Travel agents from the south-west gathered in The Metropole Hotel in Cork city yesterday evening, as the Portugal roadshow concluded, after great events in Dublin and Limerick earlier this week.
Visit Portugal Director, Carlos Pinto de Oliveira, was joined on this roadshow by various regional tourist boards such as Visit Algarve, Visit Alentejo, Visit Madeira and Visit Porto & Northern Portugal, as well as hotel groups HF Hotels, Porto Bay Hotels & Resorts, United Hotels and Vida Mar Hotels & Resorts to name a few. Local DMC’s and day tour providers were also in attendance such as Inside Tours, Transalpino DMC, Try Portugal amongst others, and, of course, Cindy Dos Santos who represents TAP Air Portugal, was also at the shows this week.
The evening started with a buffet dinner to fuel agents before the speed networking with over twenty representatives, followed by a short opening speech from Carlos. George Barter, Honorary Consulate of Portugal for the last ten years, and retired owner of J Barter Travel Group, took to the mic to welcome agents and gave a few words about his time working closely with Visit Portugal to promote the destination to Irish holidaymakers.
Speed networking got underway shortly after, where agents had 10-minute sessions to meet with and hear updates from the representatives in attendance.
The evening concluded with prize giving where there were lots of great prizes up for grabs including hotel stays, day tours, vineyard tours, bottles of Portuguese wine and lots more. Congratulations to all the lucky winners!
PRIZES & WINNERS
- €100 Voucher for The Loop, courtesy of Cork Airport
Winner: Karen Callaghan
- 2 x bottles of Portuguese wine, courtesy of Visit Portugal
Winner: Kevin Murray
- Bottle of Porto wine, courtesy of TAP Air Portugal
Winner: Charlene Hurley
- Free night extension when you book, courtesy of the Carris Grupo
Winner: Carley Larkin
- Wine & Olive Oil tasting in Alentejo, courtesy of Rota Dos Vinhos do Alentejo
Winner: Eithne Keating
- Visit to 2 wine producers, courtesy of Rota Vinhos Do Tejo
Winner: Sarah Lynch
- 3 nights in 3HB Guaraná, courtesy of 3HB Hotels
Winner: Maria Boyle-Morgan
- 1 night stay in Lisbon, courtesy of AIM Group Portugal
Winner: Tom Randles
- 2 nights (B&B) at Dolce CampoReal by Wyndham, courtesy of Discovery Hotel Management
Winner: Geraldine O’Brien
- 2 nights (B&B) in Hotel Marques De Pombal, courtesy of Hotel Marques De Pombal
Winner: Danielle O’Keeffe
- Arrabida Wine Tour Day Trip for 2, courtesy of Inside Tours
Winner: Fiona Lacey
- Private airport transfers (Lisbon) & Private half day city tour (Lisbon), courtesy of Transalpino DMC
Winner: Michelle Brennan
- 1 night at a United Hotel, courtesy of United Hotels Portugal
Winner: Sarah Brady
- 2 nights (B&B) in a Vila Gale Hotel, courtesy of Vila Gale Hotels
Winner: Luis Braya
- 2 nights at NH Collection Batalha, courtesy of Visit Porto & North Portugal
Winner: Sharon O’Brien
- 2 nights at Grande Hotel De Luso & Acqua Sensations Circuit at Termas De Luso Spa, courtesy of Dulce Figueira
Winner: Viki Scannell
- 3 nights at a Porto Bay Hotel in Madeira, courtesy of Porto Bay Hotels
Winner: Peggy Fennell
- A Bottle of Portuguese Wine, courtesy of Visit Portugal
Winner: Meghan Young
- A Bottle of Portuguese Wine, courtesy of Visit Portugal
Winner: Aoife Flanagan
