Lisbon's hot properties

FIVE-STAR LUXURY: LAPA PALACE HOTEL
The sumptuous Lapa Palace is set on a hilltop overlooking the River Tejo and the city itself. Built in 1870, it combines old-world luxury with modern business facilities. The property offers 109 rooms, including eight suites, 11 signature rooms, eight deluxe rooms and eight palace rooms. Its event spaces range from eight smaller rooms that can accommodate around ten delegates, to eight larger spaces. Of these, six are in the original style of the palace, including the ballroom, which can hold up to 280 or Belem, which offers a regal setting for smaller meetings and dining. Lapa Palace is also the place to rub shoulders with the stars when they're in town.

BOUTIQUE BOLTHOLES: ALTIS BELEM HOTEL & SPA
The Altis Belem Hotel & Spa, which opened in February 2009, is a design-led, five-star property that aims to provide a contemporary vision of Portuguese discoveries in the 15th century. Its 50 rooms and five suites are inspired by destinations including Mauritania, the Arabian Peninsula, India, Siam, Osaka and Brazil. It is located in Bom Sucesso Dock, with a view of the Discoveries Monument. The hotel has three principal meeting rooms, the largest of which can host 140 delegates.
Web: www.altishotels.com/PT/HotelBelem

CONFERENCE CENTRES: PAVILHAO ATLANTICO
The Atlantic Pavilion is set on the banks of the Tejo in the heart of the Parque das Nacoes. Its domed design was inspired by the horseshoe crab, a local delicacy, and has also been designed to emulate a spaceship. Event spaces range from 11 smaller meeting rooms and a 100-seat auditorium in the Business Centre, to the venue's main halls. The Atlantico Hall features a 5,200m2 arena with capacity for 12,500, while Tejo offers a naturally lit 2,200m2 area. Recent corporates to use the venue include medical company Stryker, which held its annual conference there last year, and P&G hair-care brand Wella, which held its International Trend Vision Awards there in November. P&G Professional Care associate marketing director Pavel Skarup says the venue provided the setting for success. "The event was absolutely fantastic," he says. "It fully met our objectives and helped lift Wella to a new level."
Web: www.pavilhaoatlantico.pt

CULTURAL VENUES: CENTRO CULTURAL DE BELEM
The modernist Centro Cultural De Belem is located between the 16th-century Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower (both also recommended for cultural events), overlooking the Tejo and offers a huge choice of venue options. The conference centre offers 17 dedicated meeting spaces that can accommodate groups of 15 to 1,700 delegates along with 15 other spaces measuring occupying 100m2 to 2,300m2. The venue's Performing Arts Centre offers three rooms that can hold up to 1,400 delegates and the Exhibition Centre has four galleries.
Web: www.ccb.pt

UNUSUAL VENUES: CAMPO PEQUENO BULLRING
Bullfighting might not be to everyone's taste, but the ornate Campo Pequeno is definitely a change from the norm. Built in 1831, Campo Pequeno reopened as an events venue in 2006. As well as bullfighting and equine displays, it now does a roaring trade in public and corporate events. Pedro Morgado, managing director of local DMC Abreu, says the venue is extremely flexible. "Campo Pequeno is a truly unique venue," he says. "It is located in the centre of Lisbon, and offers excellent facilities to host all sort of events from themed evenings to a formal gala evening and large-scale conventions."
Web: www.campopequeno.com

DIRECTORY
Lisboa Convention Bureau
Contact: Emma Cashmore, 020 8654 8840
Email: emma@axistravelmarketing.com
Web: www.axistravelmarketing.com