Panel Two of the IPBN Tourism Conference

Tourism Resort Development Trends

Upon organizing an engaging line-up of keynote speakers and panel discussions on topics related to the tourism industry, the IPBN is pleased to announce its second annual Tourism Conference, which will take place in the Algarve on Wednesday, May 24 at the Quinta do Lago Clubhouse from 9h to 13h.

The first panel discussion is on the topic of Health and Wellness, while the second will focus squarely on Tourism Resort Development Trends and will be moderated by Sharon Farrell, Chair of the IPBN Algarve Committee. Sharon will lead panelists Sean Moriarty, CEO of the conference host and IPBN member company Quinta do Lago, Alda Filipe, Managing Director of Kronos Homes in Vale do Lobo, and Katya Bauval, Executive Director of Sales at Vila Vita Parc Resort & Spa, the host of the IPBN's Agro-Business Conference last October, in a discussion on this most fascinating topic as it relates to the Algarve specifically, as well as their implications for the industry at large.

Moving to Portugal from Ireland over 6 years ago with his wife and three young children, Sean Moriarty took on the role as CEO of Quinta do Lago, one of the most exclusive resorts in Europe based right in the Algarve. Beautifully nestled on the Ria Formosa nature reserve, Quinta do Lago has become synonymous as a luxury family destination focused on well-being, fitness, and the great outdoors. In a 2020 interview with Parentfolk, Sean said, “When I moved here, I was tasked with building on the resort's amazing offering, expanding and changing the demographic of the business for a new target audience. My role is extremely versatile looking after multiple different companies such as real estate, guest services, golf, marketing, and of course hospitality.”

Alda Filipe, is the Regional Director for Kronos Homes and Board Member in Vale do Lobo Resort. With over 20 years’ hands-on experience in real estate and strategic branding of luxury resort developments, which includes the outstanding Palmares Ocean Living & Golf Resort in Lagos, Alda will share Kronos’ vision and commitment for exceptional architecture and its lifestyle-focused approach to resort development.

Besides several residential projects in Lisbon, currently Kronos Homes is responsible for the repositioning and real estate commercial operations of a range of resorts/ developments spread along the Algarve, including Cascade Wellness Resort, Monte Santo Resort, Salgados and the management and real estate development of the renowned Vale do Lobo Resort.

Finally, Katya Bauval will share her opinions gleaned from her role as Executive Director of Sales and Marketing at the award-winning five-star Vila Vita Parc Resort & Spa in Alporchinhos, near the village of Porches, in the municipality of Lagoa. Katya, in an interview with Ambitur maintains that Vila Vita is not just a luxury unit but also, and above all, “feeling” and “human warmth…Everything we do, we do with soul. The will to go further, to innovate, to continue to be market leaders, to set trends, which have always characterized us, is here.”

Special thank you to IPBN conference partner Quinta do Lago, conference media partners The Portugal News and TNews, and our conference sponsors and IPBN members clubstohire.comJoao Marques SegurosSoundLoveVendici Properties and  Reis – Gestão de Empresas, who have all made this conference possible.

You will find all the details about the conference venue and program here, where you will be able to register to attend the conference in presence or remotely for our audience in Ireland on the IPBN YouTube channel.  

Executive Partners