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Why use our FREE Venue Finding service?

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Venue finding agency uk

Finding a venue for any event is a challenge and can be very time consuming especially
if you’re not familiar with the area or do not have allot of experience in event planning. So, using a venue finder can offer several benefits so the client does not have to do the work.

A venue finder can streamline the process by providing you with a curated list of options that meet your criteria, saving you time and effort.

Our venue finding Team have access to wide range of options and a vast
database of venues, including 3-5*  hotels, conference centres, restaurants, and
unique event spaces all over the world. This allows you to explore a variety of options and find
the perfect venue that suits your event type, size and budget.

Expertise & Knowledge: Our Event managers have over 20 years’
experience and extensive knowledge in the venue finding business so we can
provide valuable insights and recommendations based on your specific
requirements, helping you make informed decisions and ensuring that you choose
the right venue for your event.

Cost Savings: Venue finders can negotiate better rates and
packages on your behalf, leveraging our relationships with venues and with our
understanding of the market. This can help you secure competitive pricing and
potentially save money on the event.

Convenience: Our Event Managers can not only source the venue,
but we can handle logistics of venue selection, including contacting venues,
arranging site visits and coordinating with vendors. This allows you to focus
on other aspects of the event planning, knowing that the venue search is being
taken care off.

Personalised Recommendations: Our close-knit team work
together and can tailor our recommendations to your specific needs and
preferences. We consider factors such as location, capacity amenities, and
ambiance to ensure that the venue aligns with your vision and goals for the
event.

Overall using our FREE SERVICE can simplify the venue selection process,
save you time and money, and provide you with expert guidance and support
throughout the planning process.

We highly recommend that next time your boss gives you the task of finding
something different, or in a location you’re not familiar with, then pick up
the phone or email us directly so can do all the hard work for you. 

 

SITGES, A serene conference destination away from the city.

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melie sitges

If you are planning your next conference and looking at Spain as a possible destination, we can’t recommend Sitges highly enough. Due to its proximity, just under twenty-two miles and a short drive from Barcelona, this lovely holiday destination is becoming desirable for meetings and events.

In this Blog, we will explore Sitges and look at why it is becoming more popular as a destination for event planners considering a venue in Europe.

Sitges is a town steeped in history and culture.

The coastal town of Sitges is known not only for its sandy beaches and historical sites, with evidence of its first inhabitants dating back to Neolithic times, But also for its film festival, generally held around October. And the Annual carnival, held in late February/ early March, with around forty floats and over two thousand participants and visitors filling the town. The city is vibrant and enticing with a busy cafe culture and American-influenced colourful buildings. It was once labelled a mini Ibiza due to its counterculture during the 1960s.

Sitges’ increase in business and conferencing popularity.

We have noticed, probably due to its proximity to Barcelona, that there has been an increase in interest in companies looking to hold their event in Sitges, away from the hustle and bustle and the distractions of a big city. The venue finders at Spain conferencing have highlighted three destinations, offering a diversity of accommodation, locations, and conference spaces.

The Melia Sitges

‘The Melia Sitges’, the largest, is situated close to the port and a short walk from the town. With a capacity of over 300 bedrooms, 289 of which are doubles, and the rest of suits of various sizes. It boasts a fully independent business centre with thirty-two event rooms, the largest of which has a capacity of 1,384 people. All meeting rooms have state-of-the-art equipment and people on hand to ensure the smooth running of your event.

Melia Sitges

Our following two hotels are similar in size but differ in style.

Le Méridien Ra Beach front Hotel and Events Venue.

‘Le Méridien Ra Beach Hotel & Spa’ is situated about a 30-minute drive from Sitges town on Sant Salvador Beach. With easy connections from Barcelona Airport. Built in 1929, this impressive building was originally a spa and wellness centre. Now this five-star resort has been restored into a one hundred and forty-four-bedroom hotel with access to a private part of San Salvador Beach. The impressive conference facility with high-tech audio-visual and video conferencing equipment can hold five hundred delegates in the most significant space with seventeen additional event rooms and eight breakout rooms. A total of 2608 sq metres.

The Calipolis, A Sitges Conference venue right on the seafront.

Calipolis sigtes

‘The Calipolis’ is, in contrast to Le Méridien Ra, a modern building occupying a beachfront location and a short walk along the promenade to the town. And just like the other Conference venues here, it is within easy reach of Barcelona Airport. The Calipolis has an extensive conference and business centre which has eight meeting and event rooms of various sizes, all with audio/visual technology, the largest of which is 440 sq metres with a capacity of 380 people. All other rooms are close to the main plenary room; some can be linked to adjoining rooms to create larger meeting spaces.

The team at Spain Conferencing makes it their mission to get to know and work closely with all the conference venues we represent. In doing so, we can ensure we can deliver a reliable and friendly service to our clients.

You can search the other areas of the world where we have conference locations at conference-desk.com, and if you would like us to find a venue suitable for your next event, please get in touch using our contact form.

Why Ibiza is a great destination for Meetings and Events

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Our first m&i forum in a long time was a memorable trip. It isn’t every day you get the chance to explore meetings and events spaces in Ibiza (especially with such wonderful weather) and as such, this was one trip we just couldn’t say no to. Indeed, Ibiza is a destination we had not yet had the chance to visit and explore as a destination for our business, which made the prospect of visiting that much more appealing.

ibiza coastline

The hangover from the pandemic has meant we haven’t been on nearly as many trips to explore new sites and destinations as we would have liked by now. However, Ibiza is a destination that everyone knows a little about before they arrive, although, not necessarily what makes the island such an attractive proposition for event travel, and there is a very simple reason for this. Ibiza is a party destination.

Now, on our trip, we arrived the week before everything kicks off, just before the end of April. As I mentioned earlier, we were not only blessed with great weather to sell the island as a destination but also, we were blessed with a relatively quiet island which wasn’t overwhelmed with tourists. Ibiza, as we learned, is a destination for tourism throughout the year, but, in the absence of the nightclubs and beach bars being open, who exactly is visiting the island the rest of the year from October to April?

A Conference Destination For The New Age

After arriving on a flight from London City Airport courtesy of the British Airways City Flyer program (an excellent way to get around for anyone close to City Airport for both the service and destinations offered), there was the customary welcome evening with a stunning mixer hosted in the grounds of our home for the trip, Hotel Torre Del Mar.

Hotel Torre Del Mar ibiza

After conversing with a few colleagues, it became apparent that the Island is a popular destination for counter-culture travellers or, as our hosts dubbed them, hippies.

Yes, Ibiza holds an appeal to not only old-school ravers but new-age travellers as well, with several hippie communes dotted all over the island, many of which have existed since the 1960s. We took a road trip in some appropriately retro vehicles (well, some of us at least)but I have to say, I was not particularly convinced by the marketing, I was beginning to appreciate another side to Ibiza.

hippy road trip ibiza

Yes, there are the beach bars and clubs which are all fabulous to hang out at and lounge around in. Yes, the sea is an incredibly rich coral blue and is deliciously refreshing to escape the heat of the day by diving in. Yes, you can enjoy some exceptional music nights, either with the latest house music or find yourself at a trance throwback night. You can do all of this, throughout much of the year but, you can do none of this when the fun stops after September.

And it’s brilliant.

Ibiza beach bars
CBBC Ibiza beach bar

As soon as the clubs shut their doors and the tourists, whether they be teenagers and twenty-somethings, or families of four and retirees soaking up the sun on sun loungers everywhere between San Antonio and Ibiza Old Town – the island goes quiet. During those quiet months, the weather is often favourable, with temperatures occasionally climbing into the 20s during a particularly warm October and late into March and, most importantly for meetings and events happening in Ibiza at this time, you can do anything you want.

Is Ibiza a good destination for meetings and events?

Ibiza is a beautiful island. Whilst not particularly mountainous, it’s often been referenced in history for its beautiful trees that cover most of the island’s interior, with crystal clear waters and coves dotted all over the coastline. However, Ibiza isn’t a particularly big island. It’s dwarfed by neighbouring Mallorca and with no major urban centres to speak of, does this mean it isn’t fit to host larger events?

Ibiza hotel

Well, yes and no. Whilst most of the hotels on the island don’t sleep more than 200-300 guests, you will find that some of the larger hotels have spaces that can be converted for events that host up to 500 people. One of the best bits about attending different forums like those run by m&i, is the opportunity it grants you to see local hotels and venues, and this forum was no exception when it came to getting the inside scoop on where to go if you want to host a certain event.

Hotels Ibiza

Over three days of meetings, I was offered the chance to walk around and explore several notable properties on the Island, including one of those co-owned by the world’s greatest footballer, Lionel Messi. Naturally, the schedule did not afford me a lot of time to take up any of these generous invitations (but there is always next time) but, these meetings and our excursions out in the afternoon and evening, perfectly demonstrated how viable Ibiza is for any kind of event.

Team building Ibiza

I mentioned earlier that we arrived the week before party season kicks off and that we were blessed with particularly good weather. This would seem like the ideal week to me, to bring any number of guests, delegates or employees, out for an event whilst the island is relatively quiet, and you have the freedom to explore and use it as you see fit. In all honesty, coming at any other point of the year for a larger company or event, just might not be possible.

Most of the major hotels close their doors after the end of the party season. This will be a significant issue for anyone looking to bring a few hundred guests and delegates out for a bigger event. Will some hotels be willing to keep their doors open a bit later into September or, open up a bit earlier in April for the right price? I asked this question to several local agents and received a mixed set of responses. A shrug, a nervous “maybe” and a few outright no’s, might put a dent in any grand designs one may have for bigger conferences happening in Ibiza out of season.

This is unfortunate, as there is almost no chance you’ll be able to pull off an event of considerable size on the island during the busiest months of summer. Ibiza, quite frankly, is just too busy for any other events during the summer, unless your budget is considerably high. Neighboring Mallorca is much more viable as a year-round destination for year-round events but, Ibiza still has its appeal.

The Best Events In Ibiza

So, Ibiza most likely won’t be where you bring a big conference or major event, and you most likely won’t be running any events over the summer on the island but, does that mean you shouldn’t go at all? Not. This is a beautiful island filled with some wonderful hotels and venues for events (the best of which will be outdoors like we experienced) and there is no reason not to visit with smaller groups.

Ibiza coastline
Ibiza Hotel

Ibiza is a short flight from most major European Airports. Transatlantic travel is very easy thanks to flights to Barcelona, London and Frankfurt airports. For anyone based in Central London, flying out of City airport is a godsend. You and your team can leave the office at 5 pm, board a flight an hour later and touch down on the white island for dinner a mere two hours later.

Ibiza flight

With flights available throughout the year, you might not always be guaranteed scorching temperatures and sunny weather if you visit out of season but, you will have the chance to play around, relax and explore, one of the world’s most enticing islands. The island is a fantastic destination for team building, incentive travel and remote working with smaller offices, or for throwing a party for a hundred or so people.

You don’t need to be the biggest of businesses or throw the biggest of events to make the most out of visiting Ibiza. As we discovered on our trip, the island has more than enough to surprise you when it comes to incredible spaces for an event, as well as plenty to offer you outside of meetings to keep you entertained, even if the clubs aren’t open. We can’t wait to go back there again for an event of our own.

How soon will that be? Well, that depends on you. If you want to see some incredible properties and spaces in Ibiza or, talk to us about booking an event there in the future, get in touch now and let’s make your next event happen.

GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR IBIZA EVENT PLANNERS FOR MORE INFORMATION

“Unlocking Opportunities: Holding your next Conference in Spain.”

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Event organisers, are you seeking a European venue for your company’s next conference? Spain is world-leading in conferences, meetings, and events, boasting various resources and quality accommodation. International Airports make internal and international travel extremely accessible making Spain one of the best European destinations for hosting conferences, meetings, events, and product launches.  

From the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona, known for its technology and business conferences, to Madrid: The cultural and economic capital offering a wide range of meeting venues. Over all there are plenty of opportunities for businesses and their delegates on offer throughout Spain. Whatever the size of your event, the team at Spain Conferencing venue finding service work closely with you to find a suitable conference facility or meeting space and accommodation with evening functions to fit your itinerary.  

We’ve picked out four of Spain’s cities Spain Conferencing has to offer. The venues range from luxury hotels to boutique accommodation, with superior conference rooms, meetings, and event facilities, perfect for product launches and other corporate events. 

These are just four conference destinations with excellent road and rail transport links and international airports. 

Alicante  

Although primarily associated with tourism, Alicante has a growing business sector. Located on the beautiful Costa Blanca, with its expanding international airport and excellent road and rail connections, Alicante has emerged as a vibrant city known for its developing technology and business sectors. With its unique combination of opportunities, and pleasant climate, it is becoming a popular destination for companies to hold annual conferences. 

Whatever the focus of your business, the opportunity to hold your next conference in one of Alicante’s many suitable venues is not to be missed. Its beautiful beaches and excellent and unique conference facilities, such as the 5-star Asia Gardens Hotel  with its 3.500 m² Conference Centre, make it an attractive destination for professionals seeking a blend of business and leisure.

If you’d prefer a venue that’s right on the beach, The Meliá Alicante, with its 544 bedrooms and a range of flexible meeting rooms and capacity for up to 470 delegates, could be the right venue for your next event. 

Barcelona  

The capital of Catalonia, Barcelona, has earned a well-deserved reputation as a leading destination for technology, medical and business events. With its world-class facilities, Barcelona attracts businesses from around the globe, making it a thriving centre for companies to hold their conferences and product launches. 

Barcelona’s technology scene attracts conference organisers and industry professionals in artificial intelligence, digital marketing, cybersecurity, and e-commerce, encouraging networking and exchanging ideas.  

In addition to the technological opportunities, Barcelona is a thriving hub for business and corporate events industry forums and with more than 200 hotels offering a range of conference venues and state-of-the-art meeting facilities, such as the Meliá Barcelona Sarrià with 1900 square meters of conference and event space is ideal for more significant events, or if you require something a little smaller the Mandarin Oriental, offers something a little more intimate and unique.  

Madrid 

Madrid is a leading destination for conferences, business meetings, and events.

Madrid conference hotels

With its buoyant economy, Madrid is Spain’s central transport hub, with road and rail networks linking it to other destinations throughout Spain and an international airport connecting it to worldwide destinations. Boasting a vast range of meeting locations and conference centres, roughly 15 percent of people travelling to Madrid do so for business. With over 700 hotels, there is plenty of accommodation for your delegates. We have a selection of Hotels with a range of conference facilities and accommodation, such as the Eurostars Madrid Tower, with a delegate capacity of 1,300 and 473 guest rooms plus several suites. And the smaller but exquisite Hotel Ritz Madrid. They boast four meeting rooms, the largest with a capacity of up to 600 delegates reception style and 167 Guest rooms and suites.  

Marbella  

Situated on the Costa Del Sol, The luxurious coastal city of Marbella is known for its upmarket image and pleasant climate, making it the perfect choice for companies wishing to host their next conference in this stunning location at any time of the year. Known primarily as a holiday resort, it is becoming popular as a destination for businesses who want to mix a little leisure time with their event. Thirty minutes from Malaga airport with easy transfer options, Marbella is host to many luxurious venues such as the Anantara Villa Padierna Palace with its 1,131 square meters, of dedicated conference space holding up to 600 delegates.

Alternatively the five star Los Monteros Spa & Golf Resort  with more than 1,000 m2 of meeting space with seven meeting rooms and 1 Royal room holding up to 350 delegates is the perfect venue for a smaller conference.  

Away from the conference venue, Marbella has much to offer delegates to do during your event’s downtime, providing your participants with a perfect balance of business, relaxation, and Mediterranean charm. 

Time to visit the old town and historical landmarks, or the world-class golf courses and marina are a great location for networking or some team building. 

Team building Spain

In conclusion, our team can provide you with a solution to finding a venue and planning your itinerary for your future conferences. Spain Conferencing  are here to help you through your event planning as seamlessly as possible by tailoring your event to your needs and budget. Contact  us today, or to see our other destinations click here. 

LONDON’S TOP 5 VENUES TO HIRE FOR MEETINGS & EVENTS

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London offers a wide variety of conference hotels for conferences, exhibitions, product launches, training seminars, team building and corporate meetings venues, set in the beautiful European city of London, in England.

London is the Global business hub and all locations have excellent access by road, rail and air, with a wealth of accommodation.

London is one of the world’s most exciting cities, offering something to every type of traveller. This vibrant city embraces the diverse cultures of its population, reflected through its cuisine, shops, music and colourful festivals. With five international airports, an efficient road network and extensive Underground, train, bus, and taxi services London is a very accessible city. The city is famous for its history and culture. It is home to Britain’s national art collections, the Royal family and a host of major attractions. With its rich history, striking architecture and over 200 museums London offers a unique cultural experience.

Here is are most popular hotels in London for meetings and events.

Old Billingsgate

1 Old Billingsgate walk, London EC3R 6DX

In the core of the city on the North bank of the River Thames, stands a memorable historic building that is a wonderful part of London’s heritage. Old Billingsgate contains three versatile spaces and a stunning terrace with unrivalled views of Tower Bridge, City Hall, The Shard and London Bridge.

This Victorian Grade II listed building was once a world-famous fish market, operating until 1982. The Grand Hall, which now holds various events from conferences to awards evenings, was the market floor, and the basement of Old Billingsgate, now The Vault, was covered in 50 years of ice used to store the fishermen’s catch.

The three distinctive spaces, The Grand Hall, The Vault and The Gallery, are available to hire individually or in conjunction with each other so there is plenty of space for your event to grow.

8 NORTHUMBERLAND

8 Northumberland Avenue WC2N 5BY

8 Northumberland location is within a 3-minute walk from Trafalgar Square, this premium location makes it accessible and easy to reach by all transport means, increasing your event attendance ​.

The unique mixture of classic Victorian architecture and cutting-edge technology compliments a variety of events. From large awards dinners to high tech conferences, luxurious receptions to successful exhibitions, this venue can hold up to 1000 guests.

Searcys at the Gherkin

30 St Marys Axe – London

The Iconic Gherkin building offers unforgettable view of London striking skyline. With the private dining rooms situated on level 38 the rooms are designed with flexibility in mind, whole floor bookings allowing for large gatherings of up to 130 guests and more intimate business meetings and gatherings, ideal for events from 18-60 guests.

THE VIEW

38-43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PE

The View is located on the top floor of the historic Royal College of Surgeons and boasts a terrace with stunning views of London which guests can enjoy on summer evenings.

The 6th floor space features the Conference Suite and Park View rooms, with two breakout spaces. The space has the capacity to hold up to 300 guests for a drinks reception or in theatre style and can accommodate up to 120 cabaret style or 250 guests for dinner.

THE PLAISTERERS HALL

St Paul’s, Moorgate, Barbican, Bank

As London’s Largest Livery Hall, Plaisteres Hall offers a variety of event spaces suited for corporate, meeting, celebrations and banquets. The spaces include the large Great Hall, which is best suited to presentations, awards ceremonies and road shows, and smaller adjoining spaces such as the Mott Room, Livery Hall, Humber Room and Reception space. The range of rooms allows great flexibility for corporate entertaining accommodating up to 500 guest for a standing reception. You could use the spaces individually or create an event that makes use of the entire venue – smaller spaces are perfect for breakout rooms.

For more information on all our London venues please get in contact with our Event Co-ordinators to discuss your Event.

Email: info@conference-desk.com

CONTACT US

FAM Trip to Portugal – Lisbon – Sintra- Cascais

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Saturday 24th September

I was delighted to be invited by Leading Hotels of the World & Destinations Unlimited who put together an exciting and educational Familiarisation trip to Portugal Lisbon to showcase their beautiful 5-star hotels in Lisbon, Sintra and Cascais.

It was an early start at Heathrow ready to depart on the TAP Portugal airlines from London Heathrow direct to Lisbon Portugal– the flight was only very comfortable 2x 15 mins hours flight.

TAP Air Portugal

We were greeted by our drivers and then taken by private transfer straight to our first hotel site visit a the Olissipo Lapa Palace which is nested on one of Lisbon’s 7 hilltops overlooking the Tagus River and set amongst a sub-tropical centennial garden. The hotel is divided into three different sections – Palace Wing, Garden Wing and Villa Lapa  with a total of 109 rooms which have all been decorated in difference styles with Portuguese style fabric and furniture.

We were taken on a show around of the hotel and meeting rooms followed shortly with a divine 6 x course Portuguese tapas then a cheese and port tasting session on the hotels terrace, overlooking the beautiful gardens and swimming pool.

Olissipo Lapa Palace
olissipo lapa palace
olissipo lapa palace

After lunch we departed from the Olissipo and taken to the Tivoli Avenida de Liberdade for a site visit of the hotel. It is known as the Grande Dame of hotels in central Lisbon delivering hospitality since 1933 and is the place to be seen in Lisbon with a meeting point for celebrities, heads of state and royalty. The hotels has 285 bedrooms, from Deluxe rooms to Presidential Suites and 14 meeting rooms which are all flexible in size and can host up to 280 delegates for events in Lisbon central.

Tivoli Avenida da Liberdade
Tivoli Avenida

After the show around we were treated to drinks and canapes at Lisbon’s trendiest rooftop Sky bar located on the 9th floor of the hotel overlooking the River Tagus and the Arrábida Mountains. This is an stunning setting for any event to WOW your delegates!

sky bar roof top lisbon

Sky Bar Roof Top – Tivoli Avenida da Liberdade

Lisbon’s trendiest rooftop Sky bar
Sky Bar Lisbon
Sky Bar roof Top Lisbon

Next stop – we walked through the beautiful, cobbled streets of Lisbon onto the a boutique hotel – Bairro Alto also located in the centre of Lisbon in a very prestigious area. This hotel was beautifully decorated with 3 meeting rooms, 1 auditorium and foyer complemented with a separate entrance for events attendees.

Meeting room

All the rooms were welcomed with natural daylight and the interior décor was above and beyond. We had the pleasure of eating dinner in their Bahr restaurant, located on the 5th floor which had a terrace overlooking the River Tagus. What a beautiful way to finish the day!

Sunday 25th  

Pestana Palace –Palacio de Seteais – Grande Real Vila Italia

We checked out from the Olissipo Lapa Palace the following morning to be greeted by a couple of Tuk Tuks!

Tuk Tuk tours lisbon
Tuk Tuk tours lisbon

We were taken on a tour around the city to visit all the historic monuments and sights.  This is the definatly the perfect way to see the sights of Lisbon.

We were then taken by tuk tuk to the next hotel –The 5-star Pestana Palace and we were welcomed by a Portuguese guitar player in the entrance to the hotel. This property is a stunning 19th century palace which has been restored with very grand meeting rooms in the main building, 2 swimming pools, spa, and surrounded by lush gardens.

Pestana palace Sintra
Pestana Palace Sintra

We were greeted by the Hotel Manager and their staff with a glass of champayne and then was served a traditional portuguese lunch in the historic Renascenca room, which was the original dining room of the Marques e Marques Valle-Flor.  This hotel is a hidden gem! 

Marques e Marques Valle-Flor

After lunch we departed towards Sintra which is a charming Portuguese town nestled on the hills Serra de Sintra and surrounded by historic buildings and natural scenery.

We departed Sintra to the next hotel Tivoli Palacio de Seteais  for a Queens Tea Experience where we were welcomed with a beautifully dressed table with endless tea, sandwiches and portuguese cakes.

Queens Tea Palacio de seteais
Palacio de seteais Sintra
queens tea experience

The hotel has 30 bedrooms all very elegant, decorated with ornate furnishings, stunning tapestries & two large conferencne rooms which can accomodate up to 200 delegates. There is also the Anantara SPA Palácio de Seteais within the hotel. This is ideal for a smaller conference or Incentive trip.

Palacio de Seteais

After the Queens Tea experice we were onto our last hotel site visit to Hotel Grand Real Villa Italia located in the beautiful town of Cascais.

cascais town portugal

The Five Star Grande Real Villa Itália Hotel & Spa represents the pinnacle of Hotel design and the very best in sophistication and comfort. Built on the site of a former Italian palace near the stylish town of Cascais, no expense has been spared in the construction, the decoration or in the superb facilities available in the hotel making this perhaps the best hotel in Cascais. Just to the north lie the fairytale hills and castles of Sintra, whilst Lisbon is within easy reach. Whether you are on holiday, or business, the Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel & Spa is the ideal choice for those wishing to visit the diverse charms of this part of Portugal.

The 16 multi-purpose meeting rooms, which can hold up to 450 people, are an important element in the hotel and have been designed to attract all types of events, from a simple business meeting to the international launch of products.

Grande Real Villa Italia Cascais
Grande Real Villa Italia Cascais bedrooms 5 star hotel
Grande real villa Italia event profs fam trip
End of the FAM trip – Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel & Spa – Cascais

Overall each one of the hotels visted were unique in their own way and perfect for specific events such as meetings, incentive travel or conferences in Portugal – if you want to have a chat about any of the hotels in Portugal please get in touch or for any other locations.

Eleanor xx

Event Director @ Conference Desk @ Four Seasons Events

A Tale Of Two Cities: Madrid and Toledo.

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We were lucky enough to be invited away recently on a trip to Spain. Naturally, we wouldn’t dare turn down such a generous offer, or pass up on a chance to escape the office for a couple of days! So, a few weeks ago I found myself headed up to London, preparing to jet off and visit a part of one of my favourite countries that I had never been to before.

Arrival

After touching down in Madrid, I was quickly whisked away for a short, but comfortable ride to the hotel. I would be both inspecting and staying in for the next two nights, the stunning, Eurostars Madrid Tower. Although it was dark by the time I had landed, it was still easy to appreciate just how impressive a building the Madrid Tower is. The first thirty floors of the tower are operated by Eurostars, and during the day they grant guests some stunning views.

Introductions were made and dinner was served. We dined later then we are used to back in Britain, but one must always adhere to the customs of the country one visits! The menu was comprised of both classic Spanish and local dishes. My hosts were overly generous with the wine, causing my memory of the food to be rather foggy, with one marvellous exception. Carrot Cake is not usually my first choice for a dessert, but when served with the deliciously decadent, passionfruit twist that was our meals finale, it’s fair to say I have converted!

A Trip to Toledo

Thanks to a rather jam-packed itinerary for the next two days it was an early breakfast before setting off for Toledo. I was equally as curious to visit this stunning fortress-city as I was to visit Madrid itself. A fairly acceptable drive of about 40 minutes was all it took to put the capital behind us and bring us to Toledo’s stunning cityscape. I’d never seen an image of Toledo before we stopped off at the historic city gate. As a former Citadel, much of the interior layout to the old-town is still preserved, although the once thick curtain-walls are now broken in some sections.

Toledo is protected by the Tagus river on all sides. It’s an impressive natural defence but also a beautiful landscape feature. The view from the surrounding hills across the Tagus of the city is simply magnificent. The most beautiful landmark in a city filled with them has to be the cathedral at its heart. A stunning assembly of baroque and neo-gothic architecture. Filled with frescos, gold, and other precious objects that catch the eye as you wander around the cathedral’s vast expanse. I could have wandered around the cathedral, and indeed, most of the city itself for days. But, duty called, and after a brief tour of the local Eurostars site, it was back to Madrid.

An Evening of Entertainment

Following another brief tour of another property, and a very quick shower, the evening’s entertainment could now take centre stage. We were taken to a quiet street, just across from the cities cathedral, and entered one of the most packed restaurants I’ve ever been to. A legion of smartly clad serving staff attended the few hundred diners who occupied almost every inch of floor space. A podium took up one small corner of the restaurant, the stage as of yet, unoccupied. Soon, after gorging ourselves almost into a stupour the clock struck ten, and the real reason we had arrived at this establishment became obvious.

The Flamenco is one of the most passionate, intense, and fierce performances in dance that the eyes can witness. The crash of every step. The echo of every chord and note. It is both visually and audibly intoxicating to watch. I found myself in awe of the performers, both the musicians and the dancers. It is easy, in our mostly digital world we now occupy, to forget the power of a live performance. Our most-kind and generous hosts had provided a surprise well worth the journey.

More Of Madrid

We departed the restaurant for the more relaxed and less crowded environment of the Madrid Tower. A few drinks and friendly chats were had but there was nothing that could possibly top the earlier performance. We retired once again quite early, for we knew that although the next day was our last, we still had much todo. Another early start saw us take a walking tour of the city centre of Madrid. Our Tour guide was a chap named Sean, one-half Irish, the other Spanish. I can safely say he was the best tour guide I’ve ever had. The tour was slightly hurried, given our busy schedule, but Sean provided more than an insight into the history of the city.

Sadly, we left the beating heart of Madrid and ventured back to the tower. They really had saved the best until last with our final site inspection. The hotel boasts some truly first class meeting and breakout rooms. They have good reason to be proud of their property. It is no wonder why it remains so popular with everyone from foreign dignitaries to the giants of football. Liverpool FC stayed at the Madrid Tower during last years Champions League final in Madrid. I’m told any team who spends the night in the property before a match always wins the next day.

Departure

After a fantastic lunch, it was time to be on our way again. Despite having just over an hour until the flight home, I did have a nervous glance at my watch anticipating traffic en route to the airport. I needn’t have worried. The journey once again, lasted barely 20 minutes, and still left time to quickly browse duty-free! During the flight, I reflected on the last two days and all that I’d seen during my enjoyable, but brief stay. You can never spend enough time away on trips like these. But of course, the whole point of the trip was to leave me wanting more.

Our hosts were fantastic. The itinerary was put together in order to give us as much to see and do as possible. In that, it definitely delivered, as did our fantastic Eurostars hosts in showing off their properties. Both Madrid and Toledo have much to offer any visitors. For myself, I’ve found another part of Spain to love, and explore. Hopefully, I won’t be waiting too long to return there.

To read more about other destinations, check out our blog, or to view the Eurostars Madrid Tower click here.

Incentive Travel: Make The Most of Out-Of-Office Opportunities.

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Employees are happier when they are in dynamic, inspiring, and sometimes even exotic working environments. Now, this does not mean you need to suggest relocating the whole office or even separate departments. You don’t have to move your R&D team to the Canary Islands. Accounting does not have to take up residency in The Emirates. Pulling in new business from abroad does not have to be a priority either. What you can do is far more simple and that is exactly where Incentive Travel comes in.

Incentive Travel Group

We are familiar with the age-old sales team prizes. The Range Rover Sport going to the top sellers in departments each week. We have seen the quarterly all-expenses-paid trip away to the Mediterranean. I am sure there are many people we all know who have enacted all manners of subterfuge to secure an invite to the bosses annual golf trip. All of these methods and carrot-dangling tactics are tried, tested, and proven to work. Yet they are just one-side of the Incentive Travel equation. How often have you thought about rather than leaving the office to get away, go away, and take the office with you?

Creating More Incentives to Travel.

Incentive Travel does not just have to apply to your own employees. You have some new clients that are due to arrive in town for a pitch. Rather than bringing them into the familiar environment of your workplace, why not take them, and the whole of the creative team to a more neutral setting? Put them at ease but also build their anticipation. Give your team a little more room to flex their muscles without all the usual pressures of the home office. Creating incentives doesn’t just have to apply to your people, but travelling with them and the people you’re pitching too is an entirely new way of doing business.

Cheese and Wine tasting.

It’s approaching the end of the financial year. Accounting is crunching their way through the books and gradually sagging into their chairs with each passing day. Pack them off for a week working where they can see the sun and sea out of their window. Give them a break from the usual stress and the chance to relax.  It’s mid-winter. Your team are starting to flag, the usual coughs, colds, and other forms of influenza. Get the jump on inevitable sick days that are coming. Why not find a wellness spa and move them to work there instead of seeing them deteriorate in the office? You don’t have to travel far, or for long, to increase productivity. But sometimes any change of environment is a welcome change indeed.

The Good, The Bad, and The Obvious.

Now it is obvious that Incentive travel comes with a nasty word that unfortunately, must always be considered, Budget. It is an intimidating word to contend with when it comes to ordering the cake and flowers for someone’s birthday, let-alone justifying a work trip of any kind outside of the office zip-code, let alone country. There will always be some who argue as to why Incentive Travel is not a worthy investment for you. But the fact of the matter is that Incentive Travel can offer you a fantastic ROI and boost productivity. Let us not forget an obvious return point also. Morale.

When someone mentions “earnings” or “net profit” next, show them HR’s reports on employee welfare and motivation. Look at the numbers on how much your company or business is losing each year due to “lack of productivity”. Mental Health is now more under more scrutiny in society and the workplace than ever. Providing a positive working environment and motivation to your employees to continue their hard work is difficult. Incentive Travel is a means of letting your employees know you care about them but does not have to result in reduced levels of productivity.

Cocktail glass on terrace.

Invest In Your Image with Incentive Travel.

Most importantly, employee welfare should not be something which is settled by digits and decimals. There should not be a number that quantifies their value to a business. Incentive Travel should be exactly that, an incentive to work harder, to work better, and to be rewarded accordingly. Any company that invests so much into their employees will only attract the best applicants for the future. If your business is seen to invest just as much in their clients then who is to say how many more may come your way?

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Hotel Focus: Penha Longa

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The Penha Longa resort is simply one of the most sublime hotels to visit on the Iberian Peninsula. Boasting not one, but two Michelin starred restaurants, a 27-hole world-class golf course, as well as a 1,500 sqm wellness centre and spa, the word luxury has never been more relevant than when referring to the Penha Longa. Situated in the former grounds of the eponymous monastery, and bordering two of the country’s most notable gated-communities, whilst just a short drive away from the beautiful capital of Lisbon.

For those who may be somewhat deterred by the grandeur of the Penha Longa have no fear of the resort being too exclusive. Mega-celebrities such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Bryan Adams may own houses nearby. The pupils and families from the famous Carlucci American School may also frequent the resort, yet the Penha Longa is very much open to all comers.

A Focus On Food

I have mentioned the restaurants. Whilst there are a dozen different gastronomy experiences to try during your stay I’ll focus on the two that stand out immediately. Having one Michelin star restaurant in a hotel anywhere is a significant achievement in the world of hospitality. Having two is nothing short of sensational. LAB by Sergi Arola is famous for its incredible fusion dishes that have been rumoured to reduce some diners to tears thanks to the overpowering emotions that the combined flavours can bring. It also boasts a wine cellar that features an overwhelming 550 references from around the globe.

I dined with LAB’s Michelin counterpart, which is the Japanese (with a slight touch of Portuguese) restaurant, Midori. Midori was my first true experience sampling Japanese cuisine. That was seven years ago and I am still comparing every subsequent foray into Japanese cuisine to that. The food was incredible, the Saki almost blew my socks off, but the overall experience was like nothing I’d ever had in dining up until that point. I will forever associate the word precision, with the methodical, time-honed skill that the chef applied to prepare every dish as it came out for our party as I watched him. It is one of the signature joys of Japanese cuisine that you are able to watch the chefs at work so intimately, and it is a joy I first experienced at the Penha Longa.

Golf, Yoga, Event, Repeat.

The facilities at the Penha Longa aside from the restaurants are equally exceptional. The golf course as I mentioned in the beginning, is world-class for a reason. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, and home to 27 glorious holes amid the ruins of the medieval monastery. It’s easy to see why the course has hosted half a dozen major golf tournaments. The Wellness Centre boasts two outdoor pools, a heated indoor pool, Turkish bath, sauna, Jacuzzi, as well as some fantastic treatment rooms. You can also find a host of daily fitness activities to participate in whilst there. Yoga, Pilates, and outdoor fitness classes all run regularly and are available to guests to join in during their stay.

For accommodation, the hotel offers 194 luxury rooms and suites, all coming with their own balconies. The Penha Longa is a former royal palace of the Portuguese monarchy, and as such has a number of function rooms. These can cater for up to 600 delegates, and in total, there are 25 meeting rooms of different size. The Hotel is just a short drive from both Lisbon city and airport, but also the coastline. High praise must be reserved for the staff at this fantastic resort. Despite the wealth in abundance which resides in close proximity to the Penha Longa, the staff are exceptionally accommodating, towards all guests. Polite, attentive, and genuinely welcoming towards all guests.

The Final Word

The Penha Longa is an amazing location for any event or occasion. Its history is one of opulence and luxury but also quiet and solidarity. It has been a place of worship for both deities and dynasties. It encourages wellness but also indlugnece in some of life’s simpler pleasures. A place open to formality and family. Now all that’s left is to decide when you will go!

For more Infomation about the Penha Longa click here.

Motivation Vacation: Why Team Building Matters

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Team building amongst colleagues is a valuable method of improving co-operation, productivity, and positivity in the workplace. It’s an opportunity to get people out of the office, and their comfort zones, to encourage them to interact and develop better relationships with their colleagues. But is there really more to team building then a break from work?

Causes For Concern?

Sometimes, yes, we all need a break from work. From the pressures and confines of the office, from the constant scrutiny of supervisors, managers, and directors, or just from the people you sit next to every day. It’s natural we are all human, we all cope with stress and expectations in different ways. But if you’re the person in charge, and you see that there are very real divisions if not outright conflicts going on in the office, what do you do?

You might feel like you should step in, but won’t out of fear of escalating the situation, a very real problem and not one to be taken lightly. You might feel that some behind the scenes subterfuge, shakeups in the chain of command, relocating warring colleagues from each other, or thinly veiled directives for everyone to stop causing problems and get on with their jobs or else is the best way to handle a tricky situation.

Different situations call for different measures but, sometimes, it’s better to take these problems out of the office. Put them and the people with them, in a different territory where they can be wrong-footed, challenged, put-on-the-spot and made to step-up and tackle issues in a more productive and hopefully, more positive manner. Perhaps I’m overselling it to you at this point and what you actually have is an office or workspace full of disgruntled, unmotivated, and anti-social colleagues who really just need a chance to lighten up.

Enter: The Team Building Trip

Team building getaways are an ideal way of beating all of these problems if not just short of being a guaranteed solution. Raft building in Tenerife. No one would ever think they would be there doing it, let alone doing it with the people they spend 40 hours a week with, yet here they are. Having the time of their lives, on an expenses-paid trip with work, learning to laugh and get on with each other. A fire-pit at night, people are actually talking to each other, engaging in levels of discourse previously unheard or even thought of, helping to embolden employees to communicate with each other in a way they never had previously.

Picture this. The first day back at work, post-trip, and people are smiling. There is laughter, genuine laughter being heard in the office for the first time in months, unforced, as people chat with each other with genuine interest and enthusiasm. Colleagues who were once animous are now amicable. The relationship between management and staff is more relaxed and informal, more open, communicative, better for both parties. The team-building process is complete and you now have a happier and better-connected staff then you did previously.

But Can We Really Achieve That Much From Team Building?

Beach Team Building

If I have said it once I’ll reiterate it now; there are no guarantees when it comes to these trips. You cannot always pick a venture or an itinerary which satisfies anyone (which is also why in my opinion you are better off going into these things blind and leaving it to the pro’s like us), and some issues just cannot be resolved in a weekend or a week, and neither should you try to force them to be, because your focus shifts away from the enrichment of your staff as a whole, and you will end up scrutinising (possibly unfairly as well) a few select individuals.

But if you’re smart, you pick the right time of year, end up in the right environment and atmosphere (which should come courtesy of yours truly at Conference-Desk) then there is no reason why you will not end up going on the team-building adventure of your workplace lifetime. In fact, the only problem you should ever have after a successful motivation vacation is that everyone won’t stop asking you when the next one is!

To enquire about booking your next team-building trip click here.