The Ireland Portugal Business Network is thrilled to bring you Panel 3 of the 4th Annual Tourism Conference, where the conversation turns to how the hospitality sector is innovating, adapting, and creating truly authentic experiences. On Tuesday, October 22 at TUMO Portugal in Lisbon, join us from 9h to 13h for a morning of panels, debate, and networking.

Moderated by Ellis Dixon, Content and Marketing Manager at the IPBN, this panel will highlight the ways hospitality professionals are rethinking what “authentic” really means for today’s traveler — and how innovation and adaptation are essential to building long-term value.

Our speakers, all IPBN members, bring a range of perspectives from across Portugal and beyond:

• Renato Calvão, CEO & Founder of SEE Countries – Travel Experience
  Renato saw a gap in the market when travelers began demanding locally driven, authentic encounters that many providers struggled to deliver digitally. From that insight, SEE Countries was born — a tourism-tech marketplace designed to connect travelers directly with local businesses. Renato’s vision is all about empowering communities while giving visitors real, diverse ways to discover destinations.

• Edmundo de Alarcão Ferreira, Operations Manager at PURUS
  Based in Coimbra, PURUS is a boutique hospitality group that values precision, warmth, and consistency in guest experience. With a background in luxury service at Forbes 5-star Capella Sydney, Edmundo brings a meticulous approach to hospitality operations — from managing VIP arrivals to mentoring teams in service excellence. His perspective will spotlight how adaptation in staffing and culture can elevate guest experiences in an ever-changing market.

• Alexander Hutkoff, Entrepreneur & Creative Developer in the Douro Valley
  Alec is restoring a historic stone house in the Douro Valley into a creative hub for retreats, weddings, and artistic gatherings. His work blends sustainability, heritage, and community to create meaningful experiences in one of Portugal’s most iconic regions. With a background in tech process optimization and B2C wine distribution, Alec brings a multidisciplinary view to how hospitality can both honor history and innovate for the future.

• Moderator: Ellis Dixon, IPBN Content & Marketing Manager & Co-Founder, AtlasLisboa.com and Escala25
  As a content writer, marketer, and co-founder of AtlasLisboa.com and Escala25, Ellis has spent years telling the stories of Lisbon’s evolving hospitality and cultural scene through her work founding the blog, setting up Devour Tours' operations in Lisbon, and building Lisbon's first outdoor roped climbing gym. Now at the IPBN, Ellis helps bridge businesses between Ireland and Portugal while keeping a keen eye on how authenticity, innovation, and strategy intersect in tourism, food, and the outdoors.

Together, these voices will explore how the hospitality industry is navigating workforce challenges, responding to shifting traveler expectations, and leveraging innovation to create experiences that feel both sustainable and authentic.

Don’t miss the chance to hear this engaging discussion as part of the IPBN's 4th Annual Tourism Conference. Register today to secure your place on October 22 at TUMO Portugal in Lisbon's Unicorn Factory and enjoy a morning of panels, insights, and networking, followed by a light (paid) lunch. Register Here.