We are beyond thrilled to share that Abreu Events (covering our Conferences, M&I, and Leisure segments) has been crowned Best DMC at the Portugal Trade Awards by Publituris at BTL 2025!
Bilbao is one of the greatest treasures of the Basque Country with staggering architecture, delicious dining scenes, from Michelin Star Restaurants to buzzing “pitxo” bars located at stunning landscapes just outside the city centre. Bilbao has been awarded "Best European City 2018", since then it became an international benchmark city, showing itself as an example of urban transformation while maintaining its unique culture roots.
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The New York Times once stated, “An ideal day in Porto combines both the grandeur of its history and it’s very up-to-the-minute cool”. The city has an authentic historical vein and soul, its luxurious hotels are not an exception. Preserving its heritage and character, the Vila Foz Hotel is a majestic palatial building, located on the seafront ,10 minutes from the city center and surrounded by unrivalled tranquility. Upon arrival, you’re taken to the revival of the highest bourgeoisie of Porto, maintaining all the original traces of the luxurious architectural details of the 19th century adapted to the modern luxury of our days. Not far, there's another city pearl, theTorel Avantgarde a fascinating five stars art boutique hotel that’s been ranked by the Guardian Newspaper, as the best hotel in Europe 2018. This property evokes the elegance of the 1930s/1940s, whilst celebrating contemporary Portuguese art, design and dedicating each room to an avant-garde artist. It ultimately becomes a space to live art, to touch art, and to feel the heart and passion of the artist while tasting the local flavours.
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The Algarve region is composed by vivid colours from the mountain, sea and cliffs that stand out as golden highlights. Each region has its own charm and unique manner of welcoming you… On the southernmost point of Portugal, is a unique property located in a lush green pine forest and deep blue sea in the background, considered in 2014 by CNN one of Europe’s best new boutique hotels. Praia Verde Hotel expels a perfect relaxing environment featuring 65 rooms and suites with plenty of floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies. There’s something that makes you feel at home here and yet you can’t describe it, whether you’re in lobby market which integrates various functions in a unique space including bar, grocery store and lounge area or at their delicious Mediterranean restaurant the home and cozy feel is the same.
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Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, announced late last week the news about the so called ‘Plan of Transition towards new normal program’, whose main goal is to protect health in Spain. The Government decided to create a different formula from the rest of the countries, based on 4 stages (0, 1, 2 and 3) to be carried out among Spanish provinces and islands. Each stage will last two weeks having specific criteria (based on transmission, urgency, detection and response capacity against pandemic of every city) to change from one stage to another. Thus, the final decision to move or go back in stages will be made in conjunction with Autonomous Regions (local governments).
Thus, the transition is expected to last between six and eight weeks. From 4th of May practically all the country started in stage 0. Please see below the 4 stages of the program:
Last Friday 30th of April, our Prime Minister António Costa, announced a three stage plan to start releasing the country from its state of emergency. It’s a sector-by-sector plan to ease our 6 weeks lockdown. Below is an overview of the plan, but it’s important to emphasise, it will only proceed to the next stage, if number of COVID-19 continue to decrease.
How are you adjusting to current home base reality?
First of all, what I had to do first was to create my own little business at home since it was the first time ever to work home-office. Considering that I would have to stay home for more than a month, I decided to place my desk close to a huge window, so I can see the sun and the wonderful Madrid’s sky at any time. Thus, I also managed to be isolated from my family’s noises and achieve the needed concentration to work; for instance, I listen to relaxing music on Spotify with my headset (I totally recommend “Chill Hits” or “Soft Pop Hits” playlists).
Additionally, I find it essential to follow pre-established schedules for the work routine. In fact, I continue with some habits as if I were in the office: every day the first thing I do is review the notes on my agenda; e-talk to colleagues in the department and take the recommended breaks for rest of sight and body. Still, sometimes I miss the bustle of the office!
How are you adjusting to current home base reality?
At the beginning, it was difficult I had to adapt one area of my house into a little office to keep working... nobody expected the world to suddenly be paralyzed! Working hours are different, missing to see my team in the office, our personal (and not virtual) meetings, our lunch times together, planning where to go to discover new places, venues, hotels, activities to include in our proposals.
But after a few conference calls you realize that we're all the same situation, and that helped to me to adapt myself to our new reality even more!
How are you adjusting to current home base reality?
Not as bad as previously thought. Despite it hasn’t been easy, I honestly thought it was going to me more difficult but I like to think, I am coping quite well with it. Surely, the most difficult part has been the impossibility to meet, talk and even share jokes with my colleagues at the offices. Besides, most of my job tasks imply travelling in order to visit and meet clients personally, but due to the current situation I am unable to do so. Therefore, I have been somehow forced to reinvent my way of communicating with clients becoming more active on a virtual level, in a closer and more informal approach, sharing a “virtual coffee” and a nice chat at the same time.
How are you adjusting to current home base reality?
I think the word challenge will be the perfect one to describe it! I have two very energetic kids that usually do a lot of sports… therefore my living room is actually a football field and my balcony is a roller rink! Furthermore, they’ve both started virtual classrooms, so, instead of two, I have forty little voices in my head at the same time!
Jogging in the early morning, before my kids wake-up is the key to keep my sanity, and before Abreu Events morning meetings too! Apart from that, new technology platforms are allowing us to be in contact with teams and clients, therefore even from home it´s possible to keep the job done!