VisitPortugal

2013/12/06

Porto, is one of the 10 destinations on the rise in Europe according to TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice 2013

Porto’s cityscape is a who’s who of architecture, a mash-up of medieval cathedrals and iconic, futuristic edifices. 

The eponymous port wine originated here, on the banks of the Douro River. 

After staring dizzily at buildings, there’s much to explore: the astoundingly grand staircase and stained glass of the Lello & Irmao bookstore, colorful public sculptures and tile murals, the double-decker Mercado do Bolhao. The Crystal Palace Gardens are a serene, surreal retreat from it all.

See here the list from TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice 2013

Source: TripAdvisor

TAP voted the "Best Airline in Europe" by the North-American Global Traveler Magazine

TAP Portugal was voted the “Best Airline in Europe” by the Global Traveler magazine, USA, the leading specialized publication in the Tourism & Travel niche. 

Launched ten years ago, with the aim of acknowledging and naming the top in the travel industry, the Global Traveler Awards are one of the most relevant and coveted awards and mean a great deal to TAP, as the winners result from the GT Tested Reader Survey annually conducted by the magazine, asking frequent business and luxury travellers to evaluate and vote the best in a wide range of travel-related products. In the whole, this year’s survey covered as many as 17 categories, including world-wide airlines, hotels, loyalty programs and many other travel products.

For TAP, this GT Award not only recognizes and rewards the dedication and hard work that the company has consistently developed in recent years in the very competitive and demanding North-American market, but also highlights its top quality product as well as the great potential of its main hub in Lisbon, which is a strategic platform offering excellent air connections between North America and Europe.

The Global Traveler is a leader magazine in its sector, with a very large circulation worldwide. Its readers are frequent premium travellers averaging a considerable number of international and domestic round-trip flights a year. The 2013 GT Awards now announced resulted from the direct voting of more than 22,000 people who responded the survey from January 1 to August 31, 2013. This year’s winners will be honored and awarded at a cocktail reception to be held on December 10 at the Peninsula Beverly Hills, in Los Angeles, California.

Source: Tap Portugal

2013/12/05

Mediterranean Diet nominated World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO

The Mediterranean Diet was nominated, last December 4th, World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The recommendation was submitted by seven countries - Portugal, Cyprus, Croatia, Spain, Greece, Italy, and Morocco.
Intangible Cultural Heritage includes oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festivals, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts.
According to a prepared statement by UNESCO, “The Mediterranean diet is a set of traditional practices, knowledge and skills passed on from generation to generation and providing a sense of belonging and continuity to the concerned communities.”
The Mediterranean Diet emphasizes primarily plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, and nuts, healthy fats, such as olive oil, eating fish and poultry and limiting red meat, reducing additional salt intake and drinking red wine in moderation.
Download the portuguese brochure here.
Source: UNESCO

Porto in the Top 14 of British Airways of destinations to visit in 2014

The Top 14 of British Airways of destinationsto visit in 2014, places Porto on the 10th position, ahead of other destinations.

For the British airline “The historic town ofPorto is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance. Wine lovers have long enjoyed its charms and from March British Airways customers will be able to as well.” A three-night break in Porto,.”

The company offers a city short break of “three nights in Porto, with staying at the four star Mercure Porto Centro, including flights, starting from £299 per person in June”.

An unmissable oPORTOnity to come to the OptimusPrimavera Sound, to the Serralves em Festa and to live the most amusing and authentic festival you may ever experience, the São João do Porto!

2013/12/04

Lisbon will stage its first European Cup final since 1967 at the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on Saturday 24 May

Estádio da Luz ©SL Benfica
The Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica will stage the 2014 UEFA Champions League final on Saturday 24 May.

Known across the world as the Estádio da Luz, the home of SL Benfica was formally inaugurated in 2003 in time to host several matches – including the final – of UEFA EURO 2004. The arena stands on the site of the original Estádio da Luz, which opened in 1954 and held the final of the 1992 European Cup Winners' Cup, where SV Werder Bremen beat AS Monaco FC 2-0.

The Portuguese capital has witnessed just one previous European Champion Clubs' Cup final, back in 1967 when Celtic FC's 'Lisbon Lions' overcame FC Internazionale Milano 2-1 at the Estádio Nacional. Meanwhile, the Estádio José Alvalade, home of Benfica's local rivals Sporting Clube de Portugal, staged the 2004/05 UEFA Cup final, with the host team losing 3-1 to PFC CSKA Moskva.

Benfica will hope to have the chance of competing in the 2014 final at their own ground, with the club boasting an impressive European pedigree. Founded in 1904, they have won a record 32 Portuguese titles and 24 Portuguese Cups, and lifted the Champion Clubs' Cup in successive seasons, 1960/61 and 1961/62. They have also finished runners-up in UEFA's top club competition five times.

Source: UEFA

2013/12/03

Hotel The Vine awarded World’s Leading Design Hotel 2013 by World Travel Awards Association

In the year that celebrates the 20th anniversary , the World Travel Awards, international distinction created worldwide to recognize and reward excellence in the tourism industry in the aspects of distribution , accommodation and transportation , elects The Vine Hotel among the best worldwide in the category of Hotel Design .

Already awarded the distinction of Europe's Leading Design Hotel in August this year, The Vine receives now this worldwide recognition.

But our country has more reasons to celebrate with pride this fantastic event as in total has received three awards: Portugal as "World 's Leading Golf Destination", Hotel Vila Joya in Algarve as "World 's Leading Boutique Resort " and Hotel The Vine in Madeira as " World 's Leading Design Hotel " .

Successively appointed since 2009 , Hotel The Vine was for the 4th consecutive time since its opening in late 2008, candidate in two categories : " Europe's Leading Design Hotel " and " Portugal 's Leading Boutique Hotel " .

The dispute of this prestigious trophy is quite fierce among the top design hotels worldwide and receive this award is a great honor not only for The Vine but also for Portugal as a tourist destination reference and especially for Madeira, a proven quality destination.
Madeira that has been awarded the title of “Europe’s Leading Island Destination” in August, saw the World’s distinction been granted to The Maldives this year.

The WTA are divided into ten global regions with the ceremonies of each division taking place throughout the year and culminating in the final event which this year was held in Doha in Qatar on the evening of 30 November.

For hotel unit spokesperson for this distinction "is an honor and a pride, not only for The Vine but also for Madeira as a reference tourist destination and also for our country"

About Hotel The Vine:
Like a fine wine, The Vine is a hotel with soul and a concept.
Intense, sophisticated, luxurious, with a touch of simplicity and discretion.
Take a dip in the rooftop pool of 360⁰, enjoy a Vinetherapy session at The Spa or savor a gourmet dinner overlooking the city in the UVA restaurant are some of the simple pleasures that will make your stay memorable at this hotel.
The Vine has 79 rooms spread over 4 floors, each of which celebrates the variations of the vineyard throughout the four seasons of the year through a unique decor inspired by the world of wine and grapes, with the signing of the prestigious and award winning designer Nini Andrade Silva.
The warm tones of summer to muted grays of winter, whatever floor you choose here will always feel good.
The spacious rooms and suites of generous proportions reflect the unique environment of The Vine that, despite its size and sophistication, offers guests a service unexpectedly cool and relaxed but highly personalized and focused primarily on meeting all of your needs.


For more information, please contact:
Hotel The Vine
Rua dos Aranhas, Nº 27 – A
9000-044 Funchal
Portugal
General phone: 291 009 000
Reservations: 00 351 291 009 000
Group/Events Sales: 291009000
General email: front.office@hotelthevine.com
Reservations: reservations@hotelthevine.com
General manager: management@hotelthevine.com
Sales manager: sales@hotelthevine.com
Website: www.hotelthevine.com

2013/12/02

Portugal won 5 World Travel Awards

Great news for Portugal! 

In the 2013 World Travel Awards Grand Final hosted last Saturday (30th November 2013), Portugal won 5 World Travel Awards. The winners are:



- World's Leading Golf Destination: Portugal
- World's Leading Design Hotel: The Vine Hotel (Madeira)
- World's Leading Conservation Company: Parques de Sintra - Monte da Lua Pena | Monserrate | Capuchos | Mouros  
- World's Leading Luxury Leisure Resort & Spa: Conrad Algarve 
- World's Leading Boutique Resort:  Vila Joya (Algarve)
Congratulations to all the winners!