Event Point International 12

EVENTS ARE CRUISING ALGARVE CONGRESS CENTRE: A PHOENIX RISING GORONGOSA IS OPENING TO THE MI SECTOR

YE AR VI NUMBER 12 BIANNUAL NOV 2018 > APR 2019 10 €

OWNER Estação Livre . Comunicação info@eventpointinternational.com www.eventpointinternational.com DIRECTOR Rui Ochôa [rui@eventpointinternational.com] EDITOR‑IN‑CHIEF Cláudia Coutinho de Sousa [claudia@eventpointinternational.com] NEWSROOM Cláudia Coutinho de Sousa Maria João Leite [mj@eventpointinternational.com] Alexandra Noronha [alexandra@eventpointinternational.com] DIRECTOR OF SALES Filipe Silva [filipe@eventpointinternational.com] TRANSLATION Diana Reis Marques COOPERATING WITH THIS EDITION Carla Andrezo Luís Araújo Miguel Neves Ricardo Vieira GRAPHIC DESIGN Norma Design [info@normadesign.com] PHOTOS Minifoto COVER PHOTO MSC PRINTING Norprint ‑ a casa do livro Zona Industrial Alto da Cruz Rua das Artes Gráficas, 209 4780‑739 Santo Tirso ERC REGISTRATION 126066 LEGAL DEPOSIT NUMBER 358113/13 CIRCULATION 1.500 copies FREQUENCY Biannual ‑ It is strictly forbidden to partially or completely reproduce texts or illustrations by Event Point.

Information in the ads are the sole responsibility of the advertisers. Consequently, we can not be held responsible for any incorrect information shown.

CL ÁUDIA COUTINHO DE SOUSA

RUI OCHÔA

Take a chance!

It’s always great when you can talk to people that inspire you to follow dreams and take chances. Take, for instance, Gonçalo Castel‑Branco, a Portuguese marketeer that won an award at BEA World in 2017 for his extraordinary Presidential Train. He took a train that was locked away in a museum, got it back on track and conceived an exquisite luxury experience in the country. You can’t miss his story, where even Obama is featured.

After that, we have some more inspiring people. We interviewed one of Portugal’s most interesting speakers, António Paraíso, and he has some great stories to share with the speakers out there.

In this edition we also have important contributions from many MICE and tourism leaders in Portugal, with a global view of our industry.

As part of our editorial commitment to the Portuguese speaking countries, we worked on some relevant stories about Macau, Brazil, São Tomé e Príncipe and Mozambique. Enjoy!

Table Of Contents 05 Companies 12 How Important Are Events In Promoting A Destination, by Luís Araújo 14 Interview: Gonçalo Castel‑Branco 18 The Key To Social Media Is In Their Recipe, by Miguel Neves 20 Market 22 Icca Iberian Chapter: What Truly Lays Ahead…, by Ricardo Vieira 24 Venues: Algarve Congress Centre 26 Sustainability: No More Plastics 28 Events Are Sailing Out 30 Algarve For All Times Of The Year 32 Destination Emotions Management? Emotions Made To Measure In Portugal, by Carla Andrezo 34 People: António Paraíso 36 Figures And Strategic Event Management, by Rose de Almeida 38 Promo MZ Strengthens Its Position In The Mozambican Market 41 São Tomé And Príncipe Competes For More Events 43 World's Longest Bridge Can Attract More Events To Macau 44 Destination: Gorongoza 47 Company And Services Index

COMPANIES WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

UP PARTNER

DMCC: An Innovative Concept In The Meetings Industry After its first corporate event 18 years ago, UP Partner Events has been building a solid path. With several international awards, and the growing choice of Portugal as a destination for international events, it was time for the company to expand its expertise areas.

“This is how the idea of "Destination Management Company Content” came up, representing a new concept in travel, congresses and corporate events, but with a plus, the C for contents", Rui Batista, Events Director at UP Partner, explains, adding that this is a "proprietary methodology for adding meaning, efficacy and content and thus achieving the objectives and enhancing the results". ”For us, it´s not only about the experience and tasting of Portugal as a destination”, Batista notices, ”we gathered a team of professionals dedicated to design, produce and offer unique events, and special made meeting contents in order to achieve results. Each event is a unique experience, completely designed to fit the client's ambition, and scope of results”.

UP Partner also benefits from integrating 27Names, a global network of 20 agencies, each with deep roots in the local consumer and business culture, and a similar DNA, aiming at "engaging audiences through remarkable live communications, brand experiences and events worldwide. We create integrated concepts, underpinned by pan-European perspectives. In total, we are a force of 600 creative minds that help brands grow stronger.”

Contact UP Partner to learn more about its success stories, developed for big brands such as Coca-Cola European Partners, De’Longhi, Dubai Tourism, Fly Emirates, Nespresso, Merck Serono, Bial and many other global brands. ”Get to know our way of work, and a new refreshing vision of the meetings industry in Portugal”, Rui Batista concludes.

UP PARTNER Lisbon . Portugal +351 210 410 100 rui.batista@uppartner.pt www.uppartner.pt

5

ADVERTORIAL 6

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

Take Your Event To Another League Want an event full of strong emotions? The Sport Lisboa e Benfica has several proposals that promise to make a simple business meeting, a congress or a celebration of a special date in a memorable event.

Benfica Events is seeking to take one more step in the corporate events market by providing an experience, instead of a simple event implementation.

We believe this to be a very modern way to handle the events market.

Increasingly, we reject the concept of opening our doors and hosting a brand.

The interesting thing about the moment is the fact that the different brands which visit us, might, on the event day, open our stadium’s doors just like they were opening their own doors.

The procedures used by Benfica Events, for the big internal events that we implement and adopted in the events of the companies which visit us, enable to paint the stadium with new colors, new concepts, new brands.

The event no longer needs to be held in a closed space. The ultimate experience is the atmosphere of the stadium. What set us apart from other facilities is exactly the fact that we are in a stadium and not in a building. It is extremely important to take advantage of the stands and the pitch, to create

the amazing atmosphere that only a service like our can offer.

This thrill easily takes to a sports memory, to a sense of belonging that we all recognize. Either by dedication to a club or to a nation. This connection is very intuitive and we would be wasting a very important element – the emotion– if we would not be exploring it.

This way, the brands that implement their events in our facilities can have a video of their company in mega screens, their logo in the center of the pitch, an impressive play of light and the vibrant sound of our stadium. To all this, we can add the voice of our speaker to enhance that emotion even more.

Almost a corporate “it’s in”! Later, when everyone is gathered in a space for a conference or a gala dinner, people are even more excited to hear the message you want to pass on, with more openness than usual.

It is also a new way of registration on the market for these brands.

We continue to implement all kind of events at the stadium, from a simple meeting to a training initiative, a team-building initiative, product launches, Christmas and gala dinners, congresses and seminars with a

high level of professionalism and commitment. Even so, we understand that we should sow experiences and fulfill dreams. We want your company to shine in our facilities.

BENFICA EVENTS Lisbon . Portugal +351 217 219 500 benficaeventos@slbenfica.pt www.slbenfica.pt/events

COMPANIES 8

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

Infrasom

Audiovisual Company Aims At Corporate Events Infrasom offers a comprehensive service, which includes everything from installating audiovisuals to the complete event organisation.

New technologies By centralising each client's needs in the hands of a multidisciplinary team, Infrasom can provide, through its reliable and efficient partnerships, all the essential means: video, sound, lighting, simultaneous translation, structures, set design, furniture, televote and other multimedia services.

And if you are looking for the right venue for your event, knowing that each event is unique and should be hosted in a venue that fits the characteristics of both the company and the chosen concept, then Infrasom can also help you with that task.

Being able to listen to customers is one of the keys to Infrasom's success, assuming that this is the way to understand audiences, brands, goals and messages, and only then building the ideas and solutions that ensure a successful event.

Broad spectrum Although very focused on corporate events, Infrasom's services comprehend other areas such as sports events, congresses, social events, television, architectural lighting and theatre.

Infrasom is now investing to present to their customers innovative and new technology solutions that can make the difference. Only in recent months, the company invested in the purchase of 130sqm of LED screen, an amount that make it already a very significant player in the Portuguese market.

Infrasom Mafra, Lisbon 219 862 198 mail@infrasom.pt www.infrasom.pt www.facebook.com/InfraSOM/

BTRUST

Keyword: Engagement The glue that holds staff, events, activations and talent management together is, according to BTRUST, engagement. This business vision has allowed the company to grow significantly (+ 30% compared to 2017) and now gains a new visual impact, with the rebranding of the company.

Visual reflection BTRUST has been a specialist in event staff management for several years.

Matured by experience, the company intends to stand out also in event creation, not forgetting aspects as important as the ROI. At the heart of this strategy is engagement, which is both the focus and a common aspect in different businesses. An example of this is employer branding, another area where BTRUST wants to be more and more present, recognising that talent is scarce, and it is therefore necessary to identify it, recruit it and, more complex still, retain it in companies and organisations. BTRUST is already used to this kind of management because of its own employees, the staff for events, already more than 1,000 people, it recruits for events worldwide, for both Portuguese and foreign clients.

"As our founder [Sรณnia Brochado] envisioned, we enjoy feeling all those around us happy. We have invested so much in our employees training and growth that we have created our own training academy, just for them," Ana Fleming, BTRUST executive director, explains. And it is this accumulated knowledge, in what they define as engagement, that they want to make available to their clients.

This change of position within the market, with a broader, more comprehensive offer, led Susana Soares, BTRUST's creative director, to feel the need to modernise the company's graphic identity. And she threw this challenge to management. Challenge accepted, which now reflects into a very cheerful, active and dynamic image, where strong colours stand out, and people's faces appear as a key element. Once again, people are the reason and the axis of everything.

BTRUST Porto, Lisbon. Portugal +351 220 108 033 | +351 212 471 687 vip@btrust.pt www.btrust.pt

10

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

Museu Do Oriente – 10th Anniversary

Combining Meetings And Culture Celebrating its tenth anniversary, with an average of more than 200 trade events per year, the Museu Do Oriente Conference Centre (MOCC) is inaugurating a latest technology new high‑brightness LED display in the auditorium, with 36sqm (8m width by 4.5m height).

Museu Do Oriente is a recognised place of reference in Lisbon's events scenario. "However, in a very competitive market, we have to respond to the customers' increasing demands," those reponsible for the MOCC assure. "We believe our new LED display will enhance the attractiveness of this venue."

The Museum collection is eminently cultural, but it is also able to offer event guests a different experience. "Free or guided visits to museological areas and catering services in these same areas are just a few examples of how we want clients to reconcile their initiatives with the Museum's cultural offer," explains Pedro Cunha, in the Cultural Coordination Board.

MOCC has an auditorium with a capacity for 355 seats, a foyer and six rooms of variable capacity, allowing to hold meetings, congresses, seminars, products launches and other cultural, scientific, business, commercial or social events. Projection, lighting, sound, image and sound recording, simultaneous translation, are all services the Conference Centre provides.

to the river Tagus. It houses two exhibitions, the Portuguese Presence in Asia collection, featuring several Chinese and Japanese folding screens from the 17th and 18th centuries, several rare pieces of Namban art, a collection of porcelain pieces emblasoned by Companhia das Índias and a significant collection related to Timorese peoples and cultures; and the Kwok On collection, with about 14,000 objects, a vast set of pieces related to the Asian performing arts and the great narratives and popular religions of which these arts are expression.

It is considered the first of its kind on a European scale, featuring pieces of outstanding quality and great specificity, many of them unique or very rare.

Museum and collections

Museu Do Oriente Conference Centre Lisbon 213 585 200 | 213 585 294 centro.reunioes@foriente.pt www.museudooriente.pt www.facebook.com/museudooriente

Museu Do Oriente was designed by architects João Luís Carrilho da Graça and Rui Francisco, as a result of the restoration of the former Lisbon's Port refrigerated warehouses, which opened in the early 1940s. It extends over seven floors, with a gross area of about 16 thousand square metres, and a unique location next

OCUBO

Light Artists It's a creative studio that develops ways to tell stories, in a captivating way, through the use of light. This is how we could define OCUBO and its work powered by passion.

Corporate events on the horizon The essence of OCUBO's work continues to be aimed at people, with large‑format projections, particularly on historic sites that they are keen to energise. And these interventions, true works of light like "Lisbon Under Stars", allow them to tell engaging and contemporary stories. This storytelling often allows local communities to be involved, in particular by collecting testimonies that are then displayed. And sharing what we can call "human values," such as sustainability and deep respect for nature.

"Lisbon Under Stars", a 360 degrees and multidisciplinary show in Carmo ruins, was the stage of an experience that combined immersive multimedia projections, virtual dancers and visual effects to the sound of great Portuguese music. This show told the history of more than 600 years of Lisbon and Portugal. An innovative project, over 51 days, which has won the heart of more than 30,600 spectators.

Companies increasingly want to make themselves noticed in their events in a disruptive way. In this perspective, OCUBO appears as the first option for creativity and quality. Proving it, OCUBO is increasingly present in artistic corporate events, such as the Renault ZOE launch; at the Belgian Embassy; and at a private event at Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Innovation and interactivity with the audience in their shows are strengths that are attracting more and more companies, thus showing OCUBO's great adaptability to the business world.

For these "entrepreneurs in the world of culture", as they define themselves, the most important thing is still being able to bring people together around a projected story, pulling them out of their rut, and bringing them some magic for a few instants.

International recognition OCUBO's work achieved already a remarkable visibility, not only in Portugal.

So much that they have been invited to develop projects in more than 20 countries, from the United States to Macau and China, from the UAE to Australia and New Zealand, from Japan to Singapore, and much in Europe, of course, in Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Hungary.

In this international game, they are competitive, their leaders admit, thanks mainly to creativity. They speak their own language, and those most knowledgeable easily recognise OCUBO's work identity.

OCUBO Lisbon. Portugal +351 219 250 818 info@ocubo.com www.ocubo.com

OPINION 12

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

How Important Are Events In Promoting A Destination Hosting major international events is of enormous importance for the destination Portugal, so much that it has become a pillar of our tourism strategy. First of all, because it gives us great visibility in incoming markets, allowing us to showcase the best we have and consequently to attract more tourists and continue our sustainable growth. Then, because tourism has a well defined national strategy ‑ Tourism Strategy 2027 ‑, in which organising business, motivational or leisure events is considered one of the strategic assets of our destination, with the ability to project our country's image, increase its notoriety in international markets and generate new searches and attractions throughout both the year and the country.

The return and multiplier effect of the implemented strategy and the large international events organised in Portugal will certainly go well beyond the numbers we have.

Thus, given the growing strategic importance of this segment, Turismo de Portugal understood that it was indispensable to create a specialised and exclusive team for the Meetings & Incentives (MI) area. Its main goal is precisely to support national operators ‑ Convention Bureaux and private entities ‑ increasing the perception of Portugal as an event destination and also the visibility of national companies linked to this segment. This continuous articulation between public and private agents allows a greater flow of information, greater efficiency in the use of resources and a greater commitment among the various agents in the sector to improve their performance through the sharing of knowledge.

In addition, a platform has been developed that aggregates all pertinent information about events in Portugal ‑ www.meetingsinportugal.com ‑, from destination data and information on the most relevant events taking place in Portugal to a directory of service providers in this segment. This platform thus makes it possible to request offers and budgets for specific projects, becoming a working tool with effective achievement potential.

Attracting and holding congresses and events is also encouraged through a financial instrument, especially aimed at companies in the sector: the Fund for Attracting Corporate Events and International Congresses considers, as validation criteria, the number of bednights that each event plans to generate, depending on the expected number of participants. There are currently more than 300 companies benefiting from this incentive.

In this regard, it is also important to highlight the fact that Turismo de Portugal has developed a support line to encourage the holding of events and congresses in the municipalities most affected by the 2017 fires. In this case, the program allows framing events involving 15 to 299 nights, with the intensity of the financial support being based on a basic criterion of €22/ night, with a bonus corresponding to a further 25% of the base value of the support to be granted for events occurring during the IATA winter period.

In 2017, 61 international events and congresses were organised throughout the country. In 2018, so far 102 events took place ‑ 26 of which were held in areas affected by last year's fires. Until the end of this year, 17 other events are confirmed.

In addition, throughout the year, Portugal has received numerous awards and international mentions including distinctions for Lisbon, Porto, Algarve, Madeira and the Azores. Virtually all of our regions have something distinctive that stood out and deserved international recognition. The peak of notoriety translated into the election of Portugal as the "World's Leading Destination," a title granted to a European country for the first time.

In the specific scope of the MI product, the 2017 ICCA's report stands out, in which the rankings of the countries that most receive and organise congresses and conventions still feature Portugal in the 7th position at the European level and the 1 position in the world.

In the classification of cities, it should be mentioned that Lisbon, Porto and Cascais are present in this ranking with honorable positions namely the capital that stands out in the European and world top ten.

It is clear that Portugal is very attractive in this area and the most interesting is that it is does not happen with only a particular city or region. It happens all over the country.

These results make us very proud because they meet the Turismo de Portugal's objectives and the efforts made to attract events throughout the country, thus promoting the decentralisation of tourist demand. A decentralisation that is both geographic and seasonal, to distribute the benefits of tourism throughout the territory and throughout the year.

LUÍS AR AÚJO TURISMO DE PORTUGAL PRESIDENT

INTERVIEW 14

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

© António Camilo

Gonçalo Castel‑Branco

“I have always enjoyed going beyond my comfort zone” An hour and a half long conversation, that could easily have lasted a whole afternoon. Gonçalo Castel‑Branco is a creative man, not only in events, and a born talker. Not afraid to take risks, to get things done, he is the mentor of The Presidential Train project, an original idea by his eldest daughter, that won him the award for Best Public Event at Bea World 2017. His career path is full of remarkable events.

From a mediocre student to an excellent professional. It was his mother, a well‑known Portuguese communicator, Luísa Castel‑Branco, who always recognised Gonçalo's potential, despite his poor performance at school. "She was always the only one who had a sense of what I could be.

I was truly a difficult kid, a difficult student. She eventually believed me, at times when no one else did. If I had a mother with less vision, I would probably have gone in different directions." But her influence did not stop there. Gonçalo ended up professionally following in the footsteps of his mother: communication and politics. In communication, it all began with an internship in a sports marketing company. "I was hired right after my first interview and I went from intern to department manager in six months."

Then, an invitation followed to be the creative director of a small agency, led by Eduardo Guerra. "On my first day he told me that the following day we had a meeting with a new brand that was going to be launched, which was Yorn (Telecommunications brand), and that he needed an idea. In my career I have always enjoyed going beyond my comfort zone. When I accepted this job as a creative director, I had never in my life had to look at a blank piece of paper looking for an idea. I remember feeling terrified. At the time I created something that was the Yorn School Experience, which was the perfect day at school. It was a school roadshow, where kids, instead of Maths or Portuguese, had graffiti and DJ classes. So, the next day we got there, and he sat me in front of Tiago Canas Mendes, one of the people responsible for this new brand." Tiago would be another important person in Gonçalo's career. Together they did "phenomenal things at Yorn."

When Gonçalo Castel‑Branco found out that he was going to be a dad, he decided to reduce his work pace, hectic at the time, and together with Tiago Canas Mendes, he opened Action 4, another company awarded in the Best Event Awards. Along the way, he decides to go to the United States to work for Obama's campaign.

Yes, he can During President Obama's second campaign, Gonçalo Castel‑Branco decides to combine his holidays and leaves to the United States. At the time, he was also responsible for the Portuguese government's digital communication. "I've always been passionate about American politics and had a romantic perspective about it. What we do is often divided into small plots: communication, marketing, advertising, strategy, events, and this is an absolutely false division. What we do is only one thing: we are storytellers, a narrative is the only instrument to pass on feelings to each other. How we tell it, or the scale with which we tell it, are all things easier to box. But at the end of the day, the rules are absolutely the same." Politics can be one of the "noblest arts of storytelling there is," believes Castel‑Branco. At the

time he was convinced that he was going to serve coffees, but in the good American way everything changed in a few hours. "I went to North Carolina, to the Convention, and my idea was to go next to Chicago, to the campaign headquarters. But I ended up being diverted to Washington and working in Virginia. I met someone and suddenly in 48 hours, I had a job on the campaign, had a place to live on the White House street, and was having dinner with the Washington Mayor the next day. A series of things that are only possible in the United States began to happen. I gathered a network of contacts that I still keep. And in the meantime I have worked in the United States for two more campaigns. In total I worked in almost 15 campaigns, in the USA, Brazil and Portugal." In 2016, he also worked on Hillary Clinton's campaign managing and training volunteers. His candidate's defeat was a huge disappointment.

"For once, it was the only election I lost, I did not have much experience in losing. A campaign has something very wicked, and at the same time very natural about it, that is the only communication and marketing exercise in which 50% of the people who are working will be deeply disappointed at the end of the day. On the other hand, it was one of the most important campaigns in which I worked, in the sense that in all of us there was a notion that we were saving the world. It was a huge sadness," he confesses. But also a moment of great "pride" because "I was on the right side of history and I was trying to make a better world for my daughters." Is Portugal too small for people like Gonçalo Castel‑Branco? "I feel like it's the right size. My American friends who follow my career think I'm crazy or lying. I was in Washington, in the Obama campaign, I was responsible for the government's digital communication in Portugal, spoke to the Prime Minister directly and regularly, two months later when they checked my Facebook profile I had invented a luxury train, which meanwhile won the world's Best Public Event award; three months later I was adapting Avenue Q (the musical) to Portugal. I often say that Portugal is a small lake, but it has the advantage of being easier to become a big fish. In the United States, I'm a little fish. In Portugal a person who is serious, has talent and treats others well, has everything to reach the highest level of his market, relatively fast. He will probably manage to have a comfortable life, to do good things. I do not know of any other country where I could come up with a train, without having ever made one, and six months later having it operating on its rails.

16

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

A train powered by passion In November 2017, The Presidential, a luxury train that runs along the famous Douro railway in the north of Portugal, won the Best Public Event award at BEA World. The idea was born in a visit to the Museu Nacional Ferroviário (National Railway Museum), in Entroncamento (central Portugal) and in the instant admiration for the presidential train, dating from the 1870s, originally intended for kings and presidents. In a dinner conversation with his family, his 10‑year‑old daughter suggested setting up a restaurant on board. No sooner said than done, but not without first having to overcome some challenges.

Namely, the licenses and authorisations of several public companies, the fact that the train did not have any electricity and all the logistics of building a kitchen with Michelin quality service. Clearly powered by passion, this project is at Gonçalo Castel‑Branco's full risk, and has not yet generated one single euro. "The Presidential only exists because we had the freedom, in the first place, and the foolishness to say, 'This is never going to be a business, but we really want to do it'. I've always wanted to do it because it was my daughter's idea. Then that train, that museum, the people of that museum and the railroad in general, is a passionate thing. No one works in this line of business who is not passionate about trains. This is one thing I have never found in any other area. I really wanted to do justice to these people, but it was also a parenthood exercise. I thought it was a great idea as a parent to prove to my 10‑year‑old daughter that it's possible for a person to be at the dinner table and have an idea, and make it real." Today, The Presidential is still the passion of the 35 people who are part of this project. "It belongs to everyone. Providing a Michelin‑level restaurant service in a moving thing, standing for nine hours a day, and always with a smile. It's incredible." The result of this ambition and all the "tireless work" is one of the most important luxury products in Portugal. These days, Gonçalo Castel‑Branco works with a small team, and does fewer projects per year. "Basically I had an epiphany a few years ago.

I realised that we, people who work on creativity, for the events area in this case, are our main enemy. We make something perishable that it is not." And he gives an example. “CP [Comboios de Portugal] Marketing Director gets in touch with me and what naturally happens in the market? To begin with, he contacts me and three or four others in competition. But let's skip that part ahead. He briefs me for an action, presents a budget and says the goal is to make people aware the National Railway Museum exists. I present an idea, CP approves it and we move forward. This is the normal process with an event.

The event comes to an end. It's a success. And CP, or any other client, shakes my hand and says congratulations, and the following year they remember me again and ask for another idea. And what happens, and here is the problem, as a person who sells creativity I will not present the same idea again. And this idea, which was phenomenal, became perishable, was made once and went

no further." Moreover, the idea can not be presented to a direct competitor, for obvious reasons. "The idea is perishable the minute it gets out of my mouth.

We, who are experts at having ideas that work for the public, thus transform these ideas into perishable items, turning our work disposable, and clients have no costs when they refuse an idea. They know that if they say no, that idea will never see the light of day." The epiphany was to keep ideas, and present them to the companies to be their sponsors. "CP has the same return, invests the same thing, everything is the same, except that if the idea works, it's mine, I can do it again, and again. I am now the guy who knows the client's problem and presents him with a solution that is mine, in which I want him to be my partner. And we'll win both." Nowadays, Castel‑Branco has three or four annual projects and can spend a year without creating anything new.

Event sector in Portugal

© Arlindo Camacho

Gonçalo Castel‑Branco states that Portugal is a very good country to hold events. "It's an extension of being good at being hosts and organising any kind of event, it's a hosting exercise. Culturally we are good hosts, we value things that are good at events: food, conversation, music. Events are in our DNA, and exactly for the sake of size, we are a very innovative country." But the market is still recovering from the serious crisis that the country has experienced and which has caused a sharp drop in event budgets. Gonçalo recalls that ten years ago the market was "a monster, there was nothing that could not be done. We did a concert on a floating platform in the middle of the Douro river [also BEA winner]. I remember feeling that there was nothing I could say that was not taken seriously." The crisis made the market cautious and unwilling to risk. "15 years ago we innovated in familiar territories. We woud do a music event, groundbreaking, but still a music event. Nowadays, with digital solutions, with a culture of indignation and automatic response, brands have no tools to fight, they can not follow up, can not antecipate, there is much more fear. And this culture is in everything, and made brands a little more fearful. Budgets also never recovered to what they were in 2005, for example. They were completely different from those of today."

Gonçalo Castel‑Branco admits that the area is very appealing, but it has a catch. "All the kids think they want to work on events, because they think events are festivals, that they will enjoy themselves, and then most of them realise that it's not as easy or cute as it sounds. If they have proper knowledge such as organisation, time management, resources, money, if they learn these things, and do not get caught up with others, and keep a very open mind, because young kids have a natural tendency to innovate, I think it's the perfect mix. It can be a very cool line of business, and there's still a lot to be done."

CLÁUDIA COUTINHO DE SOUSA

© António Camilo

OPINION 18

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

“Sharing engaging content is the priority”

The Key To Social Media Is In Their Recipe To prepare a great meal you need a good recipe.

The same applies to social media. To get the most out of it on a professional basis you need good recipes to add some creativity and work.

Before "cooking", a good “mise en place� is important, that is, to have our profiles updated with a professional photo and a current biography. Then we are ready to start developing our personal brand on any social media.

Our strategy will define the recipe we choose. In my perspective, our strategy should always include talking regularly with contacts and sharing engaging content, aligned with our personal brand and valueable to our community.

Social media are not only useful to convey our ideas. We must dialogue by always listening to others and fostering professional conversations that take full advantage of these technologies.

How often you promote these dialogues is very important and the more regularly you do so, the better. This increases the probability of our messages being seen by our contacts and establishing a strong personal routine.

We all have the potential to influence our personal network, and the better our presence in social media is, the more likely we are to strengthen our credibility and influence our contacts. Developing a personal brand may take some time but you should always manage it carefully and strategically.

Content (texts, photos, videos or even podcasts) sharing is vital to develop your brand. It defines it and factors such as its origin, quality and style are important.

When you add comments to existing content or, even better, when you create original content, then you are truly expressing your personal brand.

Sharing engaging content is the priority because it is the only content to reach social media members, perhaps because of its emotional value. It is equally important that this content is aligned with your brand, otherwise it may jeopardise your credibility, in the worst case scenario.

This strategy's last ingredient is perhaps the most important one, as it is contributing to your professional community. It is very important that your contacts feel that you actively contribute to your community. If you only promote yourself, your personal brand will be perceived as merely advertising and the whole strategy is wasted without taking any advantage from social media benefits.

The last step is to create or adapt recipes for social media in line with your brand and adapted to your available time and resources.

My two favourite recipes are as follows: 1. Daily explore social media, about 10 minutes each, commenting on articles or answering questions about your business topics that add value to your professional community.

2. Document your business travels or professional meetings in short videos captured by a smartphone and share them in your linkedin and twitter profiles.

By using these two recipes you are gradually keeping your contact network up with your work, while you also develop your personal brand, expanding your network.

MIGUEL NEVES SOCIAL MEDIA CHEFS FOUNDER | E VENTS PROFESSIONAL | SOCIAL MEDIA TR AINER & SPE AKER | DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER | BLOGGER

MARKET 20

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

Imppacto Presents Its New Image And New Venue Imppacto, a Portuguese catering company, has recently introduced to the market its new image at CineTeatro Capitรณlio, where it is the exclusive catering supplier.

This change of image does not correspond to a change of position, since that is well consolidated. It is mainly concerned with the growth of the company in recent years, and with the will to change the previous image, somewhat dated.

Multipurpose venue with terrace The recently renovated CineTeatro Capitรณlio is one of the most recent venues of the Portuguese capital, and is located right in the centre of the city. It is a multipurpose room with about 400sqm, which has a main stage with 120sqm,

and two more stages in the middle that can be lowered, making a pit, or rised, making them particularly interesting for, for example, product presentations.

The room also allows complete blackout of lights or be flooded with natural light. It also provides audiovisual equipment.

Another attraction of this CineTeatro Capitรณlio is its terrace, one of the most emblematic in the city, ideal for a sunset, a cocktail or even to have dinner.

Both the living room and the terrace have capacity for about 700 seats in cocktail format, or 400 if it is a dinner.

New Brand Joins Events

By Tlc And Case After two years in a merger, events by tlc and Case have just announced that they are now the same company.

Both companies are now a new and unique brand, under which they operate in Portugal, Spain, Brazil and Florida. Both agencies had a long history, 12 and 15 years, respectively, "loyal customers, and a reputation to cherish." Diogo Assis, CEO and founder, explains that instead of combining the two names, in what would be the easiest way, they decided to create something completely new, taking advantage from the best in the two previous brands, with the intention of provoking. "We are now Voqin'", Assis adds, and this name comes from the idea of "provoking emotional reactions, with meaning, which is what moves us as a company, to do more and better."

Voqin' "brings together the strengths of DMCs and event agencies to develop people‑centred solutions. Combining strategy, creativity and impeccable execution, we deliver captivating experiences in a world in permanent change", Diogo Assis assures.

Voqin' currently employs 140 passionate professionals, voqers, in four countries and two continents, holding more than 300 events a year," the new brand's CEO concludes.

Voqin''s genesis The new brand was born from the merger of events by tlc, founded in 2002 in Portugal and later expanded to Brazil (2013) and Spain (2014), and Case, founded in 2000 in Brazil, and expanded to Florida (2014). These two companies were merged in June 2016, now giving rise to Voqin'.

Its symbol A lightning bolt is the symbol associated with Voqin', a visually strong and flexible element that can be used in a number of situations linked to the new brand.

OPINION 22

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

“People are still the engine that makes this business run”

ICCA Iberian Chapter

What Truly Lays Ahead…

It is never easy to summarise anything up, in just a few sentences, especially two years of commitment and heart driven Presidency at the ICCA Iberian Chapter, my home away from home, with a truly special and memorable family.

All about your experiences @ Porto – Portugal Nevertheless, that are three key sentences that I would like to explore with a bit more detail, that have served as the motto of the last two years of the Iberian Chapter Presidency with myself as the Chapter Chairperson and a devoted and hardworking Board: The Human side of meetings @ Madeira Island ‑ Portugal I strongly believe that people, in a world driven daily by technology and by the latest gimmicks, are still the engine that makes this business run, either with a smile, a helping hand and obviously the acknowledgement of people by people.

It does not matter having state of the art technology if a human is not being human, to greet you, to welcome you and to acknowledge you as another human being, such an important part of our business and the reason why this MI business truly exists… because of one person or the smallest group of people.

So, focus on people first and on the process second, ensure that people leave the event feeling unique, empowered and important. It is all about the people.

There is Love, there is Life @ Granada – Spain Put your heart in everything you do, we only do it because we truly love this business and make sure that it shows.

And I am not talking about love as the romantic “feeling”, but much more that we daily give the industry, as much that your needs as a professional will eventually become my needs, and this is the romantic attraction of the Meeting Industry!

Do not be afraid to show your passion for such a passionate business as the MI, it is the small details put in with your heart that will make the difference and that will last in people’s memories. A meeting or an event is just one more meeting or event, but when made with love it becomes a long lasting memory.

Share your knowledge, experience the experience of sharing… it will blow your mind understanding how simple and effective it is. People still care and want to know your personal experiences.

Always remember to share and create unique experiences for those around you in this business, make sure to find novel and unique ways to impress, be innovative and turn your event into a lifetime experience.

And how do you turn your experiences into an event experience? Simply consider you as a professional and what does truly impress you… and use that experience to add another layer of uniqueness by letting people feel rejuvenated and revigorated by the experience of your simple vision.

To sum it up… invest in people – they drive your business to success, share the passion for the business – just add some emotions to it, and share your personal experiences – make everything as memorable as possible and truly unique.

What truly lays ahead… a legacy, your legacy and let it be a positive, inspiring and memorable one.

RICARDO VIEIR A ICCA'S IBERIAN CHAPTER PRESIDENT AND MADEIR A'S TR ADE FAIRS, E VENTS & MI DESTINATION MANAGER

VENUES 24

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

Algarve Congress Centre: A Phoenix Rising There's no place like a familiar one. The Algarve is an old acquaintance of the events scene, but that doesn’t mean it has nothing new to offer. Take, for example, the brand new Algarve Congress Centre, fully integrated into the Tivoli Marina Vilamoura Hotel, a place that will bring a whole new class of gatherings to the region.

A Phoenix rising

Five‑star service

Nearly 3,000 people can meet at the Centre´s main room, Fénix (Phoenix), a rising star in the Algarve’s event industry, with a 10 metre high ceiling and a capacity to be adjusted for groups of all sizes. Several large and adaptable rooms are also available, including foyer areas suitable for exhibitions, production and more. The natural light is a bonus for events at the Centre, with indoor and outdoor areas that have a privileged look over the Marina. Gardens, rooftops, beaches and shiny new interiors can house several kinds of meetings.

The Algarve Congress Centre went out of its way to invest in state‑of‑the art technology, for an unforgettable event, that can be shared using high speed Wi‑Fi. Mediterranean themed areas showcase the region’s climate and landscapes, taking advantage of this unique setting. Restaurants, swimming pools, spa and pristine Vilamoura beaches are a part of the deal for everyone choosing this venue, and this trendy area has over 3000 rooms at 4 and 5‑star properties. Spots like Purobeach Vilamoura, with its contemporary fusion cuisine, Pepper’s Steakhouse and the Italian Oregano are available for catering. An experienced team makes everything go smoothly, from a world class programme to around the clock support.

Privately catered areas, such as the gardens of Lakeside, with a 3,000 guest capacity, are an added bonus.

All this functionality and close connection to hotel facilities make it a one of a kind venue in Europe.

Easy access The Algarve Congress Centre is a short 25 minute drive from Faro airport, that boasts of several international connections. Vilamoura is a central place in the region, with commercial and cultural spaces, casinos and entertainment.

And of course, the Marina is worldwide famous and can fulfill any boating dreams. This venue also has complimentary parking, loading and unloading zones, and capacity for heavy loads, which ensure that organisation and setup always run smoothly.

SUSTAINABILITY 26

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

No More Plastics Events can no longer pretend they have no ecological impact. And bad PR is a powerful incentive.

Plastics were, until recently, such a common staple in everyday life that we even forgot they existed. That is, until shocking footage of a sea of this highly resistant petrol‑based material floating around the planet’s Oceans triggered a worldwide campaign to liberate Earth from this plague. It is found in fish´s guts and, when reduced to its tiniest form – micro‑plastics – becomes virtually impossible to eliminate.

Event organisers are no longer shying away from this fight, with an array of measures, some more effective than others, to stop plastics from being such a common sight at their shows. Straws, cups and bags are the biggest victims of this sweep, at a time when regions like the European Union and some American states are planning or already enforcing bans and restrictions.

Hotels and venues are in the frontline of this fight. Four Seasons already cut down on its use of straws in 20% and by the end of this year it will be down to zero. The Hilton chain also announced that plastic straws would be eliminated from its hotels by the end of 2018. Accor banned them in 83 North and Central American properties. Marriott promises to end all straws and drink stirrers from 6,500 properties by July 2019 and is working to replace small bottles of shampoo and conditioner with in‑shower dispensers at 1,500 properties by the end of the year, in a move that will eliminate 35 million bottles annually.

In a larger scale, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre started last July a campaign called “Think before Plastic” for the elimination of plastic straws and replacing plastic cutlery with non‑plastic alternatives at all restaurants and concession stands. With this plan, the venue hopes to cut 1,3 million pieces of plastic cutlery and over 330,000 plastic straws in 12 months. Cup lids and other items might also be replaced. The venue is sourcing for options.

In Portugal, this concern has been shared among industry’s players for sometime now. IHG group, that owns Crown Plaza and Intercontinental Porto, in the Portuguese city, has replaced plastic straws with recycled paper ones,

that are only supplied if the costumer asks for them. Music festivals are also natural spaces for this kind of world changing initiatives. Also in Porto, Primavera Sound has opted out of one‑off cups and now sells reusable ones.

You buy a cup, use it to drink in the festival grounds and then take it home. In Lisbon, Rock in Rio launched a collection of reusable cups, with 10 models, inspired by the Pop Art movement.

Neya Lisboa Hotel picked plastic bags for its fight against pollution, a natural move after the property abolished straws. The hotel gave its costumers an organic cotton bag and asked them not to use plastic bags during their stay. Or ever.

The fight against plastic utensils has gone all up the European institutions.

EU wants to ban them completely and is drawing up a plan to do so. Most countries have stopped supplying free low quality plastic bags to shoppers, that have become accustomed to reusable ones. In the US, the city of Seattle has forced its restaurants and hotels to find reusable or compostable utensils, by banning all plastic ones.

Of course there are challenges for event organisers. Plastic wrapped food is everywhere in the industry and, due to health and safety regulations, it’s hard to find a replacement. But new materials, washable and reusable are slowly making their way in the catering business world. And for organisers, the bad PR that is now associated with plastics can turn a successful event into a nightmare. Other items, like badges and water bottles will help to make an event into an ecological disaster. 15 Hatfields, a venue in London, has been working in sustainable events for some time now. Organic, locally sourced catering is one of their trademarks. By the end of the year it will be plastic free. Companies like Eco Events also help in environmental project management. With all these tools, there’s no reason for the events sector not to switch to a greener approach.

FEATURE 28

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

Big shipowners are aware of this trend

Events Are Sailing Out Big cruise companies are investing in the Meetings Industry.

MSC already has a comprehensive offer in Portugal.

What if instead of holding an event in a static venue, you chose one in motion?

Sailing around the world, cruises are an increasingly fashionable option for all sorts of events. Embarking for a meeting, congress or incentive is a way to ensure that guests will hardly forget the event.

Big cruise companies are investing big in this sector, including in Portugal.

MSC, one of the largest in the world with established presence in this country, is one of the players already in the Meetings Industry segment. The company "has been betting on this sector in recent years and now offers complete solutions for meetings and incentives, with various possibilities to carry out all kinds of events on board with tailor‑made, adapted and customised programs. In Portugal, we are starting to experience a strong curiosity from companies for this type of products, since at the moment 25% of our passengers carry out cruises in groups, of which about 15% are incentives", General Manager Eduardo Cabrita told Event Point.

For this company, the priority is to promote this service's advantages. "A cruise can be an excellent alternative to hotels, because in terms of extras and entertainment it is all included in the travel price," he added. Also Portuguese company Douro Azul has a ship, Spirit of Chartwell, in this segment, a vessel that carried Queen Elisabeth in her jubilee, with 16 cabins and a royal suite, as a spokesperson of the company explained.

The costs of organising an event on a ship can be 20 to 30 percent lower than in a more traditional venue, according to Landry & Kling, cited by CNN, and that specialises in such services. Eduardo Cabrita also mentioned that "customers who take a business cruise can combine meetings with a short vacation and relaxing moments, visiting different destinations, without having to pack and unpack." In other words, it is a way to have the whole experience of an event or incentive in the same place and with only a partner.

MSC has 15 ships and guarantees that each is “fully equipped with the most advanced equipment for meetings, conferences and presentations, with specialised staff and modern communication technologies for all types of events and meetings, from incentive trips for sales representatives, distributors and resellers, to goal prizes, promotional events, conventions, meetings and conferences or product launches and presentations and international events," said Eduardo Cabrita.

At the same time, "areas on board such as theatres, meeting rooms, bars and lounges, among other places, allow companies from the most diverse segments to hold their events or event theme cruises," said the group's General Manager. Ships also include "sport, fitness and spa facilities that in MSC Cruises' fleet play an important role in the success of meetings, incentives, conferences and events," he added.

The company's ships allow the organisation of events with a capacity of between 30 and 2,000 people, "including the possibility of chartering the ship and / or Yacht Club, a luxury MSC product available on the Fantasia, Meraviglia and Seaside ships. Restaurants, in turn, may have areas reserved for special, commemorative or business dinners," Eduardo Cabrita noted. The choice of itineraries and destinations is wide, but MSC highlights the "Mini Cruises, cruises with about 4/5 days, are perfect for this type of initiatives, offering a unique experience, with the event location moving every day with an incomparable cost / benefit ratio," said the company's General Manager.

MSC also explained that it is easier to combine meetings and incentives with the company's core business of leisure than congresses and events. And the future is of a higher investment in the Meetings Industry. "Companies are increasingly international with delegations from all corners of the world and this segment allows its employees to choose the shipping port and the possibility of being present in your company initiatives, regardless of their location," said Eduardo Cabrita.

Globally, big shipowners are aware of this trend. At Royal Caribbean, the supply is beginning to increase, as is demand. The group built 22 ships with conference centres, Lori Cassidy, Royal Caribbean Associate Vice President for International Meetings, Incentives and Events, told CNN. Among the concerns of those who organise events are seasickness, something that company officials say is not a problem with today's very stable cruises.

Cassidy points to another advantage: "delegates can not go anywhere, they are there captive." This solves one of the organisers main problems: make sure that guests indeed attend the event.

ALEXANDR A NORONHA

RADAR 30

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

Algarve For All Times Of The Year Between October 2018 and May 2019, 365Algarve's third edition will present 402 shows, energising the region during low season months.

The 365 Algarve banner Cultural and artistic tours, evenings shining with music and food, posh art exhibitions and Algarve themed shows. For a classy event in the region, 365 Algarve is a programme that promises to show visitors the hidden region, always close to those stunning beaches but with a different approach, during that time of the year that is normally quieter but always warm. An ongoing cultural programme for big cities and small towns is something the region has been assembling for some time now, attracting single visitors and families alike. Any event, congress or meeting can book an original incentive with one of the dozens of partners offering a menu of untasted Algarve. So you can take a look at your schedule and make an appointment with the region on any of the 365 days of the year.

© Robert Schaub

The Algarve is an all year‑round destination. Concerts, theatre, dance and new circus shows, cinema, street art and cultural visits are some of the activities provided. This year Travelling is the program’s motto. This program is financed in 1.5 million euros by Turismo de Portugal and organised by both the Região de Turismo do Algarve and Associação de Turismo do Algarve. In total, in this 3rd edition, 20 projects were selected, five of which supported for the first time. In its first two years, 365Algarve promoted 1151 initiatives, attended by 275 thousand people.

Check them out at www.365algarve.pt/en

OPINION 32

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

“We, DMCs , never faced so many threats”

Destination Emotions Management?

Emotions Made To Measure In Portugal

Almost three decades have passed since the last day of my tourism degree at ISLA with an official Guide Interpreter license in hand, kept safe ‘just in case’ and with a strong will to create, to learn, to feel, share, and every project was like bringing a dream into reality, regardless of some nightmares along the way. Being a guide interpreter was never a goal, and my comfort zone was, since a very early stage, to deliver good memories at each event in Portugal. In essence, the path of an ‘Emotions Expert’, is the best way to define myself and my team, and, to make it clearer there is a title that fits everyone in the team: yes, we are all Chief Emotions Officers, a daring title and the first reaction when one reads it, is usually the most obvious: a smile!

Destination Management Company or Destination Emotions Management?

The definition of a Destination Management Company did not change much throughout the years; we are all aware that we need to have the know‑how and expertise to find solutions and deliver destination services for meetings, incentive programs, conventions and events in Portugal. This is a passionate, but also a stressful and highly impermanent activity. The impermanence is most times related to worldwide economy and politics, but also to many other factors such as stability, accessibility or safety.

This is all to say that a DMC’s success not only depends on external factors, but also on internal ones such as the destination’s availability, capacity, quality, competitiveness, safety or diversity. I had the privilege to experience both promising and crisis times, but today’s times are a true paradox: on one side, tourism in Portugal has never lived such a creative and positive moment, and on the other side, we, DMCs , never faced so many threats.

This is clearly not a crisis, but a time that claims for change, and any change may well be an opportunity to improve and dedicate extra attention to the way we act. All ‘Destination Experts’ have already realised that there are new hotels, restaurants or venues opening daily, there are re‑born cities and a generation of entrepreneurs creating new products, and Portugal has been on the news for the best reasons. This is all truly blessing, but do we really

feel up‑to‑date as Destination Experts in a country like Portugal? Partially yes, but unfortunately and for the best reasons, it is never enough. Is Portugal still good value? Are we all able find availability and deliver quality? Regardless the answers, we all know this is an amazing moment for Portugal, but it is also the moment for any DMC to rethink, rebalance and adjust to these new times.

So, where can we really add value and be different? Being ‘different’ is based on delivering tailored creativity and solutions. Values like expertise, know how, flexibility, transparency, or 24x7 dedicated availability are already a basic asset of any DMC. Just to wrap up, there are a lot of changes in the business and making to measure still seems to be a valid key for any DMC, but adding emotions, meaning tailored experiences or actions, seem to be the true added value, and right now and like never before, this is a unique opportunity for DMCs to make a difference creating lifetime emotions made to measure in Portugal.

CARLA ANDREZO CHIEF EMOTIONS OFFICER AT EMOTIONSTORE

PEOPLE 34

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

António Paraíso

“I Obsess With Details” He came early to the interview, impeccably dressed. We talked for over an hour. António Paraíso is a specialist in luxury brands, in international trade, and is frequently invited as a speaker for events in Portugal and abroad, where he discusses over these and other themes, always aiming at inspiring people.

He is often asked to talk about emotional marketing. How do you turn a sale into a memorable customer experience? "My goal is mainly to inspire people, make them cry and laugh, or at least have a sparkle in their eyes. And there's a lot you can do to boost a business." It is also common that Lexus or BNP Paribas invite him for a private event, just for special clients or top employees, to talk about innovation or how markets can evolve, identifying trends in the luxury segment, but not just there.

He loves reading, learning, and every year, to keep up to date, he attends the best New York, Madrid, Paris, or London conferences in the business. "Every year, Financial Times organises a conference on luxury for 400 people from all over the world, and I am one of those people. There are representatives of Vuitton, Gucci and American Express to discuss the latest trends and strategies of luxury brands. And I go there to drink it all, to bring inspiration to my clients,” António Paraíso describes.

Repeat, repeat Paraíso confesses to being careful with his voice. He trains in front of the mirror, and sometimes things do not come out at first: "António, you have to whisper; raise your voice; transmit more determination..." And he works his body expressions. "I jump into the middle of the audience and speak eye to eye with those who are watching. I use my hands a lot, I crouch." It's a time consuming process.

But first he lies down on the couch thinking. "I enjoy thinking. Find the common thread. I go on stage and start telling a story, do I show a video, a song? I've done all this. At a conference in Singapore, when they announced my name, the lights dimmed, and for three minutes an opera aria was heard ‑ a shivering thing. And when it ended, a beam of light ripped through the darkness, and I appeared. In a theatre, I already entered through the audience, the central row, leaving the stage empty. Only my voice was heard in the beginning, and the stage was still empty... After finding that thread, I have to build around

it: for this script, I need this video. If I already know it, l get it right away, otherwise I spend hours on Google, on Youtube, looking for the right video."

He watches tons of videos. And that's how he build his presentation.

"Then I also think about my life experiences, those which intersect with the topic in question. I have lots of funny stories, I was even arrested in Copenhagen, by mistake, because they confused me with a Moroccan smuggler. After having the complete presentation, I repeat it at least twice at home." "I take this very seriously, and my lectures are never the same. There are people who come up to me and say, "I've watched you two or three times, and you always surprise me."

He speaks fluent Portuguese, English and Spanish, although he also speaks German and French. "I lived and studied in London and Madrid, and that helped. Because it's not just a matter of pronunciation: I say things as they say, which is an advantage."

The biggest panic in his speaker life happened a few years ago, four or five, when he was not so experienced. But in spite of everything it turned out well.

He went to a very well known store chain in Portugal at an event in December that brought together the owners, the administrators and all the main people in charge during a weekend in a hotel. "It took me days to prepare my presentation, very carefully ‑ I obsess with details. It was spectacular! I packed all the luggage for the trip, I left home, I travelled 300 kilometres, and when I arrived, I started to get everything out of the car, and I realise I did not bring the computer. I could not go back, it was only two hours before my presentation." For ten minutes he really panicked. "I went up to my room, and decided to improvise. The fact that I spent so much time in the presentation allowed me to recover the ideas I wanted to convey. Gradually I wrote down the key ideas that were on those slides. The music and the videos were lost, I had to give more of myself, in a super impactant speech. I was more theatrical, to engage people, to make them laugh, I shared more dramatic episodes, leaving some with tears in their eyes.

I know how to manage the audience's emotions... But those 10 minutes when I was panicking were very difficult, the most difficult ever. "

And where did you feel most emotional in a conference? "In Singapore," he answered without hesitation. "Even today I pinch myself: how did I get to give a talk in Singapore?! I often tell this story to inspire others. All my communication, my presence on social networks, presentations, videos, everything is managed by me, so that it can be found. It is a continuous, demanding work. One day, about four years ago, I got an email from Procter & Gamble explaining that they liked what they knew about me, and that they wanted me to give a talk in Singapore to 300 Asia Pacific directors on how to seduce the luxury consumer, aiming at the millionaires who live in that region of the globe. They wanted to know the conditions, all of it. I remember I even considered it was a joke from some friend. I did not reply. After two or three days, they insisted, saying that they really needed to know if I was available because otherwise they had to find another speaker. And only then did I realise that it was true. In short, we had two conference calls, and we settled my trip to Singapore. " "But the most exciting place, and I must have been the first speaker there, was architect Manuel Vieira's project, called Casa em Movimento (House on the Move). A project with about 60 seats, which is the prototype of a house that is based on a hydraulic system, which turns, like a sunflower, accompanying the movement of the sun. And I think I was the first speaker to talk to architects in a moving house. Throughout the morning the house was rolling slowly, altering the scenery we could observe from the window. And that's why this was the most amazing place I've ever spoken."

Ultimate ambition He confesses to have a very ambitious goal, which is to work in the luxury hotel industry abroad. "And because I am very persistent, I would like to give a great lecture, in a big brand event, in a big hotel chain, in an international event, about the ideas I have for this sector. And one day I will give this lecture," AntĂłnio ParaĂ­so assures.

OPINION 36

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

“How can we demand better negotiation if deadlines are shorter?”

Figures And Strategic Event Management Saying that events are important relationship actions, that meetings, congresses and incentives should be part of any commercial organisation or brand's communication and growth strategy, is as helpful as a wet Friday in November.

As is saying that in Brazil this sector is growing, that companies are investing and demanding more and more specialised labour, that there is an increase in the number of events and an expansion in hotels and venues. But the fact is that we are far from turning loose information into structured and relevant data. That is, we resent the lack of official information, research, technical studies, and solid and proven benchmarks for decision‑making.

Businessmen in this segment estimate that the sector has grown by double digit annually in the last five years, however, the most recent and important survey on the event market dates back to 2013, when ABEOC Brasil ‑ Associação Brasileira de Empresas de Eventos (Brazilian Association of Event Companies) and Sebrae Nacional – Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Pequenas e Micro Empresas (Brazilian Service of Support to Small and Micro Enterprises), published the II Dimensionamento Econômico da Indústria de Eventos no Brasil (II Economic Positioning of the Event Industry in Brazil), resulting from a research with more than two thousand companies in this sector. Since then, we can find references in the various trade media, speeches or promotional entity materials, noting that in that year 590,000 events were held in 7,590 venues throughout the country, with 202 million participants and who moved R$ 209.2 billion (around 50 billion euros), corresponding to more than 4% of GDP, and generating 7.5 million jobs.

In our everyday life what is perceived is a huge gap in relation to the how relevant and representative events are to companies. While talking with businessmen in this industry, what strikes me the most is the apparent carelessness with which customers have been dealing with the issue, completely opposite to the attributes of compliance, the need for saving and the requirement to calculate ROI for each action.

As the number of events increases, organisers say application deadlines are dropping. Today, asking for a budget less than 15 days in advance is already commonplace in 43% of Tour House demands, for example, although the average number of participants per event has been increasing from 55 to 74, comparing 2017 to 2018 in that company. Flight demands also dropped, indicating a trend in event regionalisation or even due to the increase in the average ticket value from 23% to 31%.

In that sense, how can we demand better negotiation if deadlines are shorter?

How to operate with qualified professionals if we are all the time hiring surplus labour to deliver more quality with less investment?

I agree that figures can not be the only market indicators and that our daily work presents very particular questions and solutions because it depends on the customer, the branch of activity, the size of the company, the communication objectives, the business strategy and an infinite number of variables more. However, market leaders, representative entities, and professionals themselves need to look at this activity with more attention and science. Meeting Planners, partners, suppliers and all stakeholder networks should unite to strengthen this industry, consolidate ethical positions and best practice procedures to demonstrate to clients that they are capable of executing strategic event management and not just putting out fires or organising corporation parties.

ROSE DE ALMEIDA JOURNALIST, BLOGGER, MICE BUSINESS PORTAL PUBLISHER W W W.MICEBUSINESS.COM.BR

RADAR 38

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

Mozambique is a very attractive country for international investments

Promo MZ Strengthens Its Position In The Mozambican Market The Mozambican event market is booming and strong players are emerging in the business.

The Mozambican event agency Promo MZ, part of the DHD Consulting & Holdings Group is one of these companies, with an estimate 175% growth for this year, compared to 2017, following the evolution not only of its holding, but also that African country's economy.

Interviewed by Event Point International, Inês Ferreira d'Almeida, Promo MZ Executive Director, said that the agency "invests in several segments of business" and explained the strategy that is being pursued to gain market share in Mozambique.

The country's market is expanding and Inês Ferreira d’Almeida assures it has a high "potential". In her opinion, Mozambique "is a very attractive country for international investments, and there has been an increasing sense of demand from companies in this business. The growth in demand is largely due to the economic recovery leveraged by the opportunities generated by massive projects for oil, natural gas and natural coal and complemented by investment opportunities in agriculture, tourism and other sectors," she explained.

Among the agency's activities is "the organisation of corporate events, where the production of conferences, galas and institutional events stand out." In addition, Promo MZ bets on "brand activation" which also covers "an area specialised in production of shows" and also in "graphic design".

"We have a truly complete offer, and it is a huge competitive advantage to integrate the Consulting & Holdings Group," Inês Ferreira d'Almeida highlighted.

The company has already increased sales volume this year by more than 50% over the full year 2017, the agency said, without revealing actual billing data.

Inês Ferreira d'Almeida added that the group's commitment to this business area is related to a strategy that aims to "offer partners and customers innovative and complementary solutions to the media business, that is the genesis of the group."

INÊS FERREIR A D’ALMEIDA

40

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

The agency believes that this is a "growing market," and is looking out for "opportunities."

"We value our partnerships with other markets with a focus on South Africa and Portugal," said the agency's leader.

Inês Ferreira d'Almeida also told us that Promo MZ has already produced over 100 projects between 2017 and 2018. "One of the best examples is MOZEFO ‑ Mozambican Economic and Social Forum, a Mozambican international reference event that already had two previous editions (2015 and 2017) and will take place again in 2019. This is the biggest event organised in Mozambique and is attended by former Heads of State and leaders of large international companies".

The agency is also working on events such as the MOZTECH, an event and country business fair related "to innovation and new technologies, the "100 Major SMEs event" and MOZGROW, an agribusiness show", according to the same source.

PromoMZ also worked on events such as the International Conference on Nature‑Based Tourism, "co‑organised by the Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development (MITADER) and the World Bank, which brought together business leaders from around the world in Maputo", she added.

Inês Ferreira d'Almeida admitted that most of these events take place in the Mozambican capital, but the agency intends to decentralise the sector. The company was responsible for organising "an international conference for Anadarko [an American oil company] and the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy (MIREME) which brought together more than 800 businessmen and senior state officials at the Local Opportunities Seminar in Pemba, Cabo Delgado Province".

The agency was also present at international events such as MOZEFO Portugal in 2016 and MOZEFO South Africa in 2017.

DHD Consulting and Holdings owns several media and communication companies in Mozambique, including the Soico group, which owns two television channels, STV and STV Notícias, a radio station (SFM), a daily newspaper (O País) and an online platform.

In addition to Promo MZ, this holding also includes Invent with audiovisual equipment, Interactive in the area of information technologies and Bright, a company of communication, advertising and content production.

ALEXANDR A NORONHA

São Tomé And Príncipe Competes For More Events São Tomé and Príncipe does not have much expression in the African meetings industry sector yet, but this may change.

There are several factors that influence the choice of a destination for an event or incentive. One is how easy it is to get there. São Tomé and Príncipe has the advantage of having direct flights to Europe, namely to Portugal. In addition, it is one of the nine African countries that offer e‑visas.

Another factor is infrastructure. São Tomé has several event venues, from hotels to multipurpose centres. In Ilhéu das Rolas, there is, for example, Pestana Equador, a resort unit that can accommodate 100 guests. Some of the main events hosted by this hotel are weddings, also because of the venue's paradise‑like surroundings. But incentives, teambuilding, business meetings and training sessions are also common events in this venue.

Pestana São Tomé Ocean & SPA Hotel has 115 rooms and several event rooms, with capacity for 1,200 guests. Also Bom Bom Hotel and Omali Lodge have several areas for meetings and social events. Palácio dos Congressos, Espaço Cacau, Casa da Cultura or Instituto da Juventude are all venues able to host the most diverse initiatives.

As far as incentives are concerned, the experience is (almost) everything and São Tomé and Príncipe has a lot of potential. Situated in the Gulf of

Guinea, the country combines the lush African landscape with the traces of the Portuguese colonisation, the beaches with crystal clear water and white sand, and a friendly and hospitable population. There are many opportunities for trekking in a country where 28% of the area is occupied by mountains.

One of the most interesting aspects of this country is the Roças, agricultural structures dating from the colonial era, which were the centre of São Tomé's economic activity. Visiting and spending some time in these Roças is tantamount to having a closer perspective of what local life is like. The food is one of the country's ex‑libris, mixing Portuguese influence with African specialties in a unique combination.

On top of all this, São Tomé is a safe and peaceful, stable, exotic and hospitable country.

World's Longest Bridge Can Attract More Events To Macau This bridge will allow better access between Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau.

55km long, the new bridge linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau is the longest in the world and an impressive engineering work. Its construction started in 2009, having opened to the public on October 24th this year. This makes it easier for delegates to travel to Macau, as before it was necessary an hour‑long ferry trip to go from Hong Kong to Macau. Today, the trip along the bridge takes half an hour less. It is therefore expected that tour operators, DMCs and event planners promote this alternative to the ferry.

DOC DMC, led by the Portuguese Bruno Simões, tested the bridge. “For MICE business this is an exceptional connection between HK Airport and Macau / Zhuhai. A connection that is an attraction, available 24 hours and with low

prices. To go to HK Island or Kowloon ferries are still the best option in most situations. There’s an express bus from Cotai directly to Kowloon and HK Island but guests need to leave the bus to cross two large “bridge ports”".

From Hong Kong airport, where you can receive your guests, access to this new bridge takes 5 minutes by transfer. And DOC DMC has already got a verdict. The advantages are transportation 24 hours a day, how close it is to the airport and the unique experience of crossing the bridge. In terms of disadvantages, DOC DMC points out: guests need to carry luggage in both terminals ports (no porter service); guests need to cross two immigration controls; and delays in the "Golden Bus" at some peak times (ex: weekends).

DESTINATIONS 44

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

The heart of Mozambique

© Jeff Trollip

© Bob Poole

Gorongosa Is Opening To The MI Sector In the heart of Mozambique lies one of Africa's natural wonders, a place where visitors can gaze upon some dramatic landscapes and wildlife scenes while contributing to support the survival of endangered species.

Gorongosa National Park, a symbol of this Portuguese speaking African nation, and often referred to as the “Serengeti of the South”, is a hotspot for wildlife that one normally only sees in TV shows. Majestic lions walk around undisturbed by countless safaris that happen throughout the year. Big groups of elephants pack around watering holes, and the famous floodplains are teeming with waterbucks. Scary crocodiles swim around natural pools, waiting for some unsuspecting animal to venture too close to the water. The park is also home to around 440 hippos, countless birds and a rare zebra species.

All these beings coexist in peace, in a spectacular setting. The Great Rift has its south end in Gorongosa and, before breaking the African Continent in two, it created a fertile and green land. Just at the tip of this 30 million year old

geological formation stands Lake Urema, where several rivers run up to, like the slow but constant Vunduzi, descending from Mount Gorongosa. 20% of the park is made up of wide grasslands, where the wildlife gets on with its everyday business, which might include, of course, becoming lunch for big predators.

With all these attractions, no wonder visitors are flocking to the park. Vasco Galante, press officer at Gorongosa, told Event Point International that there is an “increasing interest from tourists all over the world, either for individual trips or corporate ones”.

The park is in its early stages of investing in the Meetings Industry sector, namely for incentives. “The park has already received conferences, workshops, seminars and meetings”, said the same source. These events are coming from the “scientific, business and learning sectors”, according to Vasco Galante.

46

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

© Clive Dreyer

Lodging and conference rooms The park has its own villas and bungalows, that boast of conference rooms.

So, for a different meeting, Gorongosa can host some small gatherings, with a luxury safari vibe. Montebelo Gorongosa Lodge and Safari are the place to stay in the park and get some work done between adventures.

Bookings for the end of the year were already confirmed, even though logistics is not easy at the park, especially due to bad road conditions. But for those willing to brace these difficulties, Gorongosa will be an unforgettable setting, in one of Montebelo’s villas and rooms. Activities include jeep safaris and the park is also upgrading its ecotourism offer. Just take into account that the park is closed between December and March and that in the first weeks not all roads may be available for visitors.

Gorongosa was first created in 1920, as a hunting reserve, by a private company that explored the area. In 1935 the original area was expanded, to protect some species, including rhinos. In the 40s lions started roaming around an abandoned building in the park, still known as house of the lions.

In 1951 the Chitengo camp was built as headquarters of Gorongosa and to receive tourists. In 1960, it was finally turned into a national park and by that time its size was already 5,300 square km. Gorongosa suffered greatly during the civil wars that followed the independence of Mozambique, with heavy

fighting taking place in the park until 1992. After that, poachers helped in reducing wildlife by 90%. The park was rebuilt in the late nineties, with the help of international institutions. Gradually, species were reintroduced in the park and today they roam again freely.

Mozambique, an undiscovered gem The MI sector has been growing steadily in Mozambique, along with traditional tourism, due to the country's unique features. It is still undiscovered by most of the world, except in the Portuguese speaking universe. It´s an African gem, with lush forests, open grasslands and white sand beaches, bathed by the Indian Ocean. Its capital, Maputo, is already making rounds in the congress sector, benefiting from new hotels and infrastructure, as well as a relative sense of security.

ALEXANDR A NORONHA

COMPANIES INDEX 48

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

AV COMPANIES

DMC

FX ROADLIGHTS

LOURES | +351 214 780 843 | GER AL@FX‑RL.COM.PT W W W.FX‑RL.COM.PT THE LIGHT OF YOUR E VENTS.

AIM GROUP INTERNATIONAL – LISBON OFFICE

LISBOA | +351 213 245 040 | LISBON@AIMGROUP.EU WWW.AIMGROUPINTERNATIONAL.COM THE LISBON OFFICE HAS GROWN CONSIDER ABLY OVER THE PAST NINETEEN YE ARS, AND HAS BUILT UP A L ARGE TE AM OF MULTILINGUAL STAFF MEMBERS. AS ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S MOST SUCCESSFUL DMC FIRMS, OUR LISBON OFFICE OPER ATES THROUGHOUT MAINL AND PORTUGAL – INCLUDING PORTO AND THE ALGARVE – AS WELL AS IN MADEIR A AND THE A ZORES ISL ANDS. THE OFFICE IS ALSO AIM GROUP’S GATEWAY TO SOUTH AMERICA, WITH A DEDICATED TE AM MEMBER WHO PROMOTES EUROPE AN DESTINATIONS TO OUR L ATIN AMERICAN CLIENTS.

INFRASOM

LISBOA | +351 219 862 198 | MAIL@INFR ASOM.PT W W W.INFR ASOM.PT "OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO ENSURE TOTAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, DAY AFTER DAY. INNOVATION IS PART OF OUR MISSION. WE MAKE AVAILABLE ALL HUMAN SUPPORT FOR THE OPERATION OF SOUND, LIGHT AND VIDEO, AS WELL AS EVENT CONCEPTS AND ORGANISATION".

EMOTIONSTORE MEETINGS&EVENTS

LISBOA | +351 213 565 300 | WOW@EMOTIONSTORE.COM W W W.EMOTIONSTORE.COM AT EMOTIONSTORE MEETINGS & E VENTS WE CRE ATE AND DE VELOP E VENTS AND INCENTIVE TRIPS FROM SCR ATCH, THROUGH CRE ATIVE AND INNOVATIVE STR ATEGIES ALIGNED WITH E ACH CUSTOMER'S VISION. OUR FOCUS IS TO CRE ATE UNIQUE AND MEMOR ABLE EMOTIONS AND EXPERIENCES FOR E ACH SPECIAL E VENT AND MOMENT IN YOUR COMPANY.

MAINVISION ‑ TECHNICAL PRODUCTION OF EVENTS

LISBOA | +351 211 583 053 | 939 117 564 | INFO@MAINVISION.PT W W W.MAINVISION.PT AUDIOVISUAL CONSULTING, AUDIOVISUAL EQUIPMENT RENTAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CONTENT PRODUCTION MADE BY A HIGHLY QUALIFIED TE AM.

CONVENTION BUREAUX / TOURISM OFFICES

IN TOURS PORTUGAL

LEIRIA | +351 244 836 431 | +351 913 404 775 | INCOMING@IN‑TOURS.COM WWW.IN‑TOURS.COM IN TOURS PORTUGAL IS A LOCAL INCOMING TOUR OPER ATOR (DMC) FOR PORTUGAL, MADEIR A AND A ZORES. WE ARE SPECIALIZED IN TAILOR MADE PROGR AMS FOR LEISURE GROUPS AND MEETINGS & INCENTIVES.

ALGARVE PROMOTION BUREAU

FARO | +351 289 800 403 | ATA@ATALGARVE.PT W W W.VISITALGARVE.PT EUROPE'S MOST FAMOUS SECRET.

EVENT AGENCIES

BTRUST

PORTO | LISBOA | +351 220 108 033 | 212 471 687 | VIP@BTRUST.PT W W W.BTRUST.PT "BTRUST IS A SPECIALISED AGENCY IN CORPOR ATE E VENTS, WITH STAFF IN MORE THAN 30 COUNTRIES. IT CONSISTENTLY CRE ATES UNIQUE SERVICES, INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, WITH UNPAR ALLELED CRE ATIVIT Y AND QUALIT Y."

LAB PHARMA EVENTS ENGINEERING

LISBOA | +351 213 565 300 | L AB@L ABE VENTS.EU W W W.L ABE VENTS.EU L AB PHARMA E VENTS ENGINEERING SPECIALISES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ALL T YPES OF E VENTS FOR THE PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR AND MEDICAL DE VICES INCLUDING: CORPOR ATE AND COMMERCIAL, TR AINING AND MOTIVATIONAL E VENTS. AMERICAN EXPRESS MEETINGS & E VENTS PARTNER, WE SET UP OUR VALUED SERVICES IN AN END TO END TECHNOLOGY PL ATFORM WHICH INCLUDES ALL THE NEEDS OF MEETING MANAGEMENT, VENUE SOURCING, E VENT REGISTR ATION, HOUSING & TR AVEL, MOBILE APP, BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE AND COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT.

DESAFIO GLOBAL

LINDA‑A‑VELHA | +351 214 149 550 | PEDRO.RODRIGUES@DESAFIOGLOBAL.PT W W W.DESAFIOGLOBAL.PT "DESAFIO GLOBAL HAS WON MORE THAN 100 NATIONAL AND FOREIGN AWARDS, NAMELY THE BEST EUROPE AN E VENT COMPANY IN THE EUROPE AN BEST E VENT AWARDS. WITH A QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STRUCTURE, IT COMBINES CRE ATIVIT Y, COMMUNICATION AND LOGISTICS FOR ACHIE VING SUCCESSFUL E VENTS. "

UP PARTNER

LISBOA | +351 210 410 100 | RUI.BATISTA@UPPARTNER.PT W W W.UPPARTNER.PT "DE VELOP, DYNAMISE, ENERGISE. THESE ARE THE ACTIVE PRINCIPLES BEHIND THE VITAMINAL ARCHITECTURE WE DR AW FOR E VERY BR AND E VENT WE REPRESENT".

PROFESSIONAL CONGRESS ORGANISERS

EMOTIONSTORE MEETINGS&EVENTS

LISBOA | +351 21 356 53 00 | WOW@EMOTIONSTORE.COM W W W.EMOTIONSTORE.COM AT EMOTIONSTORE MEETINGS & EVENTS WE CREATE AND DEVELOP EVENTS AND INCENTIVE TRIPS FROM SCR ATCH, THROUGH CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE STR ATEGIES ALIGNED WITH EACH CUSTOMER'S VISION. OUR FOCUS IS TO CREATE UNIQUE AND MEMOR ABLE EMOTIONS AND EXPERIENCES FOR EACH SPECIAL EVENT AND MOMENT IN YOUR COMPANY.

AIM GROUP INTERNATIONAL – LISBON OFFICE

LISBOA | +351 213 245 040 | LISBON@AIMGROUP.EU WWW.AIMGROUPINTERNATIONAL.COM THE LISBON OFFICE HAS GROWN CONSIDER ABLY OVER THE PAST NINETEEN YE ARS, AND HAS BUILT UP A L ARGE TE AM OF MULTILINGUAL STAFF MEMBERS. AS ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S MOST SUCCESSFUL DMC FIRMS, OUR LISBON OFFICE OPER ATES THROUGHOUT MAINL AND PORTUGAL – INCLUDING PORTO AND THE ALGARVE – AS WELL AS IN MADEIR A AND THE A ZORES ISL ANDS. THE OFFICE IS ALSO AIM GROUP’S GATEWAY TO SOUTH AMERICA, WITH A DEDICATED TE AM MEMBER WHO PROMOTES EUROPE AN DESTINATIONS TO OUR L ATIN AMERICAN CLIENTS.

50

WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM

FACTOR CHAVE

ALGÉS | +351 214 307 740 | CONGRESSOS@FACTORCHAVE.PT W W W.FACTORCHAVE.PT FACTORCHAVE WORKS EXCLUSIVELY IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH MEETINGS. TODAY WE BOOST 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PLANNING EVENTS OF VARIOUS T YPES AND DIMENSIONS WITH MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS, RESEARCH GROUPS, PHARMACEUTICAL AND EQUIPMENT COMPANIES. MARKETING IS A CENTR AL ELEMENT OF OUR WORK, WHICH ALWAYS REFLECTS PASSION, STR ATEGY, KNOW‑HOW, COMPETENCE, ORIGINAL IDEAS AND TALENT.

BENFICA EVENTS

LISBOA | +351 217 219 500 | BENFICAEVENTOS@SLBENFICA.PT WWW.SLBENFICA.PT/EVENTS THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TE AM OF E VENT MANAGEMENT OF SPORT LISBOA E BENFICA HAS EX TENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN ORGANISING E VENTS, MANY OF THEM WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS ‑ JUST THINK OF A CHAMPIONS LE AGUE MATCH. AND IT IS THIS TE AM THAT CAN HELP YOU WITH DIFFERENT T YPES OF E VENTS, FROM A SIMPLE COFFEE BRE AK TO A PRODUCT L AUNCH, FROM A CONFERENCE TO AN INCENTIVE.

VIDEOMAPPING

THE HOUSE OF EVENTS

PORTO | +351 228 348 940 | INFO@THE.PT W W W.THE.PT BROAD COMMUNICATION SK ILLS; WIDE R ANGE OF TECHNICAL ABILITIES; MA JOR GROUND‑BRE AK ING CAPACIT Y TO FIND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS IN CONGRES S AND E VENT PL ANNING.

OCUBO

VENUES

LISBOA | +351 219 250 818 | INFO@OCUBO.COM W W W.OCUBO.COM “SHARING LIGHT WITH THE PEOPLE”.

ALFÂNDEGA DO PORTO

PORTO | +351 223 403 000 | GER AL@CCALFANDEGAPORTO.COM W W W.CCALFANDEGAPORTO.COM "BEST CONGRESS CENTRE IN EUROPE"

ALTICE ARENA

LISBOA | 218 918 409 | COMERCIAL@AARENA.PT WWW.ALTICEARENA.PT A NATIONAL BENCHMARK IN MULTIPURPOSE ARENAS AND SITES FOR L ARGE E VENTS IN THE COUNTRY, THIS VENUE HOSTS AN AVER AGE OF 80 E VENTS A YE AR, OF VARIOUS DIFFERENT T YPES, AND FOR AROUND 400.000 PEOPLE. FROM CONCERTS, FAMILY SHOWS AND SPORTING E VENTS, THESE FACILITIES ALSO HOST PRODUCT L AUNCHES, MEETINGS OF DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC GROUPS, OPENINGS AND VARIOUS FUNCTIONS FOR L ARGE CONVENTIONS, EXHIBITIONS AND FAIRS, MANAGEMENT MEETINGS, GAL A E VENINGS AND CATERING E VENTS.