Portugal named world's best destination for golfing in 2014

       

Portugal has taken the title of World’s Best Golf Destination at the inaugural World Golf Awards.

Hosted by the same group that hosts the World Travel Awards, known as the Oscars of the travel industry, the World Golf Awards took place last November 15th at the Conrad Algarve and saluted the best golf destinations, courses, and resorts in the world.

The two categories won by Portugal - ‘Best Golf Destination in Europe’ and ‘Best Golf Destination in the World’ - were "largely due to the excellence of the golf courses in the Algarve" admitted the judges.

With 80 golf courses, many of them set against ocean views, dramatic cliffs, white sand dunes, lakes and mountains, Portugal was singled out as the best in golf tourism.

Popular among golf pros and host to major events on the professional circuits including the European Tour, many of the courses are designed by architects like Henry Cotton, Rocky Roquemore and Arnold Palmer.

A mild year-round climate also makes Portugal a popular golfing destination.

World Golf Awards managing director Chris Frost said: “Tonight has been a tremendous success and it has been an honour to welcome so many key players from the global golf hospitality industry here to Conrad Algarve for this inaugural Gala Ceremony. My congratulations go out to all out winners, this is recognition you so richly deserve.”

He added: “This is just the start of the journey for World Golf Awards. We will return to Conrad Algarve next year for the Gala Ceremony 2015 and I look forward to greeting many of our nominees from this evening in 12 months time.”

The presentation of the awards was the centrepiece of a three-day itinerary for the event, which saw guests enjoy some of the world-class facilities on offer at the famous Quinta do Lago Resort. Among the highlights was a chance to play on the newly renovated Quinta do Lago North Course, awarded Europe's Best New Golf Course.

For the full list of winners, including regional winners across the US, Canada, South Africa and Australia visit http://worldgolfawards.com/winners/2014

Source: World Golf Awards

Portugal wins five Condé Nast Johansens 2015 Europe & The Mediterranean Awards for Excellence

Last night, on the 33rd annual Awards Dinner, Condé Nast Johansens has reveled the the winners of the 2015 Europe & The Mediterranean Awards for Excellence, and Portugal has won five prizes.

The five winners were:

- Best Newcomer:  Casa da Calçada, Amarante, Porto & Northern Portugal

- Best Dining Experience: The Yeatman Hotel, Porto, Porto & Northern Portugal

- Best for Meetings: Myriad by SANA Hotels, Lisbon & Tagus Valley, Portugal

-Readers' Award: SANA HOTELS, Portugal, exclusively:

EPIC SANA Lisboa Hotel
EPIC SANA Algarve Hotel

Source: Condé Nast Johansens 

Portugal with 9 nominations for the Condé Nast Johansens 2015 Europe & The Mediterranean Awards for Excellence

Condé Nast Johansens has reveled the finalists for the 2015 Europe & The Mediterranean Awards for Excellence, and Portugal has 9 nominations.
The winners will be revealed at the 33rd annual Awards Dinner, held at The May Fair Hotel in London on the evening of Monday 3rd November '14.

From the publishers of Vogue, GQ, Traveller and Glamour, Condé Nast Johansens is the leading reference guide for those of you searching for a luxury hotel, indulgent spa, country house, boutique retreat, celebratory venue or romantic hideaway by the beach. They provide inspiration and assistance in finding the perfect place for every occasion.

Condé Nast Johansens created their Annual Awards of Excellence to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across the hotels and spas in their collection, all of which have been handpicked by local experts.

Hotels and spas aspire to be the winner of one of these highly regarded Awards for Excellence. The awards demonstrate a trusted mark of quality recognised by consumers and travel professionals alike, and represent the finest standards and best value for money in luxury and independent accommodation.

This year the portuguese nominees for the Condé Nast Johansens 2015 Awards for Excellence - Europe & the Mediterranean - are:

- Best Newcomer:  Casa da Calçada, Amarante, Porto & Northern Portugal

- Best Dining Experience: The Yeatman Hotel, Porto, Porto & Northern Portugal

- Best Hotel With SPA: Vidago Palace, Porto & Northern Portugal

- Best Urban Hotel: InterContinental Porto-Palácio das Cardosas, Porto & Northern Portugal

- Best Sustainable & Corporate Responsibility: Companhia das Culturas, Algarve, Portugal

- Best for Meetings: Myriad by SANA Hotels, Lisbon & Tagus Valley, Portugal

- Best For Weddings, Parties or Special Events: Palácio Estoril, Hotel, Golf & Spa, Lisbon & Tagus Valley, Portugal

-Readers' Award: SANA HOTELS, Portugal, exclusively:
EPIC SANA Lisboa Hotel
EPIC SANA Algarve Hotel

Source: Condé Nast Johansens

Portugal‬ is one of the "Best value destinations for 2015" according to Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet, the largest travel guide book publisher in the world, has chosen the "Best Value Travel Destinations for 2015" and Portugal is one of them.

The most recent edition highlights: "Portugal’s Algarve region trumps prices at other European resort areas isn't a surprise to regular visitors. This surf and family-friendly region remains the destination of choice for a more-than-sun seaside holiday, and it’s not all that great-value Portugal has to offer.

Lisbon, as happening as Barcelona with fewer crowds, and cheaper, is set to get a whole lot more accessible as low-cost airline Ryanair opens a base in the Portuguese capital. Head anywhere in the country off the tourist trail, and costs come down further.

For a great-value tour of Lisbon hop on tram 28, which rattles around taking in many of the city’s highlights, including the Alfama district and the views from the Miradouro de Santa Luzia for €2.85."

Check all the "Best value destinations for 2015"  here.

Source: Lonely Planet

Portugal with 24 nominations for the World Tourism Awards

After the European World Travel Awards this past August, during which Portugal received a record number of 16 awards, comes the final round of awards. 

The WTA will be hosted in Morocco on November 29. 

The nominated Portuguese destinations include Lisbon, Algarve, and Madeira and many Portuguese companies stand among the nominees, including EuroAtlantic, DouroAzul, Sintra Parks, TAP Portugal, Turismo de Portugal and some of the biggest names in the Portuguese hotel industry. In 2013, Portugal won five WTA, including the best golf destination and awards to Parques de Sintra, and The Vine, Conrad Algarve and Vila Joya hotels.

This year, Lisbon has been nominated in the categories of world’s best destination for an urban getaway, best destination and best cruise port. Algarve and Madeira – historically well represented at the WTA by dozens of hotels – are also competing for top honors. The Algarve could be the “leading beach destination for 2014,” and Madeira is in the running to be the best island destination. Once again, Turismo de Portugal has been nominated for best official organization.

Portugal has all received several nominations in the hospitality categories. Vila Joya in Albufeira is nominated in the categories of best boutique hotel and best boutique resort. The new Conrad Algarve holds nominations in three categories: resort, luxury resort, leisure resort. The list of hospitality nominees also includes The Vine, the Bairro Alto Hotel Lisbon, the Algarve Pine Cliffs, Vila Vita, and Martinhal Beach Resort.

Portugal’s Nominations in the WTA 2014 are:

World'sLeading Charter Airline 2014	EuroAtlantic Airways
World'sLeading Beach Destination 2014	Algarve
World'sLeading City Break Destination 2014	Lisbon
World'sLeading Cruise Port 2014	Porto de Lisboa
World'sLeading Cruise Destination 2014	Lisbon
World'sLeading Island Destination 2014	Madeira Islands
World'sLeading Conservation Company 2014	Parques de Sintra – Monte da Lua
World'sLeading River Cruise Company 2014	DouroAzul
World'sLeading Tourist Board 2014	Turismo de Portugal
World'sLeading Sports Academy 2014	CascadeWellness & Lifestyle Resort
World'sLeading All Inclusive Resort 2014	PestanaPorto Santo All Inclusive & Spa Beach Resort
World'sLeading Boutique Hotel 2014	Vila Joya
	ChoupanaHills Resort & Spa
World'sLeading Boutique Resort 2014	Vila Joya
World'sLeading Design Hotel 2014	The Vine Hotel
World'sLeading Hotel Residences 2014	Pine Cliffs Residence
World'sLeading Landmark Hotel 2014	Bairro Alto Hotel
World'sLeading Luxury Leisure Resort 2014	Conrad Algarve
World'sLeading Luxury Leisure Resort 2014	Conrad Algarve
World'sLeading Resort 2014	Conrad Algarve
World'sLeading Villa Resort 2014	MartinhalBeach Resort & Hotel
World'sMost Romantic Resort 2014	Vila Vita Parc
Travel Technology
World's Leading Airline Website 2014	TAP Portugal
World'sLeading Tourism Authority Website 2014	VisitPortugal.com

The McNamara Surf Trip: A documentary from the Portuguese Coast

21 days, 7 regions, 2 archipelagos, awesome food, unique experiences, singular hospitality,
waves in every corner – one of a kind surf trip. Stay tuned: a new webisode every couple of days.

The McNamara Surf Trip - A web documentary from the portuguese coast. + info: http://www.portuguesewaves.com/mcnamara

- Ep. #1: Centro de Portugal  

Garrett McNamara takes on the center of Portugal.In this trip Garrett surfed great waves, picked his own food in an organic farm and surfed the wake of a boat with wakeboard champion Francisco Martinho Lopes and instructor Nuno Almeida d´Eça.

- Ep. #2: Lisbon 

"Lisbon is one of the most beautiful cities I´ve ever seen”. Find out why...

In this trip Garrett surfs the amazing beaches around Lisbon with local surfers Filipe Jervis and Nuno Mesquita, experiences great food, attends a concert by local band Paus and gets to know Lisbon with local surfer and musician Frankie Chavez.

- Ep. #3: Azores 
Garrett McNamara visits one of the best kept secrets in Portugal, the islands of Azores.

From visiting the local green pastures to experiencing the amazing nature walks, Garrett still finds time to catch some waves with local surfers Hugo Vau and Luís Melo. Watch this film to see why Azores is considered one of the most beautiful places on earth. 

- Ep. #4: Porto and the North
Garrett McNamara visits one of the most iconic cities of Portugal, Porto.

In Porto, Garrett meets the first portuguese surfer, Pedro Lima, and surfs amazing waves with locals Patrick Jongenelen and Sebastião Furtado. The highlight of the trip is his visit to the Douro Region, the world´s first wine region to have a formal demarcation of its Port wine.

- Ep. #5: Madeira Islands 

Garrett McNamara visits the scenic islands of Madeira.

With views like Hawaii and portuguese food and hospitality, Garret gets the best of both worlds with his local contacts, artist Marco Fagundes and local surfer/tour guide Orlando Pereira. In beautiful Madeira, Garrett experiences fresh tuna just off the boat, rides a couch down a hill and tries the exquisite local, aged Madeira wine. 

- Ep. #6: Alentejo

Garrett McNamara experiences an adrenalin rush and gets a taste of the relaxed life in scenic Alentejo. 

In Alentejo, soul surfer Tarik Van Prehn gives Garrett a glimpse of the laid-back life in the countryside. Later, Garrett gets back to surfing and tries a nature path 10 meters off the ground - “give me big wave surfing any day”.  

- Ep. #7: AlgarveGarrett McNamara treads off the beaten path in one of the regions most appreciated by tourists and expats.

Garrett surfs the idyllic coast of Algarve and quickly rides shot gun in a competitive car racing circuit to realize that ‘staying in the moment’ is not the answer to all of life’s fears. See why Algarve is the expats favourite second home

In Porto Christmas starts on 28 November!

 Credits to Porto City Council

The Christmas and New Year programme will start on 28 November, earlier than usual, filling the city with light and colour!

Christmas lightings on 30 streets and venues, entertainment, ice rinks and a Christmas market, are an invitation to visit the city, to calmly stroll around its streets, to know its shops, its gastronomy specialties, and to enjoy a festive atmosphere.

The Avenida dos Aliados, the Rua das Flores and the Clérigos Tower will have special lightings.

On the Avenida dos Aliados will shine the Christmas Tree, this year accompanied by the installation “Sound Textures” by the architect Isabel  Barbas.

The regeneration works of the Clérigos Tower will be concluded on 12 December and on that day our dearest monument will shine brighter than ever.

The Rua das Flores, a walking street with a varied range of shops, will have a “special light” and those shopping at the traditional commerce will be given vouchers to use for parking and on the ice skating rinks in Praça D. João I and rotunda da Boavista (Praça Mouzinho de Albuquerque).

The novelty is the Christmas Market on Praça da Liberdade, from 4 to 14 December.

New Year’s Eve promises great and fun moments! The bands Clã and Expensive Soul will heat the scene and at midnight there will be surprising fireworks, offering a unique experience to the public!

The city awaits you! Winter, spring, summer or fall, Porto is Porto all year round, period!

More information at:
- http://visitporto.travel/Agenda
- http://www.visitporto.travel/Opportunities
- https://www.visitportugal.com/
- https://www.visitportugal.com/en/destinos/porto-e-norte

Source: Porto Turismo