run by Alimentaria in collaboration with ICEX Spain and targets senior international purchasing professionals with confirmed import volume or commercial purchasing authority. Accepted Hosted Buyers receive full or partial coverage of travel expenses, a free 4-day badge with preferential access, permanent access to the Buyers' Lounge (rest area, bar, business centre, internet), a customised pre-scheduled meeting agenda with exhibitors, and access to the Alimentaria Premium area. Participation requires an application and is subject to the organiser's eligibility criteria -- it is not open to all visitors. The application form is at registration.firabarcelona.com and the programme operates separately from the standard visitor registration process.

Q6: What are the practical rules inside the venue that most visitors find out too late?

Badge sales close at 4:30 PM every day -- arriving after that means you cannot buy entry for the same day. No one under 18 is admitted under any circumstances, with the sole exception of nursing mothers with infants under one year of age. Bags larger than 40x35x20 cm, trolleys and backpacks are not allowed inside the halls; cloakroom service is available at Pavilions 1 and 8 for €3 per item. Taking photos or video of exhibitor stands without explicit consent is prohibited. Direct product sales and street vending are not permitted anywhere in the venue. Bicycles, electric scooters and skateboards cannot be brought inside. Animals are not allowed except in legally permitted cases. The venue has 4,580 parking spaces. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout (network: A and H_VISIT, password: visitante).