Noticing that business travel,  group and event travel to Portugal seem to be growing at a fast rate for both the corporate business markets and the private event planners. We decided to explain certain aspects of group travel to Portugal that could be important for you when you plan such an occasion.

Why would you organize your event in Portugal?

For one the Portuguese climate. Portugal has a warm Mediterranean climate with on average 6 hours of sun per day. Its winters are mild and wet Its summers are warm but cooled by pleasant sea breezes. Winters are relatively short whereas summers are relatively long.

Accessibility Portugal has 3 main airports spread strategically throughout the country. In the North, Porto is its main entry point, In the center Lisbon, its capital has the main airport and south in the Algarve, Faro, the Algarvian capital, has the main airport. (*note Madeira and Azores also have airports and are Portugal, we will be covering them soon also) All airports as of 2015 offer budget airlines as well as first class and business class travel.
The roads are structured by the national highway plan of 2000 and in 2014-15 they were considered the best in Europe and second best in the world by the World Economic Forum in its Global Competitiveness Report of the same year.
From the main cities, public transport networks provide transport throughout the entire country but are best around the coastline and to the main internal cities.
People visiting Portugal cruise traffic is a fast-growing new form of tourism mainly in Lisbon which is currently building a new cruise terminal right in the city’s heart.

Cost Portugal is one of the cheapest European travel destinations. Its prices for accommodation, restaurants and activities are well below the European average whereas in many cases the quality offered is much above.

Heritage, landscapes, Monuments, Leisure activities, sports, gastronomy, and wine, Portugal has a very diverse offer that can appeal to a very large group of tourism consumers with different preferences, budget,s and expectations.

Niches in tourism to Portugal

Adventure and active travel due to its climate, diverse landscapes, and its long coastline, Portugal is particularly suited to active adventurous travel and there are many experts and licensed adventurers providing top-quality sports in safe environments. From paragliding to surfing, canyoneering, mountain climbing, biking, horse riding, boat activities, and diving, almost anything you can think of is possible in Portugal.

Wine tourism The wine sector of Portugal is growing fast in recognition and Portugal produces many exceptional wines, that have been awarded internationally on many occasions.
The booming wine industry has created a new niche for travel, activities, and accommodation on its wonderful wine manor house farms. Originally Portugal was home to the first Iberian vines and to this day it still produces wines based on unique processes and it is home to the only remaining fully European grape, the Ramisco grape.

Rural tourism Portugal shares a common problem with most of southern Europe and that is Urbanization and rural flight. Many villages have been abandoned or are almost empty, the land is no longer worked and mechanized processes have made agriculture less human resourceful, this has opened perspectives for a new type of tourism, namely rural tourism in which the Portuguese government has invested with an eye to sustainability.
This has given birth to many amazing getaway retreats along the coast and in the mountainous landscapes of the Central and Northern regions.

Cultural and heritage tourism with its incredible and rich history Portugal has been left with a high number of amazing heritage sites many of them Unesco recognized. It organizes many famous world-known festivals and events and many local, traditional, and lesser-known events, from gastronomy to music, rural traditions and modern innovation.

Luxury tourism The last few years have given rise to many luxury hotels both 4 and 5 star and luxury resorts.
In 2015, this trend was topped by the Asian chain, 6 senses, which opened its first European resort in the Douro Valley.
Even before it opened, it had already managed full occupancy for the first 4 months after opening its doors to the public.

The Wellness and ecotourism markets With its clean waters, many nature reserves and clean air, nature, natural thermes and springs, Portugal lends itself perfectly for health-related travel and it has many possibilities in almost every price range to accommodate this type of travel.
Ecotourism and eco-awareness are becoming more and more prominent in Portugal, which is already a leader in sustainable energy, and eco-awareness has also reached the luxury market creating new forms of sustainability that could inspire the rest of the world.

Background and history of tourism in Portugal

Portugal has always been a favourite destination for many International travelers. 

Portugal has been winning awards as the best European travel destination and was chosen number 1 getaway among travel consumers on numerous occasions 

The business and event travel markets are moving more and more out of the cities and into the landscapes of this climate-friendly and naturally beautiful country

Taking into consideration

When it comes to group travel, depending on the size of the group and the type of events planned there are just a few things to take into consideration

Accommodation and venues to fit your needs and budget
If Necessary, Licenses for public events. 
Team building that fits your group size, location, and preferences
Distance and accessibility of your offsite retreat. Traveling to rural retreats can be time-consuming if the connections are not optimal, it’s always best to inform first, 40km on a bad road can take 3 times the time to arrive, than if you were doing the same distance on a good road.
Types of events.

Portugal has a large and diverse offer.

Offsite events or awayday / weekend events also known as offsite retreats are perfect in Portugal thanks to its many retreat locations, manor house farms, wine hotels, entire villages rehabilitated for tourism, and luxury resorts either close to its 3 main airports or hidden in its beautiful landscapes, Portugal has many possibilities.

Team building events for corporations and groups. What is better for any team than to go out together, be challenged by nature, overcome odds, and work together to team bond in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere,

Corporate events on location, transfers, catering, and every thing necessary to ensure a successful event for your group.

Private events for celebrations.

We hope we’ve managed to convince you to plan your next event in Portugal, for further information, please contact us.

Go Discover Portugal are leader in event travel and business travel organizers to Portugal, fluent in 5 languages with experience in groups of up to 800 participants. We work for corporations, film and tv sectors, travel agents, government and non- government and private groups