Casas Brancas: The New Project

The Casas Brancas Association has just launched a new project to be implemented by April 2015, called " Casas Brancas - Rede de Turismo Criativo ". 

The project aims to strengthen the Casas Brancas network starting with their creative capacity and capacity to sustain the identity and cultural values of the Alentejo and Vicentine Coast.

The aim is to develop and provide commercial consistency to new products and services in the network, which integrate agents, cultural values and the heritage of the region. The project is clearly geared to the international market, which is becoming more and more aware of the real attractions of this coastline, its culture, traditions, nature, history, creativity and innovativeness.

In addition to the development and consolidation of the services offered within the network, the project foresees the development of materials that enable new and effective tools to spread the word about the work of this creative tourism network. Furthermore a Manual of Good practices will be produced which will inspire and guide other entrepreneurs and potential investors in the region.

Creative tourism is a very innovative concept, internationally recognized as the new generation of tourism, which looks for more immersive and specialized ways to make the best use of a region and the economy of experience and is already widely implemented in the tourist industry.

Casas Brancas has been around since 2002 and includes about 60 micro-entrepreneurs in the region (accommodation, restaurants and activities) joined together in a network for the improvement of their services and the integrated promotion of those services and the values of the region. 

In 2011 it got started with the development of the Rota Vicentina  in partnership with the Almargem Association and various public entities within the region which culminated in the creation of the Rota Vicentina Association, which is now responsible for the management of the route and that project. 

This is foreseen as a third stage of life for Casas Brancas, with a clear focus on its greatest strength, which is the networking and the appreciation of the region's identity. For the management of Casas Brancas, "betting on cultural and patrimonial values linked to innovation, authenticity and creativity will be the best investment the tourism sector can make at this point, particularly in a region as rich as the southwest of Portugal. More than the quantity and size of investments in culture, it is important to enhance existing features, articulate them, give them shape and value and ensure their quality. Principally to integrate them into a single circuit that can sustain them, which is tourism".

For more information about Casas Brancas at:
- http://casasbrancas.pt
- https://www.facebook.com/casasbrancas.portugal
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/casasbrancas/collections/
- https://twitter.com/Casas_Brancas
- http://issuu.com/casasbrancas
- Casas Brancas Brochure 
- Guide for Activities and Restaurants

Contacts:Travessa do Botequim, nº 6, 7630-185
Odemira
Portugal

For issues concerning the Association: (+351) 96 298 31 08

Tel/Fax: (+351) 283 327 669

To contact by email, please click here

Solares de Portugal: Special places to stay!

Solares de Portugal is a unique concept that was introduced  to promote quality tourist accommodation in houses of character “Turismo de Habitação” and, at the same time, preserve the rich legacy of Portugal’s architectural and cultural heritage.

It is important to emphasise that Solares de Portugal are not hotels or guesthouses. They are privately-owned stately manor houses, elegant country homes and rustic farmhouses. Some of them were once in decline but today they are restored to their former glory and are open to guests who are treated as part of the family.

 The Solares represent centuries of Portuguese history and culture. The majority of the   grandiose 17th and 18th century houses are still in the ownership of the descendants of the founding family.

The owners will greet you with a warm welcome and during your stay share their knowledge about local places of interest, regional gastronomy, festivals and traditions.

 Situated in some of Portugal’s most picturesque locations the Solares de Portugal nestle within large estates surrounded by style gardens, vineyards that produce delicious in-house wines, fruit orchards and woodlands.

Leisure facilities on offer include horse-riding, tennis, walking, a swimming pool, and games rooms. Meeting rooms and conference rooms are also available in several houses. In the evenings, the best of regional cuisine and wines are on the dinner table.

The Solares are arranged in three distinct groups and each house is inspected and certified according to strict criteria to ensure a high standard of comfort and hospitality.

More information about the Solares de Portugal at:
- http://www.solaresdeportugal.pt
- https://www.facebook.com/solaresdeportugal
- http://www.youtube.com/Centerpromo
- Digital Brochure
- Reservation on-line
- Prices
- Information in Portuguese here
- Information in English here
- Information in German here
- Information in Spanish here
- Information in French here
- Information in Italian here

From 15th to 17th of May don´t miss the SATA Rallye Azores

The Azores SATA Rally will be hosted along some of the most beautiful roads in the island of São Miguel.

The Azores rally has been held for over 40 years and is one of the most important legs in the ground stage of the National Championship. Its rankings contribute to the European Rally Cup organised by FIA (the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile).

This competitive event begins at the Portas da Cidade (gates of the city) of Ponta Delgada and is a genuine tourist itinerary, passing through some of the most emblematic sites in São Miguel such as the Lagoon of Sete Cidades, thus demonstrating some of the island's beauty.

More information at:
- http://www.visitportugal.com/Sata Rallye Azores
- http://www.satarallyeacores.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/satarallyeacores
- https://www.facebook.com/satarallyeacores
- http://www.acorestube.com/users/SataRallye

Madeira starts new promotion campaign

Madeira Tourism has launched an online campaign with the aim of promoting the region as an all year round destination and to highlight the recent recognition as Europe’s Leading Island destination, by the 2013 World Travel Awards. 

This campaign is intended for online media focusing on UK and German markets. Other countries will also be targeted such as Austria, France, Belgium, The Netherland and Scandinavia.

Under the slogan " Madeira, all year round ", this multi-platform campaign kicked off on January 2nd, for 24 hours, on the day that the British population returns to work after the Christmas holidays, hence Madeira hopefully makes a massive impact on all web visitors that accessed to YouTube in the UK. 

A 30-second video of Madeira was displayed, incorporated in a banner Masthead type, which occupies the entire width of the YouTube homepage. The Masthead links to the Madeira Tourism YouTube Channel, where visitors find many videos about the destination. 

This same campaign was repeated on January 7th on Youtube Germany.

The Masthead will be also be complemented by a display and Search Engine Advertising ( SEA ) campaign as from February, which will cover the other markets mentioned. The display campaign begins with an action of great impact (Blast Display), in which over a very short period of time, the Madeira ads will be displayed on hundreds of premium and niche websites on Google affiliate networks, generating destination awareness.

Additionally, a Madeira microsite will be created, where visitors can find general information and content specifically related to Nature, Wellness, Touring, Culture and Landscape. 

Other campaigns will run on TripAdvisor UK and Germany for at least six months. By displaying advertisements of Madeira to targeted audiences according to their profile of research on TripAdvisor, visitors will be directed to Madeira landing pages, created to support the campaigns.

The Masthead Madeira can be seen at this link.

More information about Madeira at:
- http://www.visitmadeira.pt/
- http://www.ap-madeira.pt/
- http://www.visitportugal.com/en/destinos/madeira

Source: Associação de Promoção da Madeira

Lisboa recommended by International Congress Members

View Nations Park ©ATL

International congress members regard Lisboa as the best city to hold conferences and recommend the Portuguese capital as a tourist destination according to a survey by the Lisboa Tourism Observatory.

The studywas conducted among individuals who attended congresses in the Portuguese capital, of which 45.9% ranked the probability of a return visit as very likely.

Regarding the profile of the international Congress member the survey indicates that the Spaniards are the most prominent nationality, the majority of the participants being males ( 57.8%), primarily in the 36 to 45 years old age group for men and from 26 to 35 years old for women.

In general, the congress members are professionals with university qualifications. Transportation, Congress Registration, Accommodation, Trips and Food are key components in the expenditure incurred by participants who, on average stay in the Portuguese capital for 4.1 days.

The Lisboa Tourism Observatory survey was based on a sample of 912 interviews of international Congress members in the months of May, June and September 2013.

Find more information at:
- Lisboa Congress and Incentive Guide
- Lisboa Unforgettable Meetings & Incentives
- Lisboa InvitesYou!

Source: LisboaInside

Optimus Alive is one of the "The 10 most exciting overseas 2014 festivals" according to Gigwise

According to the website Gigwise, considered  the No.1 music website in the UK, Optimus Alive is one of the "The 10 most exciting overseas 2014 festivals" .

On their top ten list for 2014, you can read that "Last years Optimus was one of the best festivals of the summer. This year will see the Arctic Monkeys, Imagine Dragons, MGMT, Chet Faker, The Black Keys and Caribou play out in Portugal"

If you're a music fan, in July don't miss Optimus Alive! and the chance to see performances by some of the top current bands, in an event that combines music and art.

Further than music, Alive! Includes the distinctive feature of a space dedicated to urban art, where new fine artists create works using recycled materials.

Against the backdrop of the Algés Maritime Promenade, in front of the River Tagus, the Optimus Alive! has a prime location for those who want to enjoy all night through, since it is also next to the train station that connects Algés directly to the bar and discos areas of Lisbon and Estoril coast.

More information at:
- http://www.optimusalive.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/optimusalive
- https://twitter.com/optimusalive
- http://www.visitportugal.com/events

Lisbon was considered by Conde Nast's Jaunted the 2013 destination of the year

Every year Conde Nast's Jaunted website gives the Jaunted Travel Awards —The Jauntys - and in the category of "The 2013 Destination of the Year is..." the award went to the city of Lisbon.

According to the Jaunted site:
"We learned a very valuable lesson very early on in our journey through Portugal: The fact that a city/town/country has been on the map forever in no way means that it has been discovered.

From our first steps through the streets of Lisbon, the Portuguese city upon the hill, it became clear that Americans have,for whatever reason, been ignoring Portugal. Even the most basic of observations we made were raising the eyebrows of our colleagues and friends back in the States—a good example being that Lisbon looks just like SanFrancisco.

As a result, we put together some basic travel packages to help you get to know the city, including the five words you'll want to know before your visit and a compact neighborhood guide. We also spent some time in the south, learning to surf in the small town of Sagres and taking a wild drive along the rocky coastline.

This spring, we'll be headed back to Portugal to check out Porto and the Azores, a group of adventure travel-oriented Portuguese islands just a four-hour flight from Boston. While we have learned that expectations are the devil when it comes to travel, we can't help but have high hopes given how much we enjoyed our first jaunt through the country."

Source: Jaunted website