Home-Based Travel Agent - February 2008 - (Page 37)

FOR THE AGENT FOOD, WINE AND MORE IN PORTUGAL New and old properties provide luxury, while culinary and wine tours make Portugal the place to go for foodies and oenophiles Portugal attracts visitors interested in history, architecture and food and wine, but everyone has to eat and drink, right? It may be worth gauging a client’s interest in taking a wine tour or setting up an authentic dinner and wine pairing at a vineyard during a stay in Portugal, no matter if the itinerary is focused on culture, history or simply lying on the beach. Portugal’s tourism office (www. visitportugal.com) has a busy schedule over the next few years, as the country has 47 resort properties debuting through 2011. Hoteliers involved include Starwood (www.starwoodhotels.com), Almeida (www.almeidahotels.com), Hilton (www.hilton.com) and Pousadas de Portugal (www.pousadas.pt). The Pousadas group is a collection of 44 unique accommodations in castles, palaces and former monasteries and convents that date back several centuries. These properties, most of which are situated in Portugal’s more rural and natural areas, pride themselves on maintaining and restoring the country’s heritage. Some Pousadas have swimming pools, and each has a restaurant that serves regional cuisine and wines in addition to an international menu. The commission rate for agents is 5 percent. In Santa Luzia in the Alentejo region, Pousada de Elvas offers 24 twin rooms and one double room. All are equipped with cable TV, air conditioning, a minibar, phone and private bathrooms. The best rooms to book depend on a client’s needs. While the double may provide the most comfortable sleeping arrangements, three of the twin rooms have balconies overlookmanor house. It comprises 50 guest rooms, including a Presidential Suite, as well as 21 luxury villas that have one to three bedrooms. The surrounding wine country is an integral part of the experience at this hotel, which is set among the vineyard cliffs and near the Douro River. After a long day of sightseeing and sampling the regional food and wine, schedule a treatment at the hotel’s renowned spa, which features a thermal suite and an indoor swimming In addition to catching the interest of consumers online, the joint campaign hopes to involve the trade by allowing U.S.-based tour operators and suppliers to accept bookings directly from the web site. For something wine-specific, we have a few options for you. First up is Paris-based BK Wine (www.bkwine. com) from proprietor Britt Karlsson, who conducts wine tours and tasting Continued on page 38 The Douro River in Pinhão, Portugal ing the pool, the garden or the city. On the menu at Pousada de Elvas are local specialties like codfish, pork trotters, vegetable soup and, of course, wine made in the Alentejo. For reservations, speak with any staff member of the hotel at 011-351-268-637-470 or e-mail recepcao.staluzia@pousadas.pt. In the Douro valley, recommend a stay at Aquapura (www.aquapura hotels.com), a repurposed 19th-century pool. Contact Tania Garcia (tgarcia@ aquapuradouro.com). The tourist offices of Portugal and Spain have teamed up to promote the Iberian peninsula as a must-see destination in Europe through PortugalSpainBoth.com. The web site highlights places to visit and things to see and do in both countries, from arts and culture to wine and food to special events. FEB RUARY 2008 Home-BasedTravelAgent 37 http://PortugalSpainBoth.com http://www.aquapurahotels.com http://www.aquapurahotels.com http://www.visitportugal.com http://www.visitportugal.com http://www.starwoodhotels.com http://www.almeidahotels.com http://www.hilton.com http://www.pousadas.pt http://www.bkwine.com http://www.bkwine.com

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Home-Based Travel Agent - January/February 2008 Editor's Note Publisher's Note Your Lifeline Agent Spotlight: Tracy Dennis News Hot Deals Reader Survey All-Inclusive Resorts Home-Based Travel Agent Expo Portugal New York Bermuda Cover Story: Singapore Cruise: What's New Tours: Adventure New Products

Home-Based Travel Agent - February 2008

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