In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, Portugal was an unrivaled global maritime power, courtesy of intrepid explorers such as Pedro Alvares Cabral, who discovered Brazil in 1500, and Ferdinand Magellan, who led the first voyage around the world in 1521. While relatively short-lived, Portugal’s dominance in the Age of Discovery left a lasting legacy abroad in places like Brazil and Macau, and at home in the form of countless cultural and heritage treasures that excite the visitor experience to this day.
Portugal hosted 229 international meetings in 2014, earning 15th place on the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) global rankings. With ancient Lisbon (see Spotlight, page 28) anchoring the nation’s robust MICE market, groups can discover their own spirit of exploration in Portugal’s wealth of unique venues, festivals and other draws.
Porto
Predating Roman times, Portugal’s second-largest city is a mature MICE center on the Atlantic coast about 150 miles north of Lisbon.
Complementing its riverfront Alfandega Congress Centre and UNESCO-protected ancient district, Porto’s compelling venues include the centrally located Palacio da Bolsa, or Stock Exchange Palace. Built in the 19th century, this striking neo-classical building features architectural and artistic variety throughout, with event spaces that include the grand Hall of Nations.
Designed by globally renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, the polyhedral-shaped Casa da Musica is an iconic Portuguese cultural venue. Home to resident companies that include the Symphony Orchestra and serving as a stage for major concerts, this true “House of Music” offers guided tours and versatile function space. Groups can combine dining with a concert or hold private events at the stylish top-floor restaurant and bar.
Another Portuguese cultural landmark is the 1930s-era Serralves Foundation. Featuring the centerpiece Art Deco-style Serralves Villa, set amid landscaping inspired by French gardens of the 16th and 17th centuries, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, this remarkable heritage site offers multiple versatile indoor and outdoor spaces for meetings and events. Group experiences include art-themed programs, after-hours guided tours and catered moonlight strolls. Held in May, Serralves em Festa is among Europe’s largest contemporary arts festivals, featuring 40 nonstop hours of diverse entertainment.
At the whimsical Boeira Portugal in a Bottle cultural park, programs include dining in a historic mansion, live music and wine tastings inside the world’s largest fiberglass bottle.
Complementing its collection of venerable port houses, including Taylor’s and Calem, its famed Vila Nova de Gaia cellars is available for private events, Porto offers the modern Porto Cruz, a multifaceted venue for experiencing port wine with exhibition and meeting space, plus de Castro Gaia restaurant and terrace lounge. The 82-room Yeatman is a luxurious enclave offering conference and event space, and dining in its Michelin-starred restaurant.
Algarve
Prized for its beaches, food and golf, Portugal’s spectacular 100-mile southern coast ranks among the world’s finest tourism destinations, making the Algarve prime territory for incentive and corporate groups.
Along with the region’s airport, Faro is home to the splendid Lethes Theatre. Converted into a theater in 1845 from the original 17th century College of the Society of Jesus, the venue was modeled after Lisbon’s Sao Carlos Opera house, itself based on Milan’s legendary La Scala Opera House. For groups, this “pocket Scala” is a must for live drama, music and other performances.
Established in 1894, the cloistered Faro Municipal Museum is a cultural treasure housed in a former 16th century convent. Its diverse collection includes Roman mosaics and prehistoric archeology.
Boasting golden beaches that weave in and out of magical grottos and rock formations, seaside favorite Lagos is home to group-capable Espiche Golf, which unveiled a striking new clubhouse in May 2014. Built into the hillside on the site of an old Algarvian farmhouse, the structure integrates beautifully into the existing landscape, using stone from the original building to form the outer walls. With panoramic views of the course and surrounding terrain, the clubhouse is ideal for a range of business and social functions.
Longtime Meetings Focus contributor JEFF HEILMAN dedicates this story to his co-Glimmer Twin Ana Marques in Cascais—never keep a dollar past sunsent, Ana!
