This week on the roundup: conversations, networks, housing value chains, visibility, patterns, workforce health governance, questions, invitations, navigation experiences, health spans, incubators, operational tools, visionary clients, short-term rentals, and more!

But first, here are the IPBN Highlights of the week:

The Algarve Blue Economy Innovation & European Funds took place this Thursday morning at the CCDR Algarve in Faro. Building on the momentum of our recent Sustainability Conference in Lisbon, this session brings the conversation to the Algarve — a region deeply connected to the ocean — to explore both the challenges facing coastal environments and the opportunities the Blue Economy presents for sustainable growth. Pictures and presentations to be shared next week. Here is what the programme was.

We are inviting all our members to join us at our Annual General Meeting in Lisbon at the IPBN member Hotel Plaza Lisboa on Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 10h to 11h30. This meeting will be the perfect forum for new ideas, reviewing last year, and discussing plans for the future, including how the network will rise to the occasion as the EU welcomes the Presidency of Ireland from July to December. We invite all our members to join us— we look forward to hearing from you. Click here to register!

As we move into the second quarter of 2026, we took a glance back at some highlights of Q1! Thank you to all who joined us in Lisbon, Belfast, and the Algarve, and to those already planning to attend our upcoming events.

We introduced the first panel of our special event entitled “Housing After the Storm: Regulation, Resilience & Sustainable Living” to take place on April 30 in the morning at the new Engineers Hub in Lisbon. We are bringing together members from across the housing value chain and are thrilled to announce Panel 1: Housing Regulation, Engineering & Investment. This panel will explore how regulatory changes, financing structures, and engineering expertise can unlock more affordable and resilient housing solutions — particularly in light of climate events and evolving EU and national frameworks. Click here to register.

And now...

IPBN Executive Partner Konceptness said, "Wire Portugal (Women in Real Estate) is an association of professional women in the construction and real estate area, having been created to increase the visibility of women in this sector, boosting their representativeness and defending their interests. We were present at the General Assembly of Wire Portugal, of which Konceptness is a proud member."

IPBN Executive Partner Ivan Goor of Ardanis posted, " Over the past year, the conversations I’ve had with senior leaders about AI have shifted. The question is no longer “Can we do this?” It’s “Should we do this, and how do we do it safely, responsibly, and very importantly, at scale?” As CEO of Plain Concepts Europe, following the recent acquisition of Ardanis by Plain Concepts to support their constantly accelerating growth across the UK & Ireland, I’m seeing the same pattern everywhere of intense pressure to move fast and capture AI‑driven value and an equally intense responsibility to protect customers, employees, and the business from very real risks."

IPBN member Dr. Shane Farrelly, Occupational Health Specialist, SomarMed shared, "Honoured to be recognised at the Fluxx Leadership Awards 2026 as Global Leader in Workforce Health & Occupational Governance. At a time when organisations are navigating uncertainty across regions, workforce health isn't a peripheral issue — it is a board-level risk, resilience, and performance driver. This will also be a key theme in my April series, focusing on workforce health governance in the Middle East. Through my work across HealthNEXT and Optima Health (OH&W), I’m seeing increasing demand for board-level oversight, particularly in complex and rapidly evolving environments."

IPBN member Casas do Sotavento posted, "In the fifth episode of Conversations with the Family, we explore one of the biggest questions for those looking at the south of the country: what exactly is the difference between the eastern and western Algarve regions, and which one makes more sense for living, investing, or spending holidays?"

IPBN member Fox Real Estate asked, "What Does It Really Cost to Live in Portugal? A Breakdown by Region."

IPBN Academic partner KiPT CoLAB CodeBLUE posted, "KIPt CoLAB presented the preliminary results of our project at the CCDR Algarve Blue Economy Innovation and European Funding forum. Thank you very much to Arnold Delville, the general manager of Ireland Portugal Business Network, for the invitation."

IPBN member Lisbon Heritage Hotels posted, "Introducing the new Lisbon Heritage Hotels website: more intuitive, more visual, and designed to inspire your next stay. Explore the navigation experience in the video and see how planning memorable moments with us is now easier than ever. Visit us here!"

IPBN member FITQOR Cascais shared, "Every membership at FITQOR Wellness Club includes monthly 1-on-1 Holistic Fitness Assessments analysed by a certified Personal Trainer. Focus on increasing your health span with expert guidance and the latest strength, cardio, and recovery equipment. Live Stronger, Longer. Opening May 2026."

IPBN member Carlos Justino shared, "Today (Thursday) marks a defining moment for WitFlow - Demand Orchestration. We’ve joined Unicorn Factory Lisboa. This is not just another incubator. It’s where serious companies are built and scaled. Being here means access. But it also means pressure. Pressure to prove this has real impact. Witfy was never built to be just another tool. This is only the beginning."

IPBN member Michael O’Dwyer, TyreCheck shared, "Fleets waste time and money when TPMS data is treated as a compliance checklist rather than an operational tool. The top fleets don’t just install TPMS - they use it to: detect underinflation before it causes a breakdown, reduce tire wear and fuel waste, incorporate alerts into fleet maintenance workflows, and respond to temperature or pressure issues in real time. That’s where TireCheck’s INTIRE solution comes in. Learn more about it here."

IPBN member Ronan Holohan posted, "So proud of our team, who created and delivered the interior design and brand for the Barton Grill at The K Club. It was a pleasure working with such a visionary client and the whole project team to deliver this in a tight timeframe."

IPBN member EDGE International lawyers posted, "New rules for short-term rentals in Lisbon. Lisbon City Hall has approved the 2nd amendment to the Municipal Regulation on Holiday Letting. Goal: ensure fair coexistence between tourists and permanent residents. For guidance on how these changes may affect your short-term rental business, contact EDGE International Lawyers."