LISBON

From wine blending to water battles, Olivia Palamountain reports on how Lisbon is boosting its fun factor with action-packed teambuilding activities

Offering beer crawls, sailing regattas and wine tasting, the colourful Portuguese capital is a great choice for teambuilding activities

It’s fair to say that Lisbon peaked early. Thanks to Portugal’s intrepid explorers, the city flourished in the 15th and 16th centuries, acquiring power and riches as the centre of a vast empire. But subsequent disasters, such as the great earthquake and tsunami of 1755, followed by patches of economic instability, have seen this once formidable nation endure years of depression.

Today, however, Portugal is enjoying a renaissance, attracting a record 11.4 million foreign tourists in 2016, with Lisbon remaining the most popular destination. On the streets of the capital, it’s easy to see why. The city is a joy, commanding a glorious position on the River Tagus with pastelhued neighbourhoods scattered across seven hills – perfect for working off Lisbon’s world-famous custard tarts. Offering a lively mix of culture, food, wine and history, as well as 260 days of sunshine per year and very attractive price points, it’s no wonder Lisbon is being rediscovered as Europe’s next big thing.

MICE visitors are in especially good hands. Lisbon is home to diverse venues ranging from ancient monuments such as the Beato Convent to ultra-modern facilities, including the Lisbon Congress Centre, the MEO Arena and FIL Lisboa. Brand new for this year is SUD Lisboa, a swanky all-day restaurant with a rooftop pool on the banks of the Tagus, twinned with a state-of-the-art venue next door. Scratch the surface of this vibrant city and you won’t ever stop digging. Did we mention the custard tarts?