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NH Alicante – MICE & Conference Venue

Hotel Focus: Penha Longa

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The Penha Longa resort is simply one of the most sublime hotels to visit on the Iberian Peninsula. Boasting not one, but two Michelin starred restaurants, a 27-hole world-class golf course, as well as a 1,500 sqm wellness centre and spa, the word luxury has never been more relevant than when referring to the Penha Longa. Situated in the former grounds of the eponymous monastery, and bordering two of the country’s most notable gated-communities, whilst just a short drive away from the beautiful capital of Lisbon.

For those who may be somewhat deterred by the grandeur of the Penha Longa have no fear of the resort being too exclusive. Mega-celebrities such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Bryan Adams may own houses nearby. The pupils and families from the famous Carlucci American School may also frequent the resort, yet the Penha Longa is very much open to all comers.

A Focus On Food

I have mentioned the restaurants. Whilst there are a dozen different gastronomy experiences to try during your stay I’ll focus on the two that stand out immediately. Having one Michelin star restaurant in a hotel anywhere is a significant achievement in the world of hospitality. Having two is nothing short of sensational. LAB by Sergi Arola is famous for its incredible fusion dishes that have been rumoured to reduce some diners to tears thanks to the overpowering emotions that the combined flavours can bring. It also boasts a wine cellar that features an overwhelming 550 references from around the globe.

I dined with LAB’s Michelin counterpart, which is the Japanese (with a slight touch of Portuguese) restaurant, Midori. Midori was my first true experience sampling Japanese cuisine. That was seven years ago and I am still comparing every subsequent foray into Japanese cuisine to that. The food was incredible, the Saki almost blew my socks off, but the overall experience was like nothing I’d ever had in dining up until that point. I will forever associate the word precision, with the methodical, time-honed skill that the chef applied to prepare every dish as it came out for our party as I watched him. It is one of the signature joys of Japanese cuisine that you are able to watch the chefs at work so intimately, and it is a joy I first experienced at the Penha Longa.

Golf, Yoga, Event, Repeat.

The facilities at the Penha Longa aside from the restaurants are equally exceptional. The golf course as I mentioned in the beginning, is world-class for a reason. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, and home to 27 glorious holes amid the ruins of the medieval monastery. It’s easy to see why the course has hosted half a dozen major golf tournaments. The Wellness Centre boasts two outdoor pools, a heated indoor pool, Turkish bath, sauna, Jacuzzi, as well as some fantastic treatment rooms. You can also find a host of daily fitness activities to participate in whilst there. Yoga, Pilates, and outdoor fitness classes all run regularly and are available to guests to join in during their stay.

For accommodation, the hotel offers 194 luxury rooms and suites, all coming with their own balconies. The Penha Longa is a former royal palace of the Portuguese monarchy, and as such has a number of function rooms. These can cater for up to 600 delegates, and in total, there are 25 meeting rooms of different size. The Hotel is just a short drive from both Lisbon city and airport, but also the coastline. High praise must be reserved for the staff at this fantastic resort. Despite the wealth in abundance which resides in close proximity to the Penha Longa, the staff are exceptionally accommodating, towards all guests. Polite, attentive, and genuinely welcoming towards all guests.

The Final Word

The Penha Longa is an amazing location for any event or occasion. Its history is one of opulence and luxury but also quiet and solidarity. It has been a place of worship for both deities and dynasties. It encourages wellness but also indlugnece in some of life’s simpler pleasures. A place open to formality and family. Now all that’s left is to decide when you will go!

For more Infomation about the Penha Longa click here.

Hotel Focus: Asia Gardens

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The typical trip to Benidorm is not one where the word “luxury” may spring to mind straight away. The towering skyscrapers and the sizeable number of apartment blocks that dominate its skyline are more reminiscent of Las Vegas then they are of a seaside city on the Costa Blanca. The famous Hotel Bali may look impressive thanks to its considerable size, but is this the place you would choose to go for immersing yourself in your surroundings, or for holding a conference? Fortunately, just a few short miles into the hills away from the Playa Levante, we find the hidden oasis of the Asia Gardens.

The Gateway to The Orient

Oasis is the exact term I would use to describe my first thought upon visiting this other-worldly hotel. Once you make it through the rather spectacular lobby and atrium the fun really begins when you see the start of the signature gardens. Bamboo trees line the perimeter of the entire hotel, conveniently shutting out any intrusive buildings, encasing you in a jungle-like environment. There is a vast network of connecting paths that take you through over 150,000 immaculately maintained shrubs and bushes. On your travels, you will constantly traverse alongside countless ponds and other water features. Shangri-La, as it turns out, does exist after all. But instead of the dense jungles of south-east Asia, you can find it on the Costa Blanca.

Business or Pleasure, The Asia Gardens can be enjoyed at your leisure.

It is fortunate that some of the larger ponds come with signs to advise you not to swim in them. Thankfully, the hotel boasts an impressive amount of pools. Seven larger ones, as well as a host of smaller ones used for treatments and adults only. Most of the pools are heated also which makes swimming outdoors available almost the entire year. The food as you may have also guessed is exquisite. Eight restaurants, offering not only traditional dishes from both the Orient and the Mediterranean, but also a wonderful assortment of gastro and fusion in other restaurants. Each dining area also presents a different environment and theme in which to gorge yourself senseless in.

The Spa at the Asia Gardens is also worth mentioning. I say mention. What I mean is it should be the first thing you incorporate into your trip itinerary. Every professional on the Asia Gardens Spa team has trained at the Wat Pho temple in Bangkok. Why such a big deal? It is one of the oldest in the city and considered the first University ever established in Thailand. Each professional on the team is a master of technical practice that has been passed down and taught for two and a half thousand years. I feel relaxed just writing about it. Booking in advance is mandatory as the demand for treatments is naturally very high!

More Than A Hotel: An Incentive For Experience.

The Asia Gardens is so much more than a hotel. It is one of the most perfect destinations for any kind of event or corporate trip. It offers considerable space, with over 300 Balinese style rooms for guests. The impressive conference and meeting room facilities can hold up to 800 delegates. The atmosphere is tranquil and intimate, yet open and engaging at the same time. The region around the hotel has plenty of options for exploration and travel with Alicante being a half-hour drive away, and the coastline up to Valencia is worthy of exploration. But on a short trip of two-three nights, you will struggle to fully explore all that Asia Gardens has to offer.

The Asia Gardens is a truly remarkable experience for any type of stay. The hotel has an uncanny ability to replicate the surroundings of its oriental inspiration. You will feel like you have been transported into another world during your stay there, and with its impressive facilities and staff (who I have not mentioned nearly enough but are all wonderfully accommodating and friendly). It is a sure-fire winner for any event or occasion.

For more Infomation about booking the Asia Gardens and to view Conference-desks rates and enquire about bookings, click here.

Tenerife

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Could this be your next destination to hold a meeting or event?

   

Known around the world as “The Island of Eternal Spring”, Tenerife is the largest and most visited of the Canary Islands, and it isn’t hard to see why.  Dominated by the third largest volcano above sea-level in the world the now silent giant, Mount Teide, casts what some scientists have called the largest shadow on the planet out over the ocean every day at sunrise. The entire island is a geological wonderland thanks to years of volcanic activity, influencing almost every aspect of island life from the grapes harvested for the excellent local wine, to the diverse marine life attracted to the mineral-rich waters.

About Tenerife:

Boasting a sub-tropical climate, several UNESCO World Heritage sites, one of the best stargazing locations in the world, a plethora of options for ocean-based activities, and with some standout hotels to stay in, Tenerife provides a unique, standout destination for both commercial tourism and conferencing events. The late-great Professor Stephen Hawking certainly thought so when he travelled to the island for the second STARMUS festival as a keynote speaking. There are two airports located in the North and South of the island to service travel to either Europe or Africa, and even options for travel across the Atlantic, as Tenerife has seen a boom in the last few years as a location for tech-based start-up companies.

Travel Tips and Fun Facts:

Weather: Good all year round thanks to the sub-tropical climate. Even in December you can still find the temperature reaching the mid-twenties on the island.

Travel: A whole host of International hub airports offer flights to Tenerife, but for best year-round access we recommend flying with British Airways from London Gatwick. A four hour flight time is less of a burden then it sounds, especially with the destination in mind!

Food: A gastronome’s haven. The island has a fantastic range of local produce from fresh fish and locally made cheese, to the volcanic grapes that contribute to the excellent local wine, and the banana plantations that dominate the southern half of the Island.

Language: Spanish, but spoken with a more South American twang thanks to mass immigration from, and then re-settling on the island. English is also commonly spoken thanks to the long-established British community and tourism.

Did you know? That Admiral Horatio Nelson lost an arm in battle off the coast of Tenerife in 1797. A festival on the 25th of July takes place in Santa Cruz every year to commemorate this victory.

Did you know? The depths of the waters in-between the Canary Islands are so vast that Giant Squid dwell in them. Pilot Whales use these waters as hunting grounds, forcing the squid to the surface and devouring it in packs.

Did you know? Mount Teide is not only the highest point of all the Canary Islands but also the highest point in Spain at 3,718m.