We talk with Pedro Rocha dos Santos Director of Congress center Estoril regards the Green qualities of hosting an event in Portugal...
Portugal is an attractive country with an extremely robust tourist industry, did Portugal’s recent bail-out have any effect on business tourism in Estoril and the capital region?
Portugal certainly has a strong and stable tourist industry and although affected by the recent bail out process, it has managed to grow its tourism business overall, due to increased popularity of both Lisbon and Porto cities and increased social crisis involving north African countries like Egypt, Libya, Syria and Greece, countries that traditionally attracted a lot of European tourism.
The Estoril region experienced an unexpected growth in the first semester of 2011 and was the foremost successful region of Portugal compared to 2010 figures. Estoril had a 20% growth on room nights, a 31% increase in the number of tourists and an 8% percent growth on the REVPAR which means hotels manage to keep their price structure stable and even experience an important growth especially relevant on the 5 Stars.
How has Estoril Congress Centre improved Portugal’s standing in the competitive MICE market? What does Estoril have to offer MICE organisers and business travellers?
The Estoril Congress Center has been a pioneer creating a sustainable business model for the last 5 years affirming its European leadership and offering a unique range of Green Events Services. To create a more responsible offer the Estoril Congress Centre went through a reforming process based on 5 main pillars which were: Green Certification, Energy and Water efficiency investments, Green Events Program, Stakeholders involvement and Staff exhaustive Training.
The Estoril Congress Center managed to build an important International reputation and is considered in a reference and a Case Study on Sustainability and Green Events, attracting new and different businesses, concerned with their impact and consumers image and providing organizers new tools and new event organizing concepts.
Golf and business deals have long been easy bedfellows – are golfing deal makers well catered for in and around Estoril? And how does golf enrich your claim on the business travel market?
Golf is a traditional incentive in the Estoril Region and its golf courses are known for their outstanding quality and superb list of facilities, making the Estoril Golf Coast one of the best golf locations in the world. Golf courses were designed by the world’s most famous architects to satisfy the demanding golfer. Business tourists tend to extend their business stays and explore the excellent offer on golf.
Sustainable business models and permaculture seem to be a big thing in the Portugal – how is your organisation doing its bit for the environment?
Since 2008 that the Estoril Congress Centre is a Green Certified Venue. Actually the ECC was the European Certified Venue by Green Globe followed by the RAI in Amsterdam. The unique business model includes the continuous measuring of its impact and full compensation. The ECC is in fact a Carbon Neutral venue since 2010 and Offsets all its emissions. The Estoril Congress Centre also carries a special recycling certified program that guarantees that 100% of the waste produced goes for recycling facilities.
What events does Estoril Congress Centre have planned for the next 12 months, and what can we expect to see going forward?
The ECC plans for the next 12 month include building a more flexible model under its Sustain Plus Program which covers 3 different key issues: Sustain People, Profit and Planet and a special orientation to the Associative Market aiming to instil a legacy of greater responsibility in the organization of Association Congresses and identifying more effective, risk sharing and ROI formats.
For 2012 the ECC will also explore the diversification of its business taking advantage of all the potentiality in room flexibility opening new market areas such as the cultural and social ones.
Social responsibility is an essential part of our sustainable commitment and business model and the ECC is committed to improve its intervention in the local society supporting social institutions and getting our clients also involved. A special food recover program is being set up with our catering companies that will minimize waste and allow them to distribute large quantities of food to local social institutions.
The ECC is now also working with Earth Check in Australia and is willing to achieve the Silver Certification Degree by the end of 2011 improving the level of our commitment and become an even more responsible supplier making our business an example that others can follow.
Pedro Rocha dos Santos
Director
Centro de Congressos do Estoril
tel: +351 21 4647570 Fax: + 351 21 4647576
Mail
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Web www.estorilcc.com
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