PORTUGAL - Winning ways after Expo

PORTUGAL HAS NEVER been better placed to compete for incentive business in the global market. Who says so? Jao Custodio, head of promotions at ICEP Portuguese Tourism’s headquarters in Lisbon

Well he would say that, wouldn’t he? But it’s not an empty boast. The heritage of the universally-acclaimed Expo ’98 has been an imposing array of new amenities plus a much heightened image in the marketplace. Bigger events might well be attracted to the vast multi-purpose pavilion now available in Lisbon’s Nations Park, just three kilometres from the airport. Here, the Atlantic Room has permanent seating for 8,000 while a retractable stand increases that capacity to 11,500 and for concerts the pavilion can accommodate up to 15,000 by using the arena floor area.

Other Expo features have a new life too. The Knowledge of the Seas pavilion, for example, becomes the Museum of Science and Technology. The Oceanarium remains open, with its 15,000 examples of marine life helping provide a spectacular setting for any special event.

The more historic side of Lisbon remains a strong draw card, while the closeness of the Estoril resorts makes a two-centre city and eminently predictable.
Golf incentive clients and winners have masses of choice both here and down on the sun-soaked Algarve coast, which also benefits from plenty of flight options from major European departure points. One of the Expo ’98 stars, the Pavilion of the Territories, has been moved, lock, stock and power-points, to the Algarve resort town of Albufeira to provide a multi-purpose 6,000-capacity venue for conferences, exhibitions, product launches, incentives and other events.

In the north, the historic river and port town of Porto hosted more than 25 major international events during 1998. "Our success shows we are more than capable of handling everything from the most exclusive incentive programme to the largest international conventions, "says Pedro Cardoso, director of the Porto Convention Bureau.

Centre of the port wine trade, Porto has plenty to offer, including cellar visits and tastings. Incentive groups can follow the vinho verde wine route or travel up the stunning Douro Valley by steam train, then take a motor launch along the river’s upper reaches to visit and overnight at one of the historic port wine estates. Like neighbouring Spain, Portugal can offer a chain of government-restored and immaculately-run historic venues, known as Pousadas – manor houses, castles and former monasteries – which offer groups high standards of accommodation and cuisine, in colourful and cosseted settings.

Portugal’s flower-bedecked Atlantic island of Madeira is gearing up to welcome larger business events in the new century. Some 13 new four and five-star hotel projects have been approved and are now under construction, representing an increase in capacity of more than 1,800 beds. Work has also started on a new 1,000-capacity restaurant at the island’s Technopolo International Congress and Exhibition Centre, where a new outdoor area has been created for receptions and coffee breaks, surrounded by luxurious Madeiran plants and flowers, making the most of Madeira’s lush vegetation and year-round mild climate.

Real motivation – winning ways!

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