event point portugal 04

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WWW.EVENTPOINT.COM.PT

OWNER

Estação Livre ‑ Comunicação[[email protected]]

www.eventpoint.com.ptRua da Fábrica Social, s/n

4000‑201 Porto

DIRECTOR

Rui Ochôa[[email protected]]

EDITOR‑IN‑CHIEF

Cláudia Coutinho de Sousa[[email protected]]

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Filipe Silva[[email protected]]

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Norma Design[[email protected]]

COVER PHOTO

World of Discoveries

TRANSLATION

Estação Livre

PRINTING

Norprint

CIRCULATION

1500

LEGAL DEPOSIT NUMBER

358113/13

FICHA TÉCNICA EDITORIAL

CONTENTS

CLÁUDIA COUTINHO DE SOUSA RUI OCHÔA

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ICCA Iberian ChapterNewsFOCUS ON | WORLD OF DISCOVERIESCompanies | MEO Arena: The next stage for your meeting Companies | Centro Cultural de Belém: Where meetings and culture come togetherWhy is Portugal increasingly sought to host events?, by João Luís MoitaMaking the most of event focussed social media, by Miguel NevesInterview | Ryan and Gabriella OpazFocus on | Alfândega Congress Centre with a Eur 20.9 million impact in GDP in 2013Suggestion | Jewish quarters routeDESTINATION | LISBOA WINS AWARDSWhat’s new in PortugalPortuguese sins | Long live the kingDESTINATION | ALGARVE: ARE YOU READY FOR A CHANGE?Focus on | Come to be a part of historyBooks | Into the Heart of MeetingsCompany and services index

This is the fourth Event Point published in English. Our aim is to promote Portugal as a Meetings Industry destination to the international community. Here you will be invited to get to know the potential of this country, the venues, the PCOs, the DMCs and all the other necessary services, people and novelties that made it possible for Portugal to occupy the 7th position as the most popular European meetings destination on the ICCA ranking.In the pages of this magazine you will read reports, opinions and news which will give you a perhaps surprising image of the destination ‑ well beyond the sun and sea cliché.We at Event Point believe in the qualities of Portugal as a destination ‑ although we are aware that perfection does not exist. We challenge you to take this journey with us, a journey of discovery within the country that, over 500 years ago, gave birth to and propelled the process of globalisation.

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ICCA IBERIAN CHAPTER

TO DEMONSTRATE VALUEWe need to share with the world that ICCA members comprise the most experienced practitioners and the most knowledgeable experts in the meetings industry worldwide.

Portugal and Spain have great professionals and continue climbing the ICCA Worldwide rankings: we are the 13th and 3rd, respectively. The Iberian Chapter continues to grow. More proposed associates and members in high activity, making clear the importance of IBERIA in the meetings industry. In this perspective, and to demonstrate the relevance of our members, we will initiate a report process showing the economic impact of their activities. It's a very challenging project but we believe it will be very helpful for the members.

2015 ICCA IBERIAN CHAPTER ANNUAL MEETING IN THE ALGARVEThe next ICCA Iberian Chapter Annual Meeting, in the Algarve, already has dates: 15th to 17th April 2015. We believe it's important for a host destination to have relevant business representatives of the MI sector for 3 days and to: . Promote the Tourism of the region (suppliers, local sponsors, etc.). Promote the Algarve as a congress destination among participants ‑ potential clients / agencies / PCOs / DMCs. Ensure local, national and international media coverage . Promote the economic impact of the event in the town . Originate "political" impact in the region

We can promise you a great event.

EIBTM 2014: SPANISH SEMINAR"WE ARE GREEN OR WHAT?"

Once more during EIBTM and with the support of Reed Exhibition, ICCA Iberian Chapter has the opportunity to lead a seminar devoted to topics of interest within the MICE market.While the Spanish Seminar "We are low‑cost or what?" last year analyzed the situation of the "Low‑cost" in our industry, this year's theme will focus on sustainability.The Seminar will analyze, with the help of several experts and a roundtable format, how far we have, or not, applied sustainability policies and CSR in our business. We will try to establish where we stand at the moment and decide if we should propose a line of action consistent with current trends. It will all be animated with concrete examples.

ALEXANDRA TORÉGÃO | ICCA IBERIAN CHAPTER | PRESIDENT

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WORLD FOOD TRAVEL SUMMIT & EXPO TO OPEN IN ESTORILThe 2015 edition of World Food Travel Summit & Expo will take place in Estoril from 7th to 11th April. The event that brings together food & drink tourism professionals will emphasize the business matchmaking, networking and socializing. The production is organized by the World Food Travel Association and APTECE ‑ Portuguese Association of Food Tourism Development and supported by Cascais City Hall.

World Food Travel Summit & Expo has practically set its final program, as José Borralho, with APTECE, reported to Event Point. He confirmed the presence of Jodi Ettenberg, from the Legal Nomads blog, and Time Magazine journalist Matt Goulding. José Borralho shares the big news in the event: "as part of the program, delegates will choose a region in Portugal (Porto and North, Centre, Alentejo, Lisbon, Algarve, Madeira and Azores) where they will live 48 hours

Miguel Franco de Sousa, secretary‑general of Federação Portuguesa de Golfe (FPG), explained that, currently, it is only a statement of intent. "The European Tour has invited all countries that have players eligible to represent the European team in the Ryder Cup to submit an intention to bid for the 2022 event. This intention has no ties. It serves only the purpose of receiving the dossier with the requirements for official announcement of candidacy, being the FPG able to withdraw from the process at any time, if it considers that Portugal is unable to submit a competitive bid", highlighted Franco de Sousa.The seven interested countries will receive an application pack which will have to be formalized until 16th February 2015. The winner will be announced in late 2015. Portugal has already applied to the 2018 edition, having lost to France the organization of one of the world events with most media coverage. "FPG is aware that the moment the country is facing requires caution, but we can not stop investing in strategic areas and this is an excellent opportunity for Portugal to assume itself as a leading golf destination in the world", said Michael Franco de Sousa in a statement.

with the local population, knowing their culture, typical products and cuisine, establishing a close partnership between APTECE, Tourism Regions and local tourism promotion associations."APTECE is "immensely proud" to be associated with this event. "Hosting an event of this magnitude brings us to a level where we have greater visibility and are more exposed as an organization and as host country. We are talking about an application won by a private entity, without any commitment of financial support from national authorities, even to this date, but that did not stop us from trying to bring the event to Portugal, overcoming four other countries", highlighted APTECE’s president.

The aim is to receive 500 to 700

delegates in Estoril.

NEWS

PORTUGAL TAKES INTEREST IN RYDER CUP 2022Portugal was one of the seven countries that expressed the intention to host the 2022 edition of the Ryder Cup, one of the most important golf tournaments in the world which confronts, every four years, teams from Europe and the United States. Besides Portugal, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Italy and Turkey are on this list. British Richard Hills, Ryder Cup Europe (responsible for the applications and organization of the editions held in Europe every four years) Director, proved to be "delighted with the level of interest throughout Europe. We received each of the seven intention letters through their national federations, as mandatory by the application regulation."

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PORTUGAL TAKES MULTIPLE AWARDS AT THE WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS EUROPE 2014Portugal won 16 European awards and two for the Mediterranean area at the World Travel Awards ‑ Europe. Turismo de Portugal received the award for Best Official Tourism Organisation in Europe. Portugal, which had already won in this category in 2008, competed with Athens (Athens Convention Bureau), Austria (Austrian National Tourist Office), France (French Tourist Board), Germany (German National Tourist Board), Greece (GNTO ‑ Greek National Tourism Organisation), Spain (Instituto de Turismo de España ‑ TURESPAÑA), Italy (Italian State Tourism Board), Turkey (The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism), UK (VisitEngland) and Yorkshire (Welcome to Yorkshire).

"This award makes us all proud because it recognizes the work of the Institute, and it must be entirely dedicated to all its employees," said President of Turismo de Portugal, João Cotrim de Figueiredo. "Having won this award in competition with reputed counterparts further enhances this distinction and presents us with an additional responsibility: to continue to make Portugal a tourist destination of excellence."TAP Portugal had a double win and was considered the best airline to fly from Europe to Africa and South America but there were several other prizes. Here is the list:

Europe's Leading Airline to Africa TAP Portugal

Europe's Leading Airline to South America TAP Portugal

Europe's Leading All Inclusive Resort Pestana Porto Santo Beach Resort & Spa, Portugal

Europe's Leading Boutique Hotel Vila Joya, Portugal

Europe's Leading Boutique Resort Choupana Hills Resort & Spa, Portugal

Europe's Leading Cruise Destination Lisbon, Portugal

Europe's Leading Cruise Port Porto de Lisboa, Portugal

Europe's Leading Design Hotel The Vine Hotel, Portugal

Europe's Leading Hotel Residences Pine Cliffs Residence, Albufeira, Portugal

Europe's Leading Island Destination Madeira Islands

Europe's Leading Landmark Hotel Bairro Alto Hotel, Portugal

Europe's Leading Luxury Resort Conrad Algarve, Portugal

Europe's Leading River Cruise Company DouroAzul

Europe's Leading Tourist Board Turismo de Portugal

Europe's Leading Villa Resort Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel, Portugal

Europe's Most Romantic Resort Vila Vita Parc, Portugal

Mediterranean's Leading Boutique Hotel Quinta da Casa Branca, Portugal

Mediterranean's Leading Spa Resort Penha Longa Hotel & Golf Resort, Portugal

Portugal's Leading Boutique Hotel Terra Nostra Garden Hotel

Portugal's Leading Business Hotel Corinthia Hotel Lisbon

Portugal's Leading Conference Hotel Pousada de Cascais Cidadela Historic Hotel & Art District

Portugal's Leading Family Resort Sheraton Algarve at Pine Cliffs Resort

Portugal's Leading Hotel Bairro Alto Hotel

Portugal's Leading Hotel Residences EPIC SANA Algarve Hotel

Portugal's Leading Hotel Suite Presidential Suite @ Myriad by SANA Hotels

Portugal's Leading Resort Hotel Quinta do Lago

Portugal's Leading Serviced Apartments Altis Suites

Portugal's Leading Spa Resort Blue&Green Vilalara Thalassa Resort

The award cerimony was held in Athens.

For all the winners, visit:

www.worldtravelawards.com/winners2014‑8

NEWS

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WORLD OF DISCOVERIES INTERACTIVE MUSEUM & THEME PARKA MUST‑SEE TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE COUNTRY’S HISTORY

Can you imagine what it would have been like living aboard a ship in the sixteenth century? Or fight in a battle with more than thirty pounds of armour on top? Or even take a flagship to the other side of the world without any GPS available tool?

Now you will be able to discover how, as a lot of different, unique, interesting histories, at the recently opened WORLD OF DISCOVERIES, Interactive Museum and Theme Park. Born within the Douro Azul Group, WORLD OF DISCOVERIES is a pioneering project in Portugal, which is already a mandatory stop on the tourist routes of Porto and Northern Portugal. An exclusive combination of an Interactive and Themed Museum that recreates the fantastic odyssey of the Portuguese navigators, crossing oceans to discover a then unknown world.All contents are available in six languages (PT, EN, ES, FR, IT, DE) and the facility has been designed to accommodate people with special mobility needs; as it has an Educational Section that can organise and adapt specific themes for guided tours.For the first time in Portugal, as happens with other world renowned attractions, WORLD OF DISCOVERIES tell stories based on meticulously prepared life‑size scenarios that are built in a creative way, inviting the visitor to travel in time.

Visitors are immersed in the remarkable knowledge behind the art of navigation, on a voyage seen from the point of view of the crew, depicting the challenges faced on board, before setting off to discover New Worlds. They set off from Porto, the birthplace of the man who gave “new worlds to the world”, and head southwards passing through Lisbon and then conquering Ceuta. Further ahead they come to the famous Cape of Storms, the home for monsters and myths. A series of journeys follow, through the Equatorial Forests, India, Timor, China, Macao, Japan and Brazil where textures, odours, mythology and history all merge into one incredible experience. At WORLD OF DISCOVERIES the multimedia content provides a multi‑sensorial experience. Some of the technological features in place are completely unprecedented in Portugal such as the innovative 4D Globes to explore the cartography of the epoch; or the Fog Screens, created using water, which transport the visitors to another dimension.

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OTHER FACILITIESSPHERA MUNDI SHOPAn exclusive gift shop concept where visitors can find articles from the worlds they have just discovered. From the beautiful and picturesque city of Porto, to the remote outposts of Asia.

WORLD OF FLAVOURS THEMED RESTAURANTFood that tells stories!One of the main attractions of the visit is a culinary journey of discovery, where you can try out the world flavours. Without neglecting Portugal’s own culinary tradition, and adding specialities from Africa, India, China, Japan and Brazil, the WORLD OF DISCOVERIES Restaurant is open to the public on a daily basis with buffet meals.> Capacity for 150 people.> Group bookings accepted for Theme Dinners and Events.

EVENTSWORLD OF DISCOVERIES is set to be an exclusive new concept for events.From a fully trained team to develop tailored solutions until an equipment that takes you to a new level of creativity, WORLD OF DISCOVERIES is a fresh, yet to be explored solution to help you catch your client.Facilities:> Fully equipped conference room of 200m2

> Coffee break service> Restaurant service> Tailored solutions for motivational, strategic, decision‑making meetings/events> Educational service team to provide specific content guided tours

SCHEDULES AND CONTACTSSCHEDULES:Weekdays: 10.00 am – 6.00 pm (serving until 5.45 pm) Weekends and public holidays: 10.00 am – 7.00 pm (serving until 6.45 pm)Restaurant: daily open from 11am to 12pmClosed: 1 January and 25 December

CONTACTSRua de Miragaia, 106 – 4050‑387 PortoGPS: 41.143245, ‑8.620803+351 220 439 770 [email protected] | FB: WoDPorto

FOCUS ON

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MEO ARENATHE NEXT STAGE FOR YOUR MEETINGEighteen months ago, MEO Arena took on a new, completely private management. In a short interview with Jorge Vinha da Silva, Executive Director of the venue, we wanted to understand the major changes. And, above all, understand how a venue used to handling the brightest music stars prepares for a greater international role in the MI segment.

What is the most profound change implemented by the new management? The drive and the commercial motivation intensified dramatically. The team is increasingly outward‑looking, seeking new business oportunities and partnerships. In a globalized world in constant change, it is necessary to daily reinvent the business. This change, which has been producing daily results, is based on three key pillars: Diversification: Increasing scope of the business through the creation of new solutions for space occupation and promotion of opportunities for collaboration with all stakeholders, being agencies, end clients or DMCs.Increased competitiveness: Reinventing the MEO Arena venue to compete with local and smaller capacity, through a set of fundamental services and equipment to enable a reduction in

the overall value of the project. A good example is the Arena Box, where the customer has access to the space already scenically characterized, and you can even customize it according to the characteristics of the event. Negotiation flexibility: Without compromising quality, and focusing on high standards of service, we create intelligent and creative ways to make our customers' projects viable.

How do you concialiate general public events, like concerts, with restricted access ones, as corporate? That is one of our main strengths! We are used to meeting the needs of the biggest stars and the greatest international shows, which gives us a distinct advantage over other teams in the production of corporate events. The synergies are clear and the

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experience gained in an industry very positively contaminates the other. In our case, it is a differentiating factor in the economy of scale and the rationalization of means associated with an event. Shows are the most public face of our business but for us they are just as relevant events as a meeting, product presentation or congress, so we always deliver full enthusiasm and commitment. It's our hallmark.

How far can your service go? Depending on the project and the client, our relationship can even begin with the design and creation of the event, extending to the implementation on the ground. Each case is necessarily unique, and the intervention extent is the one that best suites the costumer's needs. At this time, the MEO Arena team, through a network of preferred partners, is able to respond to all challenges,

whether pure and simple rental with technical consulting, executive production, equipment and furniture, etc. or a turnkey solution. What matters is that we assume projects to create value, making ourselves available for all collaboration models, which is sometimes crucial to gain scale in a global dimension.

In what concerns associative events, what tells you apart? I have to say the size and quality of the space and equipment, a trustworthy team with proven experience and expertise, the total commercial flexibility and creativity and a 360° scope service.

SOME MEO ARENA FACTS

Areas ranging from 50 to 5000 m² Ability to manage up to 8 simultaneous events 70 events hosted in 2013, corresponding to 250 days of occupation In 15 years of activity, 1500 events and 6.8 million people

MEO ARENARossio dos Olivais, Lote 2.13.01A1990‑231 LisboaPortugalPhone: +351 218 918 409Email: [email protected]

COMPANIES

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CENTRO CULTURAL DE BELÉMWHERE MEETINGS AND CULTURE COME TOGETHER

Designed by architects Vitorio Gregotti and Manuel Salgado, next to the Jeronimos Monastery and Belém Tower, two icons of the Portuguese capital, the CCB area has a remarkable diversity of spaces. Rooms, foyers and auditoriums that can be transformed to meet the requirements of each event.

What makes CCB's services different regarding meetings and congresses?Our personalized service, because each event is accompanied from the start by an event manager. It is the event manager who establishes the link between the client and all the necessary services, whether they are provided by CCB or our partners.

How can the organizers benefit from the cultural context surrounding the daily CCB activities? The intense and diverse CCB cultural programming includes concerts, performances, workshops and exhibitions, and often intersects with the work of our customers. If organizers wish backstage or rehearsal visits, they can be arranged, but we

© DANIEL MALHÃO

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may also include a show or a concert in the event program, especially designed for the customer. This is surely one of the greatest benefits of CCB.

Can you name some of the most important international events that you have hosted? In these 21 years of activity, we were pleased to receive various types of international events, such as the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) Summit, the world premiere of the Alfa Romeo 157, the Laureus World Sports Award or the Lisbon departure of the Dakar Rally. We regularly rely on the presence of International Congresses in various areas and highlight the most recent, the IX Iberoamerican Congress of Psychology and 2nd Congress of the Portuguese Psychologists, with over 2500 participants.

How do you manage the provision of other services to the organizers, like audiovisuals and catering?We provide those services. Our rooms are equipped to enable an easy and efficient use of various equipment of sound, image and light. Incidentally, we have recently replaced some of the video projectors. In catering, CCB offers coffee break, lunch, Port of honour, cocktail, dinner and supper services, which are provided based on previously prepared menus, customized according to the client's request and appropriate to the specificity of each event. We offer other services, non‑exclusive, ranging from the decor to the hostesses, translators and interpreters, etc., enabling the customer, if he wishes it, a turnkey event.

CENTRO CULTURAL DE BELÉMPraça do Império1449‑003 LisboaPortugalPhone: +351 213 612 697Email: [email protected]

COMPANIES

© DANIEL MALHÃO

© DANIEL MALHÃO

© DANIEL MALHÃO

© DANIEL MALHÃO

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WHY IS PORTUGAL INCREASINGLY SOUGHT TO HOST EVENTS?

and always seeks to attract and develop itself further, capturing new investments in the meetings industry (MI). Our country, which during the last century was considered by many in Europe as a "sleeping beauty" in this business segment, leaves no doubt that it "strongly woke up" after Expo 98, triggering a new reality and optimising the promotion and excellent image that this event had in the world. Since then, we professionalized this market segment, currently making our country one of the most attractive destinations for conducting events, meetings, seminars, incentives, conferences and congresses. Despite the current economic difficulties, many have been the investments both in infrastructure and human capital.One of our greatest advantages is related to the geographical location. We are the closest European country to the United States and Latin America, especially Brazil (where we are the European country with the highest number of flight connections). We also have a special relationship with Africa, particularly with our former colonies. Our centrality in the world allows us to share the time zone

Portugal, the country with the oldest borders in Europe, never conformed to their boundaries and, having a very inviting coastline, it soon began to explore what was beyond the sea. And thus we can sum up an epic we all should know and that led us to Asia, Africa and the Americas, leaving a little of our culture in the four corners of the world. I believe there is no doubt that Portugal is a universal country, with the largest and most comprehensive international heritage listed by UNESCO. A country with more than nine centuries of existence and history, with a glorious past, which was once a global empire in the world and that today offers and makes available to its visitors an enviable array of sensations and truly unique experiences. From north to south, through the islands, sailing the Douro or Tagus rivers or traversing green Minho, Trás‑os‑Montes mountain range, the wisdom of Coimbra, the life of Lisbon, Cascais, or the charms of the Serra de Sintra, Alentejo plain and coast or the fantastic beaches of the Algarve, in Portugal it is impossible not to find the ideal place to host an event.Portugal, as a destination of proven excellence, takes it very seriously

JOÃO LUÍS MOITA | CEO | CITUR

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with England and be within one or two and a half flight hours aways from some European capitals such as Madrid, London or Paris. Portugal has about 300 days of sunshine per year, as well as an enviable average temperature, with reduced thermal amplitudes. Our atmosphere is warm and cool at the same time, allowing visitors here to enjoy trips to the beach from March to October, and to sunbathe in the magnificent terraces or esplanades, also during the winter months.We are the European country with the lowest crime rate, only with smaller ofenses common to all countries of the globe to report.The Portuguese, in addition to being a very affable people and a good host, also enjoy a high standard quality of life, uncommon in Europe. Portugal lives in a stable democracy, with freedom of speech and a strong Constitution, where human rights are respected. All this, along with numerous recreational areas, beaches just minutes away from the city centers, green areas diversity, rivers, mountains, countryside and seaside, as well as for example the largest urban forest park in Europe ‑ Monsanto in Lisbon ‑ or Europe's first surfing reserve – Ericeira ‑, make Portugal one of the countries with a respectful relationship with nature and one of the best places to live in Europe.Despite the difficulties, Portuguese people have a relaxed lifestyle, with a pace that facilitates socialization, being fans of, whenever possible, long lunches, long dinners, coffee breaks, a glass of wine with some bread and cheese or simply admire the incredible scenery that nature provides our eyes with.The building rehabilitation of historic interest, as well as of infrastructure that has been converted to receive all kinds of events or other built for this purpose, place us in an enviable position before our competitor destinations. The historic city centers have been rehabilitated in recent years, which has even originated commercial interest of some international personalities in our heritage.Portugal is also completely open to technological innovations, and it is often used by many multinational companies to launch and market test numerous new products. We have been recognized in the European Union as the country that has reduced the most its bureaucracy in recent years and that has most provided the events industry with its museums, castles, convents, palaces and all its historical and cultural heritage. We are in the top 10 of the countries with the best road network in the world. Portugal is connected from north to south, from east to west with modern freeways, allowing easy access and rapid movement of people and goods. Our international airports have been remodeled and expanded, with all of them, without exception, only a short time away from the cities they serve. In Lisbon, the distance is down to 10 minutes from the centre... We have one of the most modern and sophisticated hotel parks in Europe, whose growth and modernization is notorious. Recently, modern infrastructure havs also been created, new congress

centers for holding events inaugurated, as well as new research centers, such as the Champalimaud Foundation, the world's fourth largest center for research in science and engineering, that also offers its facilities for hosting all kinds of MI events.Lisbon, the capital, is undoubtedly the region with more qualifications and capabilities to perform major international conferences and events. It is permanently recognized with international awards, being in the Top Ten ranking of the ICCA, having been honoured with dozens of awards, such as Best Tourist Destination, Best City Breaks Destination Europe, Cruises best destination, best music festival, among many others. Portugal has grown sustainably, with a constant concern of preserving nature and the environment. We are a country with little pollution, having made a strong investment in renewable energy and we are proud to be able to say that 60% of the energy we consume comes from these sources. Portugal is also highly technologically developed. Lisbon was the first European city to provide a supply network for electric cars, it is famous for having one of the world's best fibre‑optic networks and has been in the vanguard in some areas, for example in the "ATM" banking system or tolls payment, launching the "Via Verde" system.It is remarkable the responsiveness and professionalism of our personnel in the MI. In the last decades, several college and technical courses related to this sector were made available, allowing Portugal to take advantage of DMCs ‑ Destination Management Companies, with human resources, young and highly qualified and prepared to perform at the most demanding events. There are countless companies with internationally awarded events held in Portugal and whose feedback from participants always exceeds expectations. I also emphasize the fact that about 50% of our active population is multilingual, speaking at least two languages, usually English/Portuguese, and 25% speak three. FOR ALL THIS...

Value for MoneyArt and architectureHotels, venues, shopping, eating & drinkingNatureTrendySexy

And as a client once wrote to me... "Everything was great and very Professional... your country is something... The light is perfect, the people are beautiful, the sea is alive and calling”... And much more, there is no wonder that Portugal is increasingly sought to host events.

OPINION

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MAKING THE MOST OF EVENT FOCUSSED SOCIAL MEDIAEvents present us with unique opportunities for face to face networking, sharing and learning. By using social media we have an additional opportunity to engage with an online event community. When event focussed social media is used it can reach varied communities in engaging and far reaching ways that can be beneficial to all participants. In order to help achieve this I am sharing a selection of tips to help event managers and participants make the most of event focused social media.

PREPARING FOR AN EVENTThe event community: If you are active on social media on a professional level, you will probably already communicate regularly with your peers all around the world. If this is not the case then invest a little time in exploring the various communities online, especially those who may be part of the events you are interested in. Joining relevant professional groups on LinkedIn is essential. Facebook groups and pages can also be useful as well as following and interacting with relevant twitter users.

Engaging: It’s preferable to engage with others on social media as a person and not as an organisation and refraining from pushing marketing and sales content. Engaging in this way with others on social media is incredibly advantageous, much like in person networking, particularly when your approach is open minded and positive. If you’re not sure how to achieve this start by observing how others engage and join in discussions where you have something to add.

MIGUEL NEVES | SENIOR ONLINE & COMMUNITY MANAGER | IMEX

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Baby steps: Allow yourself sufficient time to foster good interactions and join constructive discussions. If you are using social media to tell the story of your own event share your content such slowly in the time leading up to an event so as to build the story and profile of an event in bite sized chunks. This will be better received than if you create an information overload.

#Hashtag: The best way to connect a community around an event is to agree on one short, simple and memorable hashtag and use it absolutely everywhere. Hashtags connect online conversations around an event.

Visualise: When a hashtag is included in all (online and offline) event marketing it quickly becomes an integral part of an event. It can be very efficient for events to encourage this by creating engaging photo opportunities that include the hashtag. This can be achieved with a branded red carpet style step and repeat board or a physical prop. Event photos are an incredibly powerful and far reaching by‑product of social media and when the hashtag is automatically included the photos are instantly associated to the event.

AT THE EVENTOne picture is worth a thousand words: Photos and videos tell the story of an event faster and more effectively than any written post. The quality of the photos or videos, or even the source is largely irrelevant. As long as they help tell the story of the event, they can come from anyone at any time, preferably uploaded right away to capture the moment for everyone interested in the event.

Live reporting: Some events have experts or journalists reporting on the event live on social media via twitter or other channels while other events rely on participants to tell the story of the event. As a participant this is sometimes a great way to engage with others who are also there or even those who cannot be in person but feel like they are, with the help of your reports.

Share the work and the fun: Whether this is your event or not, don't try and do all the social media yourself. Much of the power and enjoyment of social media lies in sharing resources and seeing events from different perspectives, so make sure you encourage and acknowledge their efforts.

Monitor: With the speed and reach of social media, it’s very important to monitor social media around your own events. If for any reason the posts are negative make sure you reply promptly and where possible make amends quickly. When participating in events monitoring activity on social media can give you excellent opportunities to interact with key people or access opportunities that may otherwise be missed.

THE EVENT LIVES ON…Recalling: The buzz around an event can be short lived so it’s important to immortalise it online. This can be done via blog posts, photos, videos or using a combination of all of these. Storify is a tool that allows to do this. It works by searching for an event #hashtag or specific accounts across various social media channels and then a creating a compilation document. These compilations can then themselves be shared on social media or in sent to others in the community.

Video memories: Creating an official video of an event is a great way to keep a record of the event. A dedicated video team is ideal but some of the best event videos seen on social media are pulled together using event photos or smart phone video footage collected from social media. Videos that use other participant’s photos and footage are much more likely to be then shared by these users and therefore reach a larger audience.

Gratitude: Social media is a great way to publically thank and show your appreciation for those who shared in an event experience with you. This is especially important for your own events. You can even offer special rewards or discounts for future events as a way to show your gratitude.

Review: If you've shared an event experience on social media it is crucial to review what worked, what was achieved and how to improve for the next time. For your own events you can use software to analyse hashtags and measure activity on social media channels around an event. Don’t forget to also look at the largely intangible benefits such a brand image or quality of discussions. I hope you find these tips useful for your future social media event activity. This is by no means a full social media strategy for events but I hope it gives you some good ideas to help you make the most of your event focussed social media activity.

OPINION

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RYAN AND GABRIELLA OPAZNORTH OF PORTUGAL: “IT’S TOTALLY UNCHARTED TERRITORY FOR MUCH OF THE WORLD.”

It was love at first sight. When Ryan and Gabriella Opaz met Northern Portugal they decided to move to Porto and raise their newborn son there. These Americans, authors of the international award‑winning food and wine blog Catavino, are now the perfect ambassadors of the region and had a chat with Event Point.

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How did the Catavino project come to life? In 2005, we moved to Spain on a whim ‑ life is short! While Gabriella taught English in local businesses, Ryan looked for work in the wine industry. When he couldn’t find any, he decided to take the blog we had at the time, and make it more substantial, more “real” as it were. The goal was to allow him to stay current with wine, while continuing to hit the pavement looking for work. In time, it grew in readership, and eventually included Gabriella full‑time. Today, we not only write about wine, but also food, culture, history and Iberian life.

What do you love the most about your work? We adore a good challenge, and if there is anything this work provides, it’s exactly that! Plus, it’s an incredible way to meet interesting, dynamic people from around the world!

Can you describe us your first contact with Portugal, and with northern Portugal in particular? In 2005, Gabriella and I spent 3 weeks backpacking through Portugal, enjoying the vast landscapes, incredible food and amazing people. A considerable amount of time was spent in the North of Portugal, as a result of friends and family, but the entire country left a long lasting impression on us. Put it this way, we could have chosen any number of countries in Europe to move to, but Porto provided a homey, familiar feeling ‑ a feeling where a budding family wants to raise their newborn and start a new life.

Why did you decide to live in Porto? What city ingredients made you make that decision? Its people and natural beauty. We love being near the Douro, and we love the people, food and textures that Porto offers. Sprinkle a healthy dose of amazing friends and you have the perfect reason to settle in.

How do you see the North of Portugal in terms of tourism, events and travel incentives?Between the historical and charming lodges of Gaia, to the quaint and charming city of Porto, it’s no wonder why people are flooding in from around the world. And this doesn’t even cover the vast and diverse natural parks, the friendly and hospitable people and the insanely delicious cuisine. It’s totally uncharted territory for much of the world, and is only now starting to be appreciated!

As foreigners living in Portugal, what characteristics do you appreciate in the Portuguese people? Caring. Genuine. Loving. Open‑hearted. Food focused. Generous. Thoughtful. The list is long!!

What arguments would you use to persuade someone to come to Portugal?The food, wine and people. When those are in balance, there is nothing better.

FLASH QUESTIONS (ABOUT PORTUGAL)

Favourite Portuguese food? Too many to list. Simple pleasures include Frango from the Churrasqueiras. So cheap, so good, so simple.

Favourite place to hang out? The Douro Valley, Geres, Serra do Estrela, etc. We love nature and the way the people relate to it.

Perfect sunset? The Douro River

When abroad, what do you miss the most about Portugal? The Portuguese!

Favourite word or expression? Saudades...there isn’t a translation in English. It’s just a feeling we all know.^

What Portuguese traditions have you adopted?Impromptu meals with families surrounded by good food and great conversation. Part of our attraction to Portugal is the idea that a meal is a time shared with everyone; hence a meal originally planned with one couple, suddenly becomes a “cast of millions” with several of their friends and kids! We love this coming together time!

INTERVIEW

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FOCUS ON

ALFÂNDEGA CONGRESS CENTRE WITH A EUR 20.9 MILLION IMPACT IN GDP IN 2013 Alfândega Congress Centre in Porto had an impact of EUR 20.9 million in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Portugal in 2013. From 2007 to 2013, its contribution was of EUR 124 340 000. In the same period, the equipment contributed with 4806 direct and indirect job positions and 29.5 million euros in tax revenues. These are some of the numbers in a study by Porto Business School on the Economic Impact and Prospects for Development of the Alfândega Congress Centre. The findings were presented on July 10th at a meeting held in Alfândega’s Library.

During the session, Carlos Brito, the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association for the Museum of Transport and Communications, highlighted the importance of the study to assess the real importance of the congress center in the Portuguese economy. Confirmed this impact, Carlos Brito asks to "let us work", alluding to the need to occupy the entire building of Alfândega, of which 1650m2 are occupied by the Tax and Customs Authority.Asked about the need for construction of a new congress center in Porto, which has been talked about for many years now, Carlos Brito says he is unaware of a study that shows the need for a large convention center. He reminds that a congress center has to be adjusted to the size of the city, when it comes to hotel, airport and transport supply. "Make the most of Alfândega is the intelligent thing to do, to say the least", he said.

Nuno Sousa Pereira, Director of

Porto Business School, added that

the trends in the market of events

point to the growth of medium‑sized

events. He highlighted that Alfândega

Congress Centre still has a lot of

potential to maximize.

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01 | PORTO02 | LAMEGO03 | PENEDONO04 | FREIXO DE ESPADA À CINTA 05 | TRANCOSO06 | VILA NOVA DE FOZ CÔA07 | FORNOS DE ALGODRES08 | GUARDA

09 | BELMONTEWe highlight Belmonte because it is the last crypto‑Jewish origin community in the Iberian Peninsula to exist as such, having its own synagogue, rabbi and cemetery. The first synagogue dates from 1297 and the Jewry would be located around the current Rua Direita and Rua da Fonte da Rosa. For many years, Belmonte Jews existed in secret, but the community has kept their traditions alive. Up until today...

10 | SABUGAL11 | LEIRIA 12 | TOMAR 13 | CASTELO BRANCO14 | PENAMACOR15 | CASTELO DE VIDE 16 | ELVAS 17 | TORRES VEDRAS18 | ALENQUER19 | LISBOA20 | ÉVORA

SUGGESTION

JEWISH QUARTERS ROUTEWe suggest a trip in Portugal with the pretext of the Jewish cultural heritage. The route travels through cities, towns and villages, from north to south, in a journey to discover a people's legacy.

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LISBOA WINS AWARDSLisboa is at the top tourist preferences in Europe as the best family, honeymoon or even winter holidays destination, according to the Best Vacations ranking from the U.S. News website. The Portuguese capital has been distinguished in the categories of "Best Winter Holiday Destination" (2nd place), "Most Affordable Destination" (2nd place), "Most Affordable Honeymoon Destination" (3rd place ), "Best Destination to Visit" (6th place), "Best Family Destination" (10th place) and "Best Honeymoon Destination" (10th place). The awards highlight Lisboa's quality and diverse tourism offer for romantic getaways or family holidays, and essentials such as accommodation, catering, the capital's infrastructure, mild temperatures and affordability. Two impartial factors were taken into account in order to determine the ranking of each destination. The first is based on articles published by travel experts and the second on the recommendations of U.S. News site users.

TRAM NO. 28 AWARDED CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE

TripAdvisor has awarded the Certificate of Excellence 2014 to the No.28 tram, distinguishing this form of transport as one of Lisboa's most iconic routes.This award is based on the votes of users of one of the leading contemporary tourism websites. The award attributed by TripAdvisor highlights especially the route made by the No. 28 Tram, which is regarded as one of the most popular tourist itineraries for local and international tourists looking to visit Lisboa's historic areas, such as São Jorge Castle and the districts of São Vicente de Fora, Alfama, Chiado and Estrela.

WHAT'S NEW... IN LISBOA

Cervejaria Trindade New Look, New ConceptCervejaria Trindade has invested in a new concept for its brand. A transformation that aims to be a step forward in the consolidation of its historical roots, coupled with the unique service and quality that it has always been associated with. The monastic spirit is now present in every corner of one of Portugal's oldest breweries.In order to further extend this monastic experience and enable its customers to identify with its historical origins, Cervejaria Trindade now enjoys an environment that allows its customers to experience living and eating in a monastery with over 800 years of history in a truly monastic atmosphere.

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Silk Club latest concept: Casual dining and danceLocated in the heart of the city, in Chiado, the Silk Club presents a new restaurant, rooftop and club.Keeping the elegance and exclusivity of services that we are used to, this club is now more versatile and with a renewed capacity to provide its visitors with an experience that involves a casual food and premium lounge environment.With a Mediterranean cuisine, here you can find the best Chuletón of Lisbon, the already famous steaks or just have an hamburger ‑ all with a special Silk touch.Member of The World's Finest Clubs, stylish, trendy and more cosmopolitan than ever, the Silk Club is the perfect place for casual dining during the week, to enjoy the best sunset in Lisbon, to organize your business lunch or dinner and the excellence venue to host private events.Indoors or outdoors, enjoy the breathtaking 270 º views of the city and the river, always with a vibrant environment that gains more pace on weekends, where music and dancing take over the space in a pre‑night, to the sounds of our resident known DJ: DJ Tierry. The best place to start a night out with friends or end your business visit. The best parties in Lisbon happen here.

Eco Tuk Tours LisboaEco Tuk Tours Lisboa is a new project of tourist tours in town that uses ecological, 100% electric, silent and no emission of carbon dioxide vehicles. Besides the environmental concerns, the company also intends to show tourists the less obvious side of the city, providing information about local communities and features of the city that are not available in tourist guides. Sustainable, ecological and fun rides that aim to contribute to the conservation of cultural and historical heritage of the city. Think green, feel Lisboa.

Trafaria Praia This is the Trafaria Praia, the “cacilheiro” (ferryboat) and floating artwork that represented Portugal in the 55th Venice Biennale. Returned to river Tejo after its presence in Italy, this work of art was conceived and designed by the Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos. Its uniqueness and beauty attracted the eyes of the world, combining in the same space the Portuguese tradition and soul on a convergence of culture, art and history.The exterior of this ferryboat is lined by a large‑scale panel of “azulejos” (tin‑glazed, blue and white, hand‑painted ceramic tiles) that reproduces a contemporary view of Lisbon, from the Bugio Tower to the Vasco da Gama Tower. The inspiration for such outstanding work comes from theGreat Panorama of Lisbon, which depicts the city before the 1755 earthquake and is presently in exhibition in Museu do Azulejo.During the journey between Lisbon and Venice, the integrity of the panel was ensured by safety measures that included the disassembling and re‑assembling on‑site.The Trafaria Praia is also an invitation to discover a fantastic physical experience. Its interior is adorned with handmade patchwork fabrics, lace, fringe, crochet and flashing lights that form large and imposing protuberances, which report the visitor to a uterine space and a living body, wrapping it in an experience that appeals to the most guarded sense of memory. At the same time, it reports us to something out of Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, or the Bible story of Jonah and the Whale.The furniture on the interior of the boat was created with expanded cork agglomerate – Portugal being the world's largest producer of this product – adding to the artwork even more tactile and visual sensations.Cruising the Tejo aboard Trafaria Praia is the perfect way to experience in Lisbon the perfect symbiosis of art, culture and sensations.

DESTINATION

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THE LIGHT OF LISBON...FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

WATERX CATAMARAN: NEW VENUE IN LISBON

mainland Europe, to the lush green landscape of Serra de Sintra or to the Costa da Caparica's beaches or Cabo Espichel. And because Lisbon is known for its light, one can choose the time of the flight that best matches the tourist's desires.More information on www.lisbonhelicopters.com.

Discovering Lisbon from the sky is what Lisbon Helicopters suggests. The service exists since June 2014 and it allows the visitor to enjoy from the heights all the main sights of the city, but not only so. The surroundings may also be an option, from the Atlantic coast of Estoril to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of

This 100% Portuguese project is designed to be a distinct event venue in Lisbon. This yacht, operated by WaterX, was created by designer Tomás Costa Lima and built in the shipyards of Vila Real de Santo António (Nautiber). According to João Meunier de Mendonça, director of WaterX Group, that specializes in nautical events, "for a long time, Lisbon has deserved a luxury yacht that offers the possibility to get to know this fantastic capital through a new perspective. The WaterX Catamaran is a product directed to tourism and designed to be a venue of

excellence, hosting corporate events, meetings, product launches, business lunches, cocktails, parties, incentives and private events, such as stag parties, weddings or birthday parties. It can be used all year round, regardless of weather conditions, and customers can choose between a pre‑set program or a custom route."With an investment higher than 720,000 euros, the WaterX Catamaran project was co‑financed by NSRF (National Strategic Reference Framework), under the Competitiveness Factors Operational Programme, in about 468,000 euros.

WHAT’S NEW IN PORTUGAL

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THE WORLD'S SMALLEST INN IS IN BRAGAinternet, cable TV, sound system, library, work desk, mailbox, bar and liquor dispenser, hairdryer, iron and ironing board are available. It also offers the following services: breakfast, tour guide, tour bikes, laundry, massage, taxi and restaurant booking. Find out more on www.portuguezinn.pt

Yes, that's right. Portuguez Inn is a space for local accommodation right in the heart of the city of Braga, in northern Portugal. The villa has six floors and it houses only four people. The space is fully equipped with products from Portuguese brands. And do not think that being small is not comfortable. Kitchen, heating, parking,

WHAT’S NEW IN PORTUGAL

KIWISCREEN TAKES IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL Kiwiscreen is a technological platform that transforms each event in a unique moment. By joining an innovative solution with the power of social networks, it allows the interaction of participants with the event in a completely new way! During the event, participants can send messages and/or photos to their favorite social networks and Kiwiscreen will automatically get those contents and present them on a screen or projector, with a completely customizable look and unique visual effects. And it's easy to use, being delivered in the form of a URL address, ready to be projected or opened on a screen.This tool allows to create innovative and fun social engagement

at events. Everyone attending an event can take part through their usual activities on social media. By posting their photos and messages to their profiles, people attending the event will generate positive buzz for the brand, not only on social media but directly on the venue, on real‑time. The event organizer is able to choose the media sources that will feed the Kiwiscreen (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flickr and others) and define a hashtag, geolocation coordinates and/or Facebook pages or albuns and Kiwiscreen will get the messages and photos automatically. Kiwiscreen is also able to offer other interative solutions, such as games and polls.

ESCAPE2OPORTO: A NEW DMC IN THE MARKETIt is one of the most recent DMCs operating in Portugal. Created in May, it intends to establish itself as a reference in the area of Porto and Northern Portugal. The company is proud of its extensive knowledge of this region. As a consequence, they are able to provide a personalized service and ongoing assistance selecting the best local suppliers and organizing an event.Escape2oporto works with a centralized purchasing system to ensure getting the best rates in the market. This allows it to more quickly respond, once their partners were previously selected, at the same time ensuring the customer the comfort of buying from a single supplier. These DMC services include

logistics, transportation, accommodation, restaurants, activities, excursions, conference venues, themed events, gala dinners, meetings, incentives and team building activities.

Escape2oporto assumes itself as a

creative and attentive to detail company,

always adding a personal touch to the

development of each solution.

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LONG LIVE THE KINGIT MADE OUR GASTRONOMY POPULAR AROUND THE WORLD, BUT IT IS NOT OURS. WE TOOK HOLD OF IT!

Legend has it that there are at least 1001 ways to cook it in Portugal, being particularly difficult to name the tastiest! It's the cod, which we call the "faithful friend" and "dear friend." Not being Portuguese, we made it ours through the preservation technique we invented: salted and dried!

In the fourteenth century, Portugal established an authorization with the kingdom of Denmark to fish, but more important was the agreement between D. Afonso IV of Portugal and King Edward III of England in 1353, which allowed the Portuguese also to fish in waters dominated by that ruler. It is believed that the Lusitanians already had trade relations with the Nordic countries for supplying salt, and perhaps for that they had easy access to their northern seas to fish. We had great need of fish and its preservation, because in the Middle Ages the country was forced to fast for meat 132 days per year, a Church imposition. Only those who had money and paid the papal bulls could be left out of this rule. As the majority was poor and the acceptance of the dictates of Church common, during winter weather the small boats were unable to daily supply the fish.

The dried salted cod became, then, an easy and cheap solution. Preserved, it could be kept throughout the year. It is told that it was in one of the periods of fasting precededing Christmas that King Sebastião I entered the history of world gastronomy. In 1576, he offered his uncle, King Filipe II of Castille, a famous fish only banquet. It was worthy of the following comment: "It is certain that my nephew, the king, is the Lord of the seas." Perhaps the Portuguese tradition of eating cod at Christmas has also been inherited by this Christmas fasting.Since the sixteenth century, cod consumption has been extremely important, and it was even the subject to a tax only released by Queen Maria I, in the late eighteenth century. This act led to a rejoicing celebration by the population of Lisbon wanting to thank the Queen, gathering in Terreiro do Paço in manifestation of joy, causing the Queen to cross Praça da Figueira on foot, in an event that reportedly was the first time that the Queen walked in the city of Lisbon. But, as far as it is known, cod trade was wavering. During the Philippine occupation, with all efforts focused on the organization of the Invincible Fleet, the Spanish and then the English began selling fish at a very high price, and it was only in 1642, after the restoration

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of the Portuguese independence and under King João IV reigning, that the Peace and Commerce Treaty was established with England, allowing the Portuguese back to fish in the North Sea.In the twentieth century, the sale became widespread and low priced. There were so many vessels and peoplededicated to fishing that it took the dictatorship of Estado Novo to create a medical support and hygienic‑sanitary assistance boat. At the time, the cod is considered by the Portuguese to be our "Fiel Amigo” (Faithful Friend). In 1974, with the new organization of the country, cod goes back to being sold at high prices and it now is called "Amigo Caro” (Expensive Friend).Today, listing all the recipes is a complicated task and there are several published books with hundreds of possibilities. Out of the 1001 ways and many traditions to cook it, it's hard to say which is the tastiest. Possibly one of the most popular dishes is "Bacalhau com Todos" (cod with everything). On Christmas Eve, “everything” may include potatoes, cabbages, onions, carrots, turnips, parsnip and other roots, other seasonal vegetables and boiled eggs. All the dish is served well drizzled with olive oil! But each region has its own tradition and cod stars in various recipes.It's tasting time! After the journey through the history of the "Faithful Friend", it is time to taste this Portuguese gastronomy's delicacy. We suggest this recipe from Chef João Sá.

Enjoy your meal!

CODFISH SWIM BLADDER WITH CHICKPEA SALADFOR THE CRISPY BLADDERS

100gr desalted bladders

FOR THE STEW WITH CHICKPEAS

200gr desalted bladders3dl olive oil 1 clove of garlic 1 bay leaf 1dl extra virgin olive oil salt and pepper 300gr cooked chickpeas 10gr chopped onion 20g black pork chorizo cubes

FOR THE GREEN OLIVE OIL

2dl extra virgin olive oil 100gr parsley

PREPARATION:

For the crunchy bladders, leave them in a dry, slightly warm environment to dehydrate them. When completely dried and hard, fry them in hot oil until they inflate. For the stew, put the bladders in a pan with the olive oil and the aromatics on low heat without boiling for 45 minutes. When the bladders are well cooked and tender, remove and drain them from oil. Reserve some of the boiling water.In a separate pan, place the onion along with the chorizo and let it sweat. Then, add the chopped bladders and a bit of their boiling water. Season with salt and pepper according to taste.For the green olive oil, mix the olive oil and the parsley in a blender. Season and plate it.

Along with White CARM Maria de

Lourdes 2011 wine

PORTUGUESE SINS

Teresa Santos [General‑Secretary APTECE]

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ARE YOU READY FOR A CHANGE?“A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP." LAO TZU

It must have been the thought when the fifteenth century men set sail to the sea, aboard small caravels, engaging the Discoveries. The truth is that, in successive expeditions, they added new worlds to the world, in Africa and Brazil, or found new ways to get there, as to India.

Legend has it that it was in the Algarve, near Sagres, that the son of King João I of Portugal, Infante D. Henrique, lived. And despite never having sailed, he gathered Christians, Muslims and Jews who were interested in navigation, maps and boats. Together, they began the globalization of our planet. It doesn't matter much if things happened exactly like that. The myth is built and history is destroyed. And what remains is the outcome, overwhelming in genius, science,

inventiveness, courage and perseverance.Now imagine being able to bring your next meeting or incentive there... You don't have to worry about plane, train or car transportation. It exists. You don't have to worry about quality four and five stars hotels. They exist. You don't have to worry about historical or modern venues. They exist. You don't have to worry about competent DMCs and PCOs. They exist. You don't have to worry about good food, including fish and seafood, and fine wines.

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They exist. You don't have to worry about the destination's good weather and safety. They exist. And if you need an international race track for your event, do not worry. The Algarve also has it. And if it is true that the work of motivated people is more productive, then all you need to do is to place your meeting at the hands of “people who know how to host business tourism and have an array of original and suitably equipped infrastructure on offer”.

NATURE IN ITS PUREST FORM It may come as a surprise to you that 70% of the Algarve coast is classified as a natural reserve. There are 140km of stunning scenery, where you can perform all the outdoor activities you can imagine: hiking, mountain biking, jeep tracks, bird watching, diving... For the first time in the same place, four ships were sunk off the coast of Portimão, united by a common story. They all belonged to the Portuguese Navy and together they form an artificial reef that is unique in the world, with optimal conditions for marine life proliferation. Whether in Ria Formosa Natural Park or in countryside Serra de Monchique, you will always find a different scenario. Beaches and transparent waters, crags and cliffs, caves and mountains. There is much more to discover in a place they call Europe's most famous secret. "It is no accident que the Algarve is becoming increasingly popular as a business tourism destination, made possible by the balanced mix of business and pleasure that it offers".

DESTINATION

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COME TO BE A PART OF HISTORY Some of the major historical places and museums in Portugal have now easier

access to meetings and events. The growing number of applications has led the

Portuguese government to prepare the Order nr 8356 / 2014, that regulates access,

creates a set of guiding rules and indicates the values in question.

HISTORICAL PLACESCASA MUSEU DR. ANASTÁCIO GONÇALVES | LISBON

www.cmag.imc‑ip.pt/Default.aspx?PageId=1&Lang=en‑GB

CONVENTO DE CRISTO | TOMAR

This magnificent complex is directly connected to the Knights Templar and the Order

of Christ that succeeded them. The Convent somehow symbolizes the European

Crusades and the medieval world. The Templars chapel is, moreover, one of the only

remaining examples. In 1312, the Order of the Knights Templar is abolished by Pope

Clement V. The Portuguese King D. Dinis does not accept orders from the Pope and

creates the Order of Christ, with the Templars and their previous possessions.

The Manueline window is another of the symbols of this space, as a symbol of the

Portuguese expansion beyond its borders.

www.conventocristo.pt/en

MOSTEIRO DE SANTA MARIA DA VITÓRIA | BATALHA

To thank for the victory in the Battle of Aljubarrota (1385), and in fulfillment of

a promise, King João I orders the construction of the Monastery of Batalha. The

victory in Aljubarrota was decisive for him to secure the throne and for Portugal

to maintain its independence. The works continued for over 150 years. Here

lie for eternity the referred king and his family, including Prince Henrique, the

Navigator, one of the main faces of the Portuguese Discoveries. The Monastery

of Batalha is a world heritage site since 1983.

www.mosteirobatalha.pt/en

FOCUS ON

© ALICE

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MOSTEIRO DE ALCOBAÇA | ALCOBAÇA

The construction of the Alcobaça Monastery began in 1178, being the first example

of Gothic architecture to be built in Portugal. In the fourteenth century, the tombs of

King Pedro I and Queen Inês de Castro were moved here. They were the protagonists

of one of the most beautiful and tragic love stories to be perpetuated in Portuguese

literature. It is a world heritage site.

www.mosteiroalcobaca.pt/en

MOSTEIRO DOS JERÓNIMOS | LISBOA

The Jeronimos Monastery is one of the iconic monuments of the capital. It was

built by King Manuel I. The work began in 1501. In the church are buried Vasco da

Gama, discoverer of the sea route to India, and Luís Vaz de Camões, the greatest

Portuguese poet, author of The Lusiads. It is considered world heritage by UNESCO.

www.mosteirojeronimos.pt/en

MUSEU DA MÚSICA | LISBON

www.museudamusica.pt/index.php?lang=en

MUSEU DE ARTE POPULAR | LISBON

www.map.imc‑ip.pt

MUSEU NACIONAL DE ARTE CONTEMPORÂNEA DO CHIADO | LISBON

www.museuartecontemporanea.pt/en

MUSEU DE GRÃO VASCO | VISEU

www.patrimoniocultural.pt/en/museus‑e‑monumentos/rede‑portuguesa/m/museu‑grao‑vasco

MUSEU MONOGRÁFICO DE CONÍMBRIGA | CONDEIXA‑A‑NOVA

www.conimbriga.pt/index_en.html

MUSEU NACIONAL DE ARQUEOLOGIA | LISBON

www.museuarqueologia.pt/?a=0&x=2

MUSEU NACIONAL DE ARTE ANTIGA | LISBOA

The museum is located at Palácio Alvor‑Pombal, built in the seventeenth century

by Francisco de Távora, Count of Alvor. The museum itself dates from 1884. Its

possessions include one of the masterpieces of Portuguese painting of the fifteenth

century, the Saint Vincent Panels, which portray the nobility, clergy and people of the

period before the Discoveries.

www.museudearteantiga.pt

MUSEU NACIONAL DE ETNOLOGIA | LISBON

http://mnetnologia.wordpress.com/in‑english

MUSEU NACIONAL DO AZULEJO | LISBON

www.museudoazulejo.pt/en‑gb/default.aspx

MUSEU NACIONAL DO TEATRO | LISBON

www.museudoteatro.pt/en‑gb/default.aspx

MUSEU NACIONAL DO TRAJE | LISBON

http://www.museudotraje.pt/en‑gb/default.aspx

FOCUS ON

© PAULO VALDIVIESO

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MUSEU NACIONAL DOS COCHES | LISBON

The museum opened on May 23rd 1905 by the hand of Queen Amélia of Orleans and

Bragança. It features real cars (coaches, berlins, chaises and carriages, cabriolets, litters

and sedan chairs) and accessories from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries.

http://en.museudoscoches.pt

MUSEU NACIONAL DE MACHADO CASTRO | COIMBRA

www.museumachadocastro.pt/en‑gb/default.aspx

MUSEU NACIONAL DE SOARES DOS REIS | PORTO

www.museusoaresdosreis.pt/en‑gb/default.aspx

PALÁCIO NACIONAL DA AJUDA | LISBON

It was initially set to be built in wood at the top of a hill by King José I (1714‑1777) to

be able to withstand earthquakes, as the one that destroyed part of the Portuguese

capital in 1755. It became known as the Royal Tent. Later, after a fire, it was

projected in bricks and mortar (1796). But for various reasons the work was being

discontinued. In 1821, the palace remained unfinished, although with habitable

parts. With King Luís, this palace gains a new dimension, being chosen as the official

residence of the court. Today, it holds some of the main state protocol ceremonies.

www.palacioajuda.pt/en‑gb/default.aspx

PALÁCIO NACIONAL DE MAFRA | MAFRA

It is the monument that Nobel Prize in Literature José Saramago tells us about

in this book "Baltasar & Blimunda". It was in the south tower of the palace as the

last king of Portugal, Manuel II, spent his last night in the kingdom, from 4th to 5th

October 1910, before leaving for exile. The library of the Palace is one of the most

spectacular in the country, with a collection of 36,000 titles.

www.palaciomafra.pt/en‑gb/default.aspx

PANTEÃO NACIONAL | LISBON

www.patrimoniocultural.pt/en/museus‑e‑monumentos/dgpc/m/panteao‑nacional

TORRE DE BELÉM | LISBON

It was built by King Manuel I in 1514, with defensive functions. The architect for

the project was Francisco de Arruda. It is a world heritage site and one of the most

recognizable images of Portugal abroad.

www.torrebelem.pt/en

© CHUCK BURGESS

© PAULO VALDIVIESO

FOCUS ON

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INTO THE HEART OF MEETINGS Are you making the most of your meetings? Does the format of your meeting match the goals of the meeting owner and the desired development in content? Meeting design is getting more important: the meeting industry aims for optimum cost efficiency and ROI. So how can a meeting designer actually contribute to your meetings? We spoke with Mike van der Vijver, meeting designer and co‑author of the book Into the Heart of Meetings, the first book about meeting design. A few questions to the expert.

Mike, you call yourself a meeting designer. What does this actually mean?

It means I work on what happens “inside” the meeting room. Meetings can be a powerful form of communication between human beings. However, the success of meetings depends on how participants behave and interact with each other. The point is that you can influence these interactions, steer them. As a meeting designer, I give shape to the programme, with the aim to make it as effective as possible and that means: facilitate the human interaction and make sure the goals of the meeting owner are achieved. As a result, the role of the meeting designer is highly

complementary to that of more well‑known figures, such as the planner or the PCO. Internal planners sometimes work on the content with the meeting owner within their organizations, but mostly to a limited extent; PCOs almost never do. And that’s a pity, because your client knows about his subject matter, but he doesn’t know how meetings work as a form of communication. Meeting professionals, on the other hand, should know how meetings work as a form of communication and should be able to help their clients to optimize the meetings' outcomes.

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But what is wrong with the classical format of meetings as we are having them now?

In the 'classical' format of most meetings the power of human interaction is largely under‑utilized and so, participants experience most meetings as flat and boring. They are hardly challenged as intelligent co‑creators of the content and are pushed into a passive consumer role. The classical meeting fails to unleash the power of human interactions. My experience both as a participant and as a meeting designer shows that sometimes even small changes in the format, the seating, for instance, or the way in which content is shared, or the tasks you give participants, can have a huge impact on the process and outcome of the meeting. That includes choices about the best physical setting.

In your book you often refer to meetings as a “stage”. Could you explain that?

I am convinced that the 'centre of gravity' of any meeting is somewhere else – not in the meeting itself. Suppose you have a conference about improvements to our healthcare system. These improvements won't happen in the meeting room but somewhere in the outside world. In fact, the meeting temporarily puts us into a different reality. That opens up a wealth of opportunities to re‑create and re‑present the ‘real’ world in any way you find useful in the temporary reality of the meeting room. You can tell or make any story there! It allows you, for instance, to discuss subjects that are taboo in the world outside. Many things that characterize meetings confirm this idea: there are people performing on a stage, participants are seated in front of it and watching, the lighting, the sound etc. At the end, though, it is vital to re‑connect the meeting world and the outside world. If that is not done properly, the results will be disappointing.

MORE QUESTIONS?If you want to know more about meeting design, you can contact Mike directly at [email protected]. Or you can have a go at Into the Heart of Meetings, the first book on meeting design, written by Mike and his colleague Eric de Groot. It bundles almost 15 years of experience through their joint agency, MindMeeting, and is available directly at www.mindmeeting.org, or on Amazon and the i‑Store.

BOOKS

MIKE VAN DER VIJVER

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VENUES

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