Portugal: a unique destination for corporate travel

jor_g_marques
11 de Mayo, 2022
10:50 pm

Portugal is undoubtedly one of this year’s top destinations for corporate travel. With the opening of the borders after the pandemic, the country of tiles and Fado is one of the trendy destinations for 2022. Its wide range of hotels and convention centers, its magnificent connections, or the fact that its cities seem to escape the homogenizing globalization, are reasons enough to choose this destination for your next corporate event.

Where to organize my corporate event in Portugal?

In the organization of most corporate trips, the location of the airports is key and therefore will mark the neuralgic places for the organization of events. Portugal has three main airports in its continental region, Porto, Lisbon and Algarve (Faro). These airports connect to the islands, Madeira and the Azores, which are also directly connected to the most important airports in Europe and North America.

Lisbon

As could not be otherwise, the capital of the country offers itself as the most suitable destination for large events. So much so that in the latest ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) report, Lisbon appears as the second city in the world with the highest number of events. On the one hand, Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport offers the best connections with the world’s main cities. Lisbon also has three unique venues for the organization of congresses: the Lisbon Congress Center-CCL, the Lisbon Congress and Exhibition Center-FIL and the PT Meeting Center. All of them have multiple pavilions, auditoriums, meeting rooms, parking and all the requirements for large events. Apart from these centers, the city has other venues for smaller events including the Coliseu dos Recreios, the Feira Internacional de Lisboa or the Casa da America Latina, as well as a wide range of hotels and restaurants to satisfy the needs of the most sybarite attendees.

Porto

The city of Porto is a living fossil, a city where time seems to have stood still. At the same time, the city has an effervescent modernity. Porto is a living monument to the pleasures of the palate, combining a delicate traditional gastronomy with the cult of wine typical of the world’s first region with denomination of origin.

Porto is also a great destination for large-scale events, with venues such as the Alfandega Congress Center, the Stock Exchange Palace, the Serralves Foundation and Exponor. All of them are perfect for the organization of fairs and events that require large parking spaces, multi-purpose halls, auditoriums, etc. Obviously these types of centers can be found in other cities. What makes this region unique is the possibility of organizing satellite events (as a complement to fairs or congresses), team building events and incentives in an enchanted valley, the Vale do Douro. A few kilometers from the city, this World Heritage gem will leave no one indifferent. It is difficult to imagine a better incentive than staying in one of the luxurious Quintas of the valley enjoying a few days in the finest wineries of the region. Your team will create bonds that will surely have a huge beneficial impact on the team.

Algarve

Located in the south of Portugal, the Argarve region is home to some of the best beaches in Europe and offers about 300 sunny days a year. But the Algarve is much more than sun and paradisiacal beaches. Charming villages, modern infrastructures, national parks or its excellent Atlantic gastronomy make the Algarve a perfect location for small events and corporate travel.

Connected to the rest of the world through the airport of its capital, Faro, the Algarve has several congress and convention centers. The most important is the Centro de Congressos do Algarve in Vilamoura, ideal for hosting medium-sized events. But this region mostly stands out as a perfect place for small events such as incentive or training trips. The activities offered for small groups are innumerable. From sailing trips or whale watching excursions to Jeep safaris or diving excursions.

Madeira

If you want to organize an event where guests will be counting down the days until they can attend, Madeira is the place to be. This paradise island in the Atlantic offers the perfect combination of pleasure and work. Madeira has a unique dedicated convention center, the Madeira Tecnopolo, ideal for medium-sized events. It also offers a wide range of hotels, with the Savoy Palace and the Pestana Casino Park Hotel standing out for their event space.

Although it depends on the size of your event, the island offers a large number of activities for attendees, highlighting nature and adventure activities as the main element of leisure on the island. Proposals range from the Funchal Cable Car ride, wine tasting at the historic Blandy Winery, catamaran cruises to spot dolphins and whales, hiking trails, canyoning or a relaxing swim in the volcanic pools of Porto Moniz and Fanal. As a curiosity, an activity that you will not find anywhere else is the descent in basket carts down the curvy and steep streets of Fuchal. It consists of two kilometers with hundreds of meters of unevenness saved at full speed in a cart made of basket, led by two cart drivers dressed in typical cotton costumes and straw hats.

Azores

Undoubtedly, the Azores islands are the most exotic location to celebrate your corporate event in Portugal. This volcanic archipelago is located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and is characterized as a natural paradise with a focus on sustainable tourism. The Azores are composed of 9 islands, each with its own peculiarities and culture. São Miguel is the largest island, and includes Ponta Delgada which is the capital of the archipelago.

Despite their remote location, the Azores islands are well connected from Europe and America, and have their own public airline, SATA Azores Airlines. Most of the event space in the Azores is associated with hotels, although other venues include the Angra do Heroísmo Conference and Cultural Center in Terceira and the Micaelense Coliseum in São Miguel.

Gastronomy is a key element in any event held on the islands. One of the most typical dishes is the Cozido das Furnas, which is prepared over a slow fire for hours in the heart of the Furnas Volcano, giving it a unique flavor. In addition to its gastronomy, the islands offer endless adventures in balance with nature. From responsible whale watching to scuba diving, geotourism, hiking or bird watching. In short, a unique destination that will delight those attending your corporate event.

How to organize a sustainable event in Portugal?

Any corporate event implies a negative impact in the form of carbon emissions that will contribute to climate change. These emissions could be reduced as much as possible if the event is held remotely. However, it is obvious that an online event can hardly be a substitute for the positive interactions that occur between people interacting face-to-face. Moreover, while online events can replace certain corporate trips such as congresses or training events, team-building and incentive events require teams to meet in person.

What can we do to organize a responsible corporate event? How can we minimize the negative impact of your event and turn it into a benefit for the destination and its local communities? The first tip is that whenever possible, organize a hybrid event that provides flexibility to those employees who, due to their personal responsibilities, are unable to travel. This will help reduce the carbon footprint of your event.

For large events, it is best to stay close to well-connected cities such as Lisbon or Porto. Travel from airports can be organized by electric vehicles or public transportation. In addition, always try to organize a good recycling system at the event and try to reduce single-use containers or utensils, especially if they are plastic. Seek to organize meals so that food from Km 0 is used, which will also provide a more authentic experience to attendees. For small events, try to avoid big hotel chains. This will allow your attendees to experience the true identity of the destination and contribute more to the local economy.

Above all, when organizing an event, always try to be aware of any issues that may exist in the destination. Read the local press, contact local NGOs, talk to someone specialized, etc. Apart from contributing to NGOs through donations, you can always give them a space at your event so that they can raise awareness of local problems among your attendees. This is where responsible tourism can really have a more positive impact on the planet. If your attendees return to their home country a little more aware of the issues at your event destination, you can be pretty satisfied.

And when you think you’ve done everything you can to make your event sustainable, calculate the event’s carbon emissions and offset them in local projects that will benefit local communities. You don’t have to plant trees in places where they are not needed. Perhaps you can contribute financially to an ornithological society or an organization that works with social minorities.

Latest posts

Submit your email address and subscribe to our newsletter to be on the up and up.