The Ireland Portugal Business Network (IPBN) is delighted to announce the fifth edition of its annual Tourism Conference, taking place on Thursday, October 22nd at WELL Vale do Lobo, from 9:00 to 13:00, followed by networking and a light lunch.
Thanks to IPBN member and conference sponsor DDM- Develop, Deliver, Manage and Vale do Lobo Algarve, the premium partner of the conference, this year’s event will focus on “Innovation (New Trends) in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry,” bringing together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts from Ireland and Portugal to explore some of the most significant opportunities and challenges facing the sector.
The conference will examine how innovation is changing tourism across three key areas: local tourism experiences and the preservation and promotion of local products and services; technology and artificial intelligence; and sustainability and safety across sport and leisure.
With tourism continuing to evolve rapidly, the conference will provide a platform for participants to share practical experience, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities for greater collaboration between Ireland and Portugal.
Three conversations shaping the future of tourism
The conference programme will feature three panel discussions, alongside keynote and expert perspectives, exploring the changing tourism landscape from different angles.
Tourism & Local Experience – Making a difference through quality local tourism
The first panel will explore the importance of creating quality local tourism experiences while ensuring that tourism delivers meaningful benefits for the people, businesses, and communities behind them.
The conversation will consider how local products, services, food, and experiences can contribute to a more authentic tourism offering while supporting the people who organise and produce them.
Confirmed speakers include Jonnie Pratt, Head Chef and Partner at Restaurante Tribulum, and Gerry Fagan, Co-founder of NOOVA World, the first 360° immersive LED multi-use event dome. A further speaker will be announced shortly.
The panel will be moderated by Sharon Farrell, IPBN Board Member.
The Hotel of the Future – Technology, sustainability, and the guest experience
The programme will also feature a presentation from Dr Hilal Akdemir, Scientific Director at KIPT CoLAB, exploring the hotel of the future and the role technology can play in the transformation of tourism and hospitality.
Dr Akdemir will present insights from CROSSTECH, a project exploring how digital technologies can support the green and digital transformation of tourism and hospitality.
The project examines how technology adoption can be aligned with sustainability goals, operational needs, and evolving guest expectations, while considering the importance of organisational capacity and human factors in building a more resilient and competitive hospitality sector.
Tourism & AI – From emerging technology to practical opportunity
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming tourism, from hyper-personalised travel planning and intelligent conversational assistants to automated hospitality operations, predictive maintenance, and data-driven resource management.
The second panel will explore the increasingly accessible nature of AI and its potential to democratise innovation, allowing businesses of all sizes to develop and execute new ideas.
Speakers will consider practical applications of AI across tourism and hospitality, with perspectives from businesses already working with emerging technologies.
Confirmed speakers include Mariana da Rocha, Head of Growth at WitFlow – Demand Orchestration, and Tony Judge, Founder and Chief Executive of Clubs to Hire, with a further speaker to be confirmed.
The session will be moderated by Carlos Justino, Founder of Witflow – Demand Orchestration.
Tourism, Leisure & Sustainability – Building a safer and more responsible sector
The third panel will examine sustainability and safety across sport and leisure activities, looking at how businesses and destinations can balance environmental responsibility, social inclusion, health, safety, and economic viability.
The discussion will explore issues including sustainable facilities and operations, responsible sport and leisure activities, wellness, safety, and the medical support required to ensure that tourism and leisure experiences remain both compelling and responsible.
Confirmed speakers include Yvonne Dolan of Dolan Padel Courts Portugal & Ireland – Construction and a representative from The Campus QdL High Performance Centre, with a further speaker to be confirmed.
The panel will be moderated by Antonia Correia, President of KIPT CoLAB and UN Expert.
Keynote perspectives from the Algarve
The conference will open with a welcome from Geoffrey Graham, Chair of the IPBN Board, followed by a keynote statement from Hernâni Estêvão, General Manager of Vale do Lobo Golf & Beach Resort, on innovation and the new challenges facing the tourism industry.
His perspective will set the scene for the discussions throughout the morning and provide a regional perspective on how tourism destinations and businesses can respond to a rapidly changing industry.
The conference will close with a statement from André Gomes, Presidente do Turismo do Algarve, bringing the morning’s discussions back to the wider opportunities and challenges facing tourism in the Algarve.
Connecting Ireland and Portugal
A key objective of the IPBN Tourism Conference is to highlight work, innovation, and expertise taking place in both Ireland and Portugal, creating opportunities for knowledge-sharing, partnership, and cooperation between the two countries.
The conference will bring together IPBN members, Executive Partners, tourism and hospitality professionals, entrepreneurs, and key industry stakeholders for a morning of discussion, followed by networking and a light lunch.
The programme will also include introductions from the conference sponsors, providing an opportunity to hear directly from organisations supporting innovation and development within the sector.
The event is hosted at WELL Vale do Lobo, with the support of Vale do Lobo Algarve, DDM, and the IPBN’s partners and sponsors.
Geoffrey Graham, Chair of the IPBN Board, will welcome guests at the opening of the conference.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, 22 October 2026
Registration: 08:30
Conference: 09:00–13:00
Networking and light lunch: 13:15
Location: WELL Vale do Lobo, Praça Vale do Lobo, Algarve
Registration is now open, with conference-only and conference-plus-light-lunch tickets available for IPBN members and non-members.
The full programme and registration details are available through the IPBN event page.
Further details on speakers and the remaining panellists will be announced shortly.
