Lisbon

Whilst hardly a new destination for seasoned event planners, Lisbon is having a resurgence as a very fashionable European city to experience thanks to travel industry awards and media attention. Lisbon had escaped me for many years and I only recently discovered its possibilities in planning an incentive weekend. Undoubtedly, great accessibility with flights makes it a favourable contender but I was eager to discover its true qualities and whether it could deliver the incentive ingredients to make it super special. For my discovery, I journeyed via an abundance of transport options for events from open top beetles, tuk-tuks, electric bicycles and swanky limousines. I soaked up the vibrant life around the contrasting cool districts with white domed cathedrals, cobbled alleyways and post-card perfect panoramic views of the seven hills of Lisbon to the Rio Tejo. There is the heart of the city but easy to access the different areas of the city. A visit to Belum is on most itineraries, not just for the cultural experiences but a Lisbon essential – the Pastel de Nata, the birthplace of the famous Portuguese tart. Yum! My first observation was the volume of graffiti, but I soon discovered this is a Lisbon credential – one of the coolest destinations for urban art. As I explored the city, I discovered masterpieces adorning buildings throughout the city which were simply spectacular. The artwork features in a number of event possibilities to make creative use of this art form in exploring the city and seeing amazing creativity by the artists. The city is blessed with high-quality DMCs to assist in extracting the best the city has to offer. Creative ideas to showcase the charms of the city in unique modes of transport with fun, surprise twists. Old established hotels are being excitedly refreshed and talk of big brand names in the pipeline. The city mixes new and old effortlessly. From rustic, cool, arty bars to sophisticated, gourmet restaurants, it really does cater for all event profiles. Design hotels to classic luxury to super value meeting venues. I left this light, bright city eager to return realising I had only just scratched the surface of this cool yet classic city by the sea (or river!).