 |
Portugal - Travel Industry News |
|
The Third Global Travel & Tourism Summit takes place May 15-17 at the
5-star Marinotel in Vilamoura, Algarve. The important conference is
hosted by the Portuguese Government through ICEP Portugal, RTA -
Algarve Tourism Board and Lusotur SA. Sponsors include TAP Air
Portugal, American Express Company, and Insignia Hotels, with
participation by over 100 leading international travel and tourism
companies. |
The Third Global Travel & Tourism Summit takes place May 15-17 at the
5-star Marinotel in Vilamoura, Algarve. The important conference is
hosted by the Portuguese Government through ICEP Portugal, RTA -
Algarve Tourism Board and Lusotur SA. Sponsors include TAP Air
Portugal, American Express Company, and Insignia Hotels, with
participation by over 100 leading international travel and tourism
companies.
The Summit, which follows The World Travel and Tourism Council's
(WTTC) Annual General Meeting, provides a unique opportunity for all
industry leaders to meet and network with government ministers and
WTTC Members. Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, will
give the keynote address and heads an impressive list of speakers from
the public and private sectors including: the President and Prime
Minister of Portugal (Jorge Sampaio and José Manuel Durão Barroso),
the Chairman of American Express (Ken Chenault), Carlson Hospitality
Worldwide (Curtis Nelson), Continental Airlines (Gordon Bethune),
Iberia (Xabier de Irala), Marriott (Bill Marriott), Rail Europe
(Bernard Frelat), Six Continents (Sir Ian Prosser), Starwood Hotels
and Resorts (Barry Sternlicht), TUI (Michael
Frenzel) and Sir Ian Prosser, WTTC chairman and chairman of Six Continents
PLC. www.globaltraveltourism.com
"There is an urgent need to broadcast a message of strength, unity and
recovery for the travel and tourism industry," said WTTC president,
Jean-Claude Baumgarten. As the only global organization representing
the private sector across all parts of the travel industry worldwide,
WTTC hopes the summit will result in a blueprint for the industry's
future. WTTC is comprised of presidents, chairs and CEOs of 100 of the
world's foremost travel companies.
Madeira and Porto Santo report 25 new tourism accommodation facilities
to open by the end of 2004, providing 1648 rooms. These include rural
tourism hotels, country houses, inns, hostels, and aparthotels largely
in the Funchal, Calheta and Porto Santo areas. Others will be in
Porto Moniz, Santa Cruz, Machico and Camara de Lobos. The Madeira
regional tourism department projects a total of 38,000 beds in Madeira
and Porto Santo by the end of the next decade.
Madeira's famous Flower Festival takes place May 3-4 in Funchal. This
celebration of the island's bountiful and diverse horticulture as well
as its people's historic customs and traditions, transforms transform
Funchal into a giant stage for artistic and cultural performances,
concerts of classical music, and entertainment that attracts visitors
from around the world.
Vale do Lobo, or Valley of the Wolf, a region noted for luxury golf
and beach vacations, is one of Portugal's fastest growing tourism
areas. Tourism receipts exceeding 52 million euros were generated
locally in 2002, representing an increase of 21 percent over the
previous year. Beginning this year, Vale do Lobo plans to invest an
additional $500 million euros in construction of new homes and
apartments, a five star hotel, a third golf course and a mall.
Hotel Developments
Hotel Pestana Atlantic Bay, Funchal, Madeira has remodeled 60% of its
facilities, including 124 of 206 rooms and public areas (hall,
restaurant, bar). The remaining 40% will be completed by early 2004.
Situated on Formosa Bay with views of the sea, the resort offers 184
studios with kitchenettes and 23 junior suites, swimming pools for
adults and children, sauna, massage, gymnasium, game room, children's
playground and free internet for guests.
Golf Colina Verde Aparthotel is a new resort in the Algarve
specializing in golf. Located in Maragota, seven miles from Olhão,
the four-star property offers 31 apartments, three villas, reception,
a business center and covered parking. Sports facilities include
swimming pools for adults and children, a health club with gymnasium,
tennis and a nine-hole golf course (Par 3) with sea views. Other
recreational options include boat trips to Fuseta and Armona islands,
seaside strolls, bird watching, mountain biking, horseback riding,
motorcycling, water sports, and aerial sports.
Hotel Rural Herdade de Cadoucos, Abrantes, a new Rural Tourism hotel,
will open in April. Activities provide guests with a wide variety of
options, including observing animals in their natural habitats,
horseback riding, bicycle riding, photographic safaris, sport fishing
and watersports. The hotel has 24 suites and 10 junior suites. In
addition there are two privilege suites with 4 rooms situated in a
separate building. All rooms are equipped with satellite TV,
telephone and Internet connection. The restaurant accommodates 300
people and specializes in regional Portuguese cuisine. There is also a
thematic bar that acts as a living museum, a 250 person auditorium for conferences and meetings equipped with audiovisual
and multimedia equipment. A gymnasium, tennis court, mini-golf, pool,
soccer field and outdoor club with a variety of features, including a
Rappel Slide, Tiro com Arco, Canoagem, BTT, Paint Ball and Escalada,
are also available.
Sana Hotels is expanding to have over 1000 beds in Lisbon by 2004.
The group has acquired Hotel Metropolitan, with 801 rooms, and is
constructing two new 4-star hotels, which will open before the
European Soccer Championship in 2004. The Sana Park Malhoa will have
180 rooms; the Sana Park Lisbon will offer 280. The hotel group also
plans to construct two more hotels by 2006: Torre Vasco da Gama near
the Parque das Nacões and a hotel on the Algarve.
Farol Design Hotel is a new property in Cascais. Surrounded by the
Atlantic Ocean, the hotel offers 34 individually designed rooms
equipped with modem lines, ISDN phones and minibars, two conference
rooms, a restaurant, bar and night club. Recreational activities
include 10 golf courses nearby, tennis at the Estoril Tennis Club,
beaches, horseback riding and a wide array of water sports. For info:
Tel: 351 21 482 34 90 / 351 21 483 71 03 Fax: 351 21 483 64 61 / 351
21 484 14 47. Or visit the website at www.cascais.org
Hotel Fortaleza do Guincho, also in Cascais, is a member of Relais &
Châteaux. The luxury hotel, overlooking the ocean and Guincho beach,
is a fully-renovated 17th-century fortress. Guests will appreciate
the winter garden set in an ancient cloister and the 27 guest rooms
with their balconies offering a breathtaking view of the sea. The
restaurant's cuisine draws its inspiration from regional French and
Portuguese culinary tradition. To know more visit:
www.guinchotel.pt/english/index.htm.
Estalagem Villa, situated on Cascais bay beside Fishermen beach, is a
sought after setting from which to enjoy the pleasures of the Estoril
Coast and the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. Officially acknowledged for
its architectural, historic and cultural value, this beautiful house
was renovated and remodeled into a luxury hotel, offering rooms in the
Queen Mary style, each one with its own distinct personality. Visit
www.villa-cascais.pt
Casa das Senhoras Rainhas, or the Inn of the Queens, and an adjacent
property in Óbidos, will be renovated to become a high quality guest
accommodation. The inn will offer 10 rooms, a Tower suite with
windows overlooking the Plaza San Pedro, a restaurant with traditional
Portuguese cuisine and a bar overlooking the walls of the Castle of
Óbidos. Public areas will include a garden and a reception area
decorated with magnificent paintings of the Portuguese Queens St.
Isabel and Leonor.
Transportation
TAP, Portugal's national airline, has announced very strong results
for 2002, achieving net sales of 49.8 million Euros, a 146% increase
over 2001. Gross revenues were 146 million Euros, a 21.8% increase
over 2001.
Visitor arrivals in Portugal held steady in 2002. 20,260,900
passengers traveled through Portuguese airports, for a .02%increase
over 2001, while half a million cruise visitors passed through
Portuguese ports, including Lisbon (350,000), Funchal (150,000),
Portimão (20,000, Porto (5,000) and Ponta Delgada (5,000).
New ferry service begins in May between Porto Santo and Madeira. The
Lobo Marinho ferry is part of the Porto Santo Line and will
substantially reduce travel time between the two ports to
approximately 50 minutes. The new ferry, designed to convey the image
of a mini-cruise ship with the style of a four star hotel, will
transport 1157 passengers and 160 cars, with increased comfort is a key objectives. Some of the innovations
include an upper deck and a sun deck with lounge chairs. One-day
excursions to Porto Santo at competitive prices will be promoted.
Taxi vouchers are available for visitors arriving at Lisboa Airport
who wish to travel to the city by taxi. On sale at the Turismode
Lisboa counter in the terminal, the price of the voucher depends on
the distance of the trip and length of time, as well as on the type of
service
required: normal or personalized (in which multi-lingual drivers act as
guide).
www.atl-turismolisboa.pt/leisure/taxicard.htm
Sports
The finals of the 2004 European Soccer Championship will be held in
Portugal. With opening ceremonies June 12 and the finals in July.
For ticket availability and other information, log on at
http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/EURO/index.html. News of stadiums,
distance between stadiums and other information can be obtained at
http://www.worldstadiums.com/europe/countries/portugal.shtml and
http://start.at/euro2004
Campo de Golfe do Palheiro on the island of Madeira is investing 2
Million Euros to upgrade its golf experience. Improvements include
renovating the Golf Club with its views of the Bay of Funchal, new
holes for 15 and 16 and the expansion of the course to 6086 meters,
going from par 71 to 72. In 2005, a top of the line golf school will
be added.
For information on Lisbon or Portugal, please call the Portuguese
National Tourist Office at
(800) 767-8842 or visit www.portugal.org - www.portugalinsite.pt
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Post Release
Get Content
Email News Brief
Saved Articles
Advertising
Handheld
XML/RSS
Post News