Blog · Spain and Portugal

Cititravel Portugal nominated for a World Travel Award!

Cititravel DMC has been nominated for ‘Portugal’s leading DMC 2018’ in the 2018 World Travel Awards.

For 25 years the World Travel Awards has served to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry. With just under 2 months left to vote for the Europe awards, the WTA are expecting a record number of votes in 2018.

Cititravel Portugal is honoured to have received the nomination in recognition of their work to deliver events’ logistics across Portugal on behalf of clients from all over the world. The office, based in Lisbon, was established in January 2011 and has grown considerably since then. The director, Tara Purcell, has been with Cititravel for 18 years. Regarding the nomination she said “It is always a privilege to be recognised for our dedication, whether it is from clients or suppliers. We are immensely proud – it’s been a great team effort!”

Voting closes on the 20th May 2018 – to vote for Cititravel DMC as Portugal’s Leading DMC – Click on the image below!

Do you still not know the Costa del Sol?

Once again, from Cititravel we wanted to give you our Malaga and Costa del Sol’s highlights. Enjoy the city and the surrounding; visit Malaga, the place with 320 days of sun.

Malaga’s Cathedral

One of the Renaissance’s jewels resides Malaga city. History, faith and art are jointly demonstrated in the Malaga Incarnation’s Basilica and Saint Church. It dates back to the Mayor Mosque’s times and was constructed around 1487, when Malaga was conquered by Castilian armies. The north tower is about 87 meters high, making it the tallest cathedral in Andalusia. The south tower was never built and because of that, the cathedral was affectionately nicknamed as “La Manquita” (The little one-armed). Discovering the history and architectural style that shaped the project for years is only a part of its special charm. Stunning from the outside, the indoor is equally as breathtaking where a lot of curious stories are waiting to be told. For example, the first oval painting that is found at the beginning of the visit, which is over 10m in length, was completely painted in an elephant skin!

Gibralfaro

Malaga was found by the Phoenicians, who built a village near the hill where the Alcazaba is now located. During the Roman times, Malaga was a confederated city of the empire. Used by Phoenicians and Romans, it was Nazaro’s King, Yusuf I in 1340, who turned this settlement into a fortress. In Arabic Jabal-Faruk, which in English means something along the lines of the “hill of the lighthouse”, you find the unassailable fortress, The Gibralfaro Castle. Two walls and eight towers protect The Alcazaba. There are some scenes from Scent of Mystery (directed by Mike Todd and starring by Elizabeth Taylor) that were recorded inside the Gibralfaro Castle in 1959.

Alcazaba

Malaga’s Alcazaba is a castle and a fortress, built between 1057 and 1063 by the Muslims and under the King of Granada’s request. In Arabic, it means “citadel”.The little stories, personal details and years of history define part of the city. As a defensive system, it was considered unique and one of the best in history.Immediately under it one can find the Roman Theatre, the ancient archeological remains of Malaga.

Picasso

Pablo Picasso was born in October of 1881, on the first floor of number 36 Merced Square, an area in downtown Malaga, an area well-known for visitors and locals, surrounded by a lot of casual bars and shops and only a few steps far from the main interesting city points. Picasso was supposedly breathing heavily when born and apparently, he was saved by his doctor cigar fumes. Malaga, as his home town, holds the Picasso Foundation, which invites visitors to enjoy his best work. It also includes the Picasso Museum as the projection’s core, with 285 projects united in a varied collection, with a lot of different styles and which is exhibited in the Buenavista Palace. This building, the Fine Arts Museum’s main site before, has had the National Monument category since 1939. Even the last detail related with Pablo Picasso holds high interest, both for the population of Malaga and for foreign visitors; the created universe around the painter’s figure never fails to leave anybody unmoved.

Malaga’s Museums

Picasso’s museum is not the only museum brimming with art in the city. There is also a Pompidou center, the first out of the city of Paris, with more than 90 pieces made by artists such as Miro, Marc Chagall or Francis Bacon. Visitors can also visit the Automobile Museum, located in the ancient tobacco factory, more than 90 vehicles from different stages of history such as Delage, Bugatti, Rolls Royce, Jaguar and Mercedes are on display. These are some of the museums that can be visited in Malaga, without forgetting the Russian Museum or the Thyssen, centres that receive plenty of tourists all year round.

Costa del Sol: Beaches!

The Costa del Sol is more than 150 kilometers long along the Mediterranean Sea. Given its name for the 320+ days of sun it receives, the spread of beaches is a paradisiacal place to enjoy throughout year, with activities for all of the family. From the beginning of Maro, through Nerja with its Europe’s balcón, Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella or Estepona…The Costa del Sol is the ideal place to plan your holidays, where possibilities are unlimited. Each beach has its own attraction, some more peaceful, some more unspoiled, some with more advanced services; you will find your own paradise somewhere along the Costa. There’s a long stretch from Cadiz to Nerja which includes the biggest tourist attraction in Spain.

Digitalization as a business process.

Digitalization as a process (instead of as an objective) needs from change attitudes and continue adaptation, which includes getting out of the comfort zone, looking for new opportunities. The key for a digital organization is to see the digital conversion as an opportunity to combine practices which may result new techniques and skills.

Digital conversion generates new experiences for the customer.
It improves the operating efficiency.
It generates new source of income.
Quick answer against trade changes.
It creates a competitive advantage.
It boosts culture of innovation inside the organization.
It improves the intern collaboration.
Big Data in-depth inquiry.

Customer’s experience predominate above the traditional values and places technology, especially software, as the key and main item on a business model. As a study made by Salesforce (a company specialized in administration based in relationship with costumers) says, 70% of clients expect brands to understand and anticipate their needs.

Make yourself visible. Use technology to come forward through every available platform that nowadays exists. The purpose is to be connected every time and on every moment, wherever your company may need it. This task is also beneficial for your clients: it’s going to open a communication channel opened on each directions, making possible to know how he customer is feeling about your actions and values and redirecting them in the good point.

Feel the client’s place. Be concern about your client’s needs, know him, and invest on what they care about. Do you what are your clients waiting from your company? Or how high are they satisfaction feeling about you? Do an in-depth research and use these information to start a responsive technological change.

Think in the long-term. The digital challenge will not end only adopting new systems and processes. Technology is alive and it will be developing year by year and decade by decade. The best way to assume this project is to establish a long-term strategy, simplify it in smaller and measurable processes and monitor it in order to redirect possible fails, following the same way all the time.

Involve your team. It’s obvious that a company works better with their employees implication, so it’s important to involve them on the digital process, to ensure it works from each instance and departments.

Visiting Barcelona: 5 Places Not to Miss

Spain has a lot of charming places to visit and deciding where to go first is not an easy task, but today, we present 5 reasons why you simply cannot miss Barcelona. Urban areas, architectural heritage, leisure and museums are only few reasons to choose Catalonia for MICE travel, but the region also boasts hidden spaces that can only be discovered by taking a stroll. Discover the city’s top spots:

Rambles and Born.

Rambles Boulevard starts in Catalonia Square and finishes near the port, where there the Christopher Columbus statue stands tall, pointing out to the sea. The walk is surrounded by flowers, street actors, bars, restaurants and shops. There are some painters near the port area, which has become a cosmopolitan and artistic hub. The medieval neighborhood of El Born is now the center of new urban trends, a place to enjoy an avant-garde lifestyle while feeling the echoes of the past.

Sagrada Familia.

The Sagrada Familia is Barcelona’s most famous silhouette, and each of its façades are a symbol created by the genius of Gaudí. One must consider that there are 4 different styles in their 4 façades, with each one giving different perspective of Gaudi’s creation. To give his building splendor and emphasis, he utilized light and color. This is all with the aim of depicting Jesus’ nativity and life story that is clear to see for visitors once they are in Barcelona. The evolution of the structure has already spanned 5 generations. Today, its construction continues. The project is each year visited by thousands of tourists and locals alike as each day can bring a surprise with a new development.

Montjuic con Mnac.

Montjuïc’s natural park is the best place to enjoy nature and culture together, as it is full of splendid gardens and cultural gems. In the mountains you can find Olympic facilities, where Olympic Games were hosted in 1992.

Passeig de Gracia.

A window to the XIX Century bourgeoisie, this elegant boulevard joins Catalonia Square with the neighborhood of Gracia. It is surrounded by modern Barcelona buildings which turn the avenue into an outdoor museum. Walking on the organic floor designed by Gaudi is as charming as the street lamps lighting the white mosaic covered benches. These architectural features go hand in hand with the most prestigious shops and businesses.

Barceloneta.

Fishermen were the first people to discover this area known as “Barceloneta”. It is a sailor neighborhood that was built in the XVIII century. But the Barceloneta neighborhood has changed a lot since then, now a cosmopolitan area, full of bars coffees and life, with music being played both day and night. It appeals to all senses with the colours of the clothes hanging outdoors, the murmur of the waves, the smell of the sea and the salty taste.

Corporate Events – How to organise them, and why?

Meetings and events for corporate teams provides the company the chance to reflect their brand values and allows employees to not only experience new environments but also bond as a team. It’s important to consider too that building relationships with consumers needs to go beyond emails and social media interaction. Below are some tips on running a professional, efficient, and in some cases, perfect event:

Location

Booking a venue in an area with a vibrant atmosphere is vital. Ensuring that your guests are excited and comfortable is key in ensuring a good attendance. Details are important too: local vendors for catering needs, various rentals etc.

Purpose

Decide which type of event is the best to resonate with your intended audience. Try to do something fun, memorable and entertaining. Perhaps include a famous speaker or try something new or exclusive for the first time. The options are unlimited!

Invest wisely

Determining early the best way to invest your money for an event is important. Perhaps decoration is the most important, perhaps it is the speaker or perhaps it is the entertainment. One thing is for sure; don’t skimp on food and drink. You should treat your audience like valuable members of your team or consumers (it depends on the target you have chosen) and build a connection based on respect and consideration.

Promote

In today’s age, there are a lot of methods available to generate knowledge about your company and your event. Promote on social media and allow your team to spread the word.

7 Reasons to put Tenerife on your bucket list.

Tenerife is an island where everything is possible: stunning nature, relaxing beaches, the tallest volcano in Spain (el Teide), shopping, golf and much, much more. Enjoy Tenerife whichever way you want and don’t leave without tasting its gastronomy!

Here we have compiled Tenerife’s Top 7 Highlights to prove that is a place you simply must visit.

Teide National Park.

Teide National Park is located in the centre of the island, with an altitude of 2.000 meters, while the Volcano’s peak (3.718 metres) is the tallest in Spain. Teide National Park is the most popular National Park in all of Europe, receiving around 3 million tourists a year.

The aborigines of the Canary Islands (guanches) believed that Guayota, the King of Evil, lived inside the volcano Teide and kidnapped the god Magec (god of the light and the Sun), carrying him down to the volcano depths. Guanches asked Achamán (their ultimate god) for clemency, who finally achieved the triumph over Guayota, rescued Magec from the Teide’s insides and plugged its crater. It’s said that this cap is the ‘crown’ of the volcano and is white in colour.

La Laguna.

In Tenerife’s North, San Cristobal de la Laguna was the first and only Canary city that has been declared a UNESCO World heritage site. It’s the perfect place to take a leisurely stroll in the streets and enjoy the XV Century churches and historical buildings. A popular option is to combine cultural walking trails with trips to some of the many typical tapas bars.

Garden Beach.

Canary artist César Manrique is the talented artist behind the beauty of the Garden beach, a picturesque beach in Puerto de la Cruz. His vision of creating an attractive coastal landscape really comes alive here; palm trees and long expanses of volcanic sand surrounded by colourful botanical gardens. The result: an elegant and charming place space. Waterfalls, plants and flowers, small swimming pools with marine life… Visiting this magical place leaves people speechless.

Whale Watching.

Due the fact they are wild animals; each tour is a different experience. Their behavior depends on multiple factors such as the time of day, the breed, available food, sea conditions etc. However, because whales are very active, it is possible to observe them playing with the waves, making bubbles or even spying on the visitors. They might first appear as mere spots in the sea, appearing and disappearing with the waves or, they may pop out of the waves and appear as the imposing creatures they are. Whales swim through the ocean, without limits or course and for a moment, you’ll share with them a daunting feeling: the freedom of the open sea.

The Giant Cliffs.

This is a must-see in Tenerife, on the west coast. These vertical cliffs overlook the Atlantic Ocean from a height between 300 and 600 metres. It is the main attraction on the west coast where it’s possible to admire the different rock colors through the landscape.

Anaga Mountains.

The Anaga Mountains take up a large section of Tenerife and consist of coastline, forests and villages. This area is a protected natural landscape, and it is breathtaking. Here you will find places of natural interest, such as the Roques de Anaga, which are rock formations in the sea. Despite all its beauty, the Anaga Mountain is still unexplored. There are people who still live in caves in the surrounding Anaga villages!

Garachico.

Garachico is located in the Northeast region of the island. More than half of its landscape is covered by canary pine, volcanic stones and an ancient cliff, which separates the historical part of the town from the surroundings. It consists of banana fields and its own leisure port together with black sand beaches and small cliffs. There is also a natural swimming pool zone, called El Caletón where you can enjoy the amazing boulders that overlook the coast.

Tourism Trends for 2018.

The New Year has arrived and, with it, come new trends in tourism. We’ve already written about the upcoming festivities in 2018 but today, we wanted to inform you of the latest trends that will appear this year for business travelers.

Health

Relaxation and retreat from the noise of the world was one of the most in-demand requirements in 2017 and it’s going to increase in 2018. It is also an objective for 40% of business travelers for the New Year, together with stays in health resorts and spas.

Itinerary

One of every four professionals (25%) admits to being stressed about timings, managing the travel itinerary and organizing job meetings. Professional organization and management is going to be in high demand in 2018.

Destinations

London, Barcelona and Berlin are the first three places on the Top 10 in demand destinations list in Europe, as written by American Express Meetings & Events (presented last month at the IBTM World Fair, in Barcelona). After these 3 in the list are Amsterdam, Paris, Madrid, Frankfurt, Roma, Munich and Prague.

Social Media

In 2018, the millennial travelers will connect their social media accounts to their travel bookings to take advantage of this exposure by publishing photos and information of their travels. We will accept more advice about destinations from official accounts and look for more information about hotels, cities’ highlights and venues on the Internet.

Adventure

Travelers increasingly want to get active and really immerse themselves in the culture of their destinations, not just see them from the inside of a bus. Riding bikes, hiking and discovering the native culture are becoming more and more popular.

Who are The Three Wise Men?

Christmas holidays are not finished in Spain, until the Three Wise Men, Melchor, Caspar and Baltazhar come to deliver their toys and presents around the country. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the Three Wise Men/Kings, found baby Jesus, by following the star of Bethlehem across the dessert, during a journey of 12 days. It is said they rode horses or camels, (depending on different stories, even an elephant) in order to present the baby with three gifts: frankincense, myrrh and gold.

There are different festivities and traditions about the Three Kings in Spain, as:

Three Kings´ Parades.

Skiing, sailing or even paragliding, the Three Wise Men arrive to the cities/towns, prepared for the parades. They cross each town, usually on beautiful decorated carts, throwing sweets and confetti on the afternoon of January 5^th, before the presents´ delivery by night. As the Kings are approaching during the parade, some people bring umbrellas to open and put them upside down, to collect as many sweets as possible, while being thrown to the crowd.

Line Up Your Shoes At The Door or near the chimney.

Children and adults put their shoes outside their doors or near a chimney (if possible), for the Three Kings to leave their presents inside; the bigger ones are placed under the Christmas tree. Many families also leave some sugar and water for the camels, to help them restore their energy after the long journey.

Roscon de Reyes (King´s ring)

This ring-shaped “sweet bread” is like the gastronomic symbol of this tradition. Hidden inside it, they put a figurine related to the legend and a bean. Whoever finds the first, is crowned king or queen of the celebration, while the one who finds the bean has to buy the Roscon for the next year (though this may change, depending on the city/town).

New Year’s resolutions and how to achieve them.

Last year, a ComRes survey revealed that, in UK, a 35% of the people asked, wanted to lose weight, a 33% wanted to get in shape and a 31% aimed to cook healthier, while a 63% of the surveyed people, recognized to fail in their goals. The main key to achieve them, is being realistic, not to over press oneself and maintain yourself consistent day by day.

From Cititravel, we know sometimes, it is difficult to achieve the New Year’s purposes, so we have outlined which are the most common people´s goals each year:

– Earn money and control personal finances.

Planning in advance which are the expenses we may be having for the next year is one of the most popular goals proposed for the New Year.

– Lose weight and keep fit.

Especially during the first months of the year, people want to lose the weight gained during the holidays and to keep fit for the rest of the year.

– Stop smoking.

The king of the New Year’s resolutions. The end of the holidays and the start of a new year, is always a time to reconsider some aspects of our life, and tobacco is one of the “bad habits” most of the people want to change/quit…

How to achieve your New Year’s goals.

01. Positive statements.

Our brain focuses in what we prefer to think of, so we will feel more attracted to those thoughts oriented to what we want or expect, instead of those that we don’t really hope for. A good method is trying to train yourself to vision your goal in a positive way, for example… instead of: “I don´t have to spend my money in things I don’t need”, why not: “I have to save money”.

02. Keep your purposes under control.

Our objectives must depend on us, not on other people.

03. Divide big objectives, better in small and achievable ones.

People usually try to achieve big projects, instead of small and more feasible ones… the energy needs to be maintained more than just the first month of the year… so, try to divide your final resolutions in small tasks to do every day, and step by step.

04. Help yourself with technology.

Mobiles devices are here to help us. There are a lot of apps prepared to count the days you haven’t smoked, or the kilometers you do in a running morning routine. To help you earn money, we recommend a financial app: Fintonic, which will help you knowing how to operate your finances.

Remember that the key of success is to be realistic, not to set big goals and decide which are the ones that we want the most. Starting with a lot of resolutions, may be confusing and demoralizing, so it’s better to start with only one and a small objective, and when achieved with time and perseverance, then go for more and bigger ones!

How to stay focused at work during Christmas holidays.

It’s Chistmas time! How to balance shopping, hosting, planning, partying and traveling with work during Christmas? It’s a good time to prove to yourself that you can focus and not lose the focus in the office.

1.Prioritise.

If you DO have to manage your focus at work, try to have realistic expectations and to prioritise your important and urgent tasks.

2.Separate.

It’s important to keep yourself focused at work prior to your Christmas holidays, it will let you enjoy your free time and in turn, you will be ready to start the New Year with more energy!

3.Schedule.

In order to keep on top of your busy Christmas period, it is vital to schedule your activity at work and outside of work.

4.Personal tasks.

Plan, schedule and organize your time: try to prioritize tasks, even personal ones. It makes your holiday more joyful and energizes you to accomplish your goals in the New Year.

5.It’s Christmas!

Take time to do a little shopping or enjoy what makes you happy, after all, it is Christmas!

“There are so many competing demands and expectations during the holidays that it is very easy to get overwhelmed and even burn out”

Michael Kerr, international business speaker, author and president of Humor at Work.