News
The Azores: a new and sustainable meeting industry destination
The Bea World Advisory Board Meeting 2018 was organised by ADC Group with the support of the Azores Tourism Board and Apecate. We have reached Filipe Macedo, Regional Director for Tourism of the Azores Government, and asked him about their choice to host the event and the over 30 event professionals who joined it.
Q: Why did you decide to host the Advisory Board Meeting?
A: We saw in hosting the Bea World Advisory Board a valuable opportunity to promote our wonderful archipelago of nine islands and give to such distinguished participants the opportunity to see the reason why the Azores are named the second best islands in the world for sustainable tourism by National Geographic Traveller and the number one sustainable destination in the world by the Green Destinations Organisation. It was also a good moment to show that the Azores are capable to host and organize events, with specialized companies, appropriate professional services, good infrastructures, excellent venues and hotels, which allow buyers to make the most of this magnificent natural setting. Meeting industry is a priority touristic product and the Azorean government has invested strong for the last years building new infrastructures suitable for this important segment.
It’s our strategy to include the Azores on the meeting industry map destinations, because we believe that our Region has strong potential and is highly competitive in this sector, considering the investments that have been made by the Azorean Government, transforming the Azores into a new meeting industry destination, worth discovering.
Q: What do the Azores can offer to the meetings and events industry?
A: The Azores are the perfect destination for the meeting and events industry, because it combines contemporary infrastructures with the preservation of its natural, cultural and history heritage. A new destination with great potential for business tourism, new infrastructures for events, such as new hotels and conference centres, richness and diversity of tourist attractions, good air links to Lisbon, Porto and other European and intercontinental destinations (USA and Canada), mild climate all year long, fine food and good wine, excellent hospitality and, above all, a safe destination.
There is so much to see and do in the Azores, from whale watching, diving, trekking, geo-tourism, birdwatching, fishing, canyoning and kayaking, horse riding, diving, cycling and mountain biking, surfing, sailing, paragliding and golf, relax in a spa, visit the only tea plantation in Europe or simply visit the rich cultural heritage of the islands. The experiences are unlimited and unforgettable.
I would also like to inform that buyers will always find a partner in the Azores Government.