ITTN’s Julia Labedz was at the VBRATA Visit Brasil Roadshow last night at the Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin, the 10th stop in the association’s 2025 European roadshow aimed at promoting Brasilian destinations and connectivity to travel trade professionals.
Approximately 60 attendees from across the Irish travel industry gathered for an evening of presentations, networking, and destination insight, followed by dinner and a quiz competition.
Upon arrival at the Iveagh Garden Hotel, agents had the opportunity to mingle and enjoy welcome refreshments before the formal presentations began. The event was hosted by Chris Fuzinatto, Chairman of VBRATA (Visit Brasil Travel Association), who opened with an overview of the non-profit organisation’s mission to promote Brasil in Europe and the Americas. Founded in 2011 in London, VBRATA now operates in multiple markets including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the USA, and South America. Members include airlines, tour operators, travel agencies, and DMCs, all of whom benefit from access to copyright-free content, marketing materials, and online training courses.
Lilas Nascimento from Embratur delivered the first presentation, providing an overview of Brasil’s tourism sector. She noted that the country received a record 7 million international visitors between January and September 2024. With a population exceeding 220 million and five distinct geographic regions, Brasil maintains a unified language, currency, and legal system. The country’s size is comparable to that of Europe, with internal distances requiring up to 14 hours of travel north to south. Nascimento also introduced Embratur’s key trade tools, including the Brasil Travel Specialist platform, consumer site Visibrasil.com, and the Feel Brasil campaign featuring 101 curated experiences and multimedia marketing resources.
Aline Moretto from Visit São Paulo then presented the city and state as Brasil’s primary commercial and air hub. São Paulo offers two international airports, extensive domestic connectivity, and the best-developed road infrastructure in the country, meaning you can road-trip anywhere, anytime. The city features over 100 museums, major event venues, plenty of foodie diversity from Michelin-star restaurants to street food, and a range of accommodation from international hotel brands to resorts. Key tourism products include guided stadium tours, cultural districts, urban parks, and emerging wine tourism close to the city centre, where grapes were imported from the Champagne region in France, and have already garnered over 3 wine excellence awards over the last few years, making it a promising destination for those who love a glass of special something.
Eduardo Koshima of Bahia delivered one of the evening’s most engaging presentations, using humour throughout to keep the room entertained while showcasing the many attractions and experiences the state has to offer. By the end of his talk, there was little doubt in the room – we all wanted to book a trip to Bahia. The capital, Salvador, is noted for its well-preserved colonial architecture, strong religious traditions, and for hosting the world’s largest Carnival. Bahia encompasses 13 tourism zones, including the Coconut Coast, known for its concentration of established resorts; the Dendê Coast, home to Brazil’s largest archipelago; and the inland Chapada Diamantina National Park, recognised for its landscape and trekking routes. The state has reported a 58% increase in international arrivals in 2025, supported by expanded air connectivity and the introduction of new luxury hospitality developments.
Ricardo Dinis from TAP Air Portugal concluded the presentations with an overview of the airline’s network. TAP operates 15 weekly flights between Dublin and Lisbon and connects onwards to 13 destinations across Brasil with 97 weekly frequencies, making it the leading European carrier for travel to the country. He highlighted TAP’s Lisbon stopover programme, which allows passengers to stay up to 10 nights in the Portuguese capital, as well as the efficient non-Schengen transfer process at Lisbon airport. The on-board product, as shown in the presentation, appeared exceptionally comfortable, a detail not lost on agents eyeing future bookings… Dinis also outlined the airline’s trade support tools, including a self-service group booking platform and a dedicated agent helpdesk.
Following the presentations, guests were treated to a delicious three-course dinner, beginning with a goat’s cheese starter, followed by a slow-cooked beef cheek main course, and finishing up with warm apple crumble and vanilla ice cream. Every course was beautifully presented and thoroughly enjoyed – judging by the clean plates, as not a crumb was left behind!
After dinner, Martin Skelly, former President of the ITAA, addressed the room, congratulating VBRATA and its partners for their superb organisation and presentations during the evening. The night finished on a very celebratory note with the much-anticipated prize draw from the quiz competition. The grand prize, return flights to Brasil, generously sponsored by TAP Air Portugal, was won by Natalia Ortiz Moncada from Click&Go Holidays. Congrats Natalia!
ITTN would like to thank VBRATA and all participating partners for hosting such a fantastic roadshow in Dublin. The event was a valuable opportunity for the Irish trade to connect with key representatives and feel newly inspired to promote travel to Brasil. See you soon, Bahia!
