Portugal grows its business appeal

Lisbon for... large groups

Lisbon's credentials as an event destination are proven - the Portuguese capital occupies tenth spot in the latest ICCA rankings - and a solid infrastructure makes it well suited to sizeable groups. The city's events calendar boasts three congresses involving 2,000 delegates-plus in September alone.
Its incentive credentials are similarly strong. Activities for larger groups include traditional cruises along the Tagus, private-hire tram rides and port and wine tastings. Nokia and RBS are among recent corporate visitors to the region.
Sue Clough, director of Accord Conference Company, took three client groups to the city last year.  "People don't always appreciate how many options there are in Lisbon," she says. "You've got the old town with its fado nights and then you've got the trendy clubs and restaurants around the docklands. It's got the river, the beach, and of course Sintra and Estoril are close by. Price-wise it works well too."
Lisbon's convention bureau was named the best in Europe - no small accolade - at an industry awards ceremony in June, while latest developments include the remodelling of conference space at the Novotel, a new 300-capacity meeting centre at the five-star Tivoli Lisboa and the imminent unveiling of the 89-room Hotel Inspira Santa Marte in the historic centre. There's also major refurbishment going on at design museum Mude, scheduled to finish next year.

Algarve for... outdoor activities
The southern coast is blessed with notable assets - outdoor activities, beach scenery, golf courses and marinas - that fit well into incentive itineraries. As a destination it's always been a few rungs above many of Europe's summer boltholes, and the ongoing additions to its hotel portfolio have helped attract the likes of Michelin, Microsoft and insurance company Towergate. 
The lure of the fairway is always a major one - the past year alone has seen the opening of golf courses by Nick Faldo and Christy O'Connor Jnr, along with an Algarve Golf Academy in Albufeira - but there's plenty on offer for non-golfing groups too. Popular alternatives include surfing, sailing, mountain-biking, kayaking and jet-skiing, all helped by the fact that the Algarve's situation famously provides 300 days of sunshine a year.
"People feel better when the sun is shining," says Neil Kelly, managing director of consultancy company the Mentor Group. "We use the Club Med in Da Balaia on a corporate package, which is great value. It's cheaper than UK hotels. The conference facilities are not great, but they're good enough."
The Algarve's two most significant openings this year are the 63-room Palacio de Estoi Pousada, which boasts a 200-room convention centre, and the 280-room Tivoli Victoria, a five-star property in Vilamoura with a spa and 900m2 of convention space. Also of real note is the under-construction Conrad Hilton, set to become the Algarve's first "six-star" property when it opens next year. 

Madeira for... luxury retreats
Madeira's out-of-the-way location is also its biggest selling point. It might sit some 500 miles off the Portuguese mainland, but this, combined with its spectacular volcanic landscapes means the island retains a feel of exclusivity. Capital city Funchal acts as a refined focal point, but there are upmarket options scattered all over the island.
Fortified wine aside, the destination's most famous export these days is Cristiano Ronaldo, so it's apt that its incentive activities are high-class and flamboyant - often with a heavy dose of theatrics. There are some dramatic golf courses and sailing options, including cruises to neighbouring ‘golden isle' Porto Santo, while a colourful calendar of events includes everything from gastronomy celebrations to harbour fireworks. It also has an excellent spa offering.
The International Whaling Commission used the island for its annual meeting in June. "Funchal combines a busy commercial city with a laidback, all-day café society," says admin officer Bernard Lynch. "But access to the island is almost entirely restricted to air travel."
Its reputation for luxury is perhaps best seen in its accommodation options. Alongside the famous colonial feel of Reid's Palace - still going strong after 118 years - it plays home to an assortment of modern high-end properties and some seriously lavish quintas for smaller groups. Big news this year comes in the form of the 220-room Melia Madeira Mare and the 79-room Hotel Vine, a member of the Design Hotels portfolio. These two glamorous five-star properties were both unveiled last December. Also of real note is a new meeting space at the Pestana Casino Park Hotel, suitable for up to 1,500.  

Porto for... heritage
Porto's C&I stock has never been greater. It rose 17 spots in the latest ICCA rankings, has a host of flash new hotels in the pipeline and welcomes SITE's key networking event, ESNEP, in April next year. The city has long been a major draw for tourists as it is one of the oldest in Europe and home to a number of World Heritage sites, and this has also made the region prime territory for industry attention.
"It's a growing destination," says Ambient Events managing director Robin Dilley. "It's going to continue growing in importance as more people come to realise what it has to offer. There are good five-star hotels that are, by European standards, very cost-effective, and there are a lot of them. We have this perception in the UK that Portugal is simply the Algarve, but the centre and the north of the country are the ‘real' Portugal, if you like. The volume of flights into Porto does leave a bit to be desired though."
The city lends itself well to walking tours and team rallies - key sights to incorporate include the vertigo-inducing Torre des Clerigos and the mazy Ribeira district - while its port wine-lodges and traditional restaurants make for atmospheric venues. Just as notably, the Douro River runs east out of town towards the Spanish border, and the valley it flows through gives picture-perfect surrounds for cruises, train charters and vineyard visits. Five-star properties set to open in the next year include The Yeatman, the Intercontinental Porto Palácio das Cardosas and the newly renovated Vidago Palace Hotel.

DIRECTORY PORTUGAL
Visit Portugal
Contact: Carlos Oliveira, 020 7201 6666
Email: carlos.oliveira@portugalglobal.pt
Web: www.visitportugal.com