This week on the roundup: customer experiences, scalability, repairs, connections, honors, incredible journies, exclusive deals, budget impacts, club events, forces, leaders, legislative moves, transformations, quick reads, rites of passage, multi-taskers, design shortlists, contributions, registrations, thought-provoking webinars, and more!

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

We continued sharing content from the Porto Tourism conference with the last panel discussion you can listen to here. This panel dove into the opportunities and challenges related to exploring and developing tourism in Northern Portugal and Ireland's coastal and interior regions with special guests Francisco Calheiros and Miriam Kennedy and moderated by IPBN board member John Paul Prior.

You will find here a summary article of the conference with the links to all the content shared.

We had the privilege to interview Bernardo Marquez, MD at the WoW Cultural District. You will find out all about it here.

We announced the last Master Class of the year. We are inviting all our members from all the IPBN's active regions to listen to a member/expert from each: Porto, Lisbon, Algarve, and Ireland on December 17 from 10h to 11h via Zoom to talk about what business opportunities they see in their respective regions for 2025. You can register here.

And now...

IPBN Executive Partner Ardanis attended the Call & Contact Centre Expo UK 2024 as a provider at Excel London this week. "This event is a must for anyone in the customer experience, contact center, and technology space. Head of Innovation JC Durbin and UK Sales Manager Gary P. were there to showcase how Ardanis helps organizations elevate their customer experience and achieve gains from Day 1."

IPBN Executive Partner PwC Portugal boosted the business of Greenvolt Group, a renewable energy company operating in 20 countries. "Through our solid technical expertise and our alliances with leading technology providers, we have redefined Greenvolt's IT strategy through migration to the cloud, enabling greater scalability, security, and operational efficiency for the Group. Watch the video and learn more about this success!"

IPBN member Paul Rees' Rural Properties' outside team started to strip off the remains of the old lime plaster this week and have set aside two weeks for repair, washing, and repainting so that the house is in keeping with others in this small village.

IPBN member Cravo do Mato's Business & Marketing Services posted, "Find out how content marketing can create connections and positively impact your community."

IPBN member Catia Guerreiro from Quinta do Lago shared, "I could not be prouder to share that this year, our beloved resort, Quinta do Lago, has been recognized with some incredible honors: World's Best Golf Real Estate Venue, Europe's Best Golf Venue, Portugal's Best Golf Course. And all of this while Portugal has once again been crowned as the World's Best Golf Destination and my beloved Algarve World's Best Beach Destination. These awards are a testament to the dedication, passion, and innovation of the entire team at Quinta do Lago."

IPBN member Mobiweb shared an episode of Founder Tales, where Márcio Martins shares his incredible journey and how it led to founding Mobiweb.

IPBN member The Magnolia Hotel said, "Black Friday is Coming! Exciting things are on the horizon at The Magnolia Hotel! Stay tuned for exclusive deals and unbeatable offers—perfect for your next getaway. Follow us now to be the first to know."

IPBN member Tony Redondo has the first economic data indicators on how Rachel Reeves’ budget impacted the UK economy and it is not looking good. "Growth in the private sector is falling, and the verdict is a clear thumbs down."

Chair of the IPBN Board Geoffrey Graham and Senior Partner at Edge International Lawyers shared, "Very nice to be back in London again last Thursday for another top class PCD Club event held at the stately, and sustainable, headquarters of the Institute of Civil Engineers. Once again David Bell and his team managed to successfully blend a sense of occasion with considered networking opportunities. Already looking forward to the next one!"

IPBN member Teresa Patricio & Associados said, "From January 2025, the new version of the Portuguese Classification of Economic Activities (CAE Rev. 4) will come into force, within the scope of the Information System of the Portuguese Classification of Economic Activities (SICAE). Consequently, by 30 November, Portuguese companies must confirm or amend their economic activity accordingly. Find out how it all works in our newsletter this week."

IPBN Board member Sharon Dehmel shared, "When you are busy working in your business, who’s working on your business? As leaders, we often step into tasks meant for others—helping, rescuing, and staying hands-on with day-to-day activities. It feels productive, even rewarding, but is it truly leadership? A client recently reflected on their to-do list and realized it was full of urgent tasks but utterly void of influential, strategic activities."

IPBN member Eterna International's CEO, Pierre-Marc Lecompte, shares his perspective on the future of Spain's Golden Visa program in his latest article featured on IMI® Daily. "While recent legislative moves signal potential changes, there is reason to remain optimistic about the program's evolution and the opportunities it continues to offer investors." Read the full article here.

IPBN member VMotion IT Solutions understands that no two businesses are alike, "...and that is exactly why our Bespoke Atlassian Business Solutions are designed to be as unique as your organization. Tailoring Atlassian tools like Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket to your business' specific needs can unlock immense value, transforming the way teams collaborate, manage projects, and deliver results."

IPBN member Renato Calvao says, "Business success is hard work but surprisingly simple. This is exactly what I came away with after reading the book Who Says Elephants Can't Dance by Loius V. Grerstner Jr.. A quick read, this book is inspiring and, above all, essential for anyone interested in leadership, business management, and organizational transformation."

IPBN Board member Rachael Milne has recently wrapped up a series of PMP training sessions delivered globally. She said, "It’s incredibly rewarding to see the growing success of these cohorts, who dedicated themselves fully during our intensive days together! Earning your PMP is more than just passing an exam—it’s a genuine rite of passage in the project management profession!"

IPBN member Glandore invites you to, "Meet Emanuela, our wonderful Office Manager. Emanuela has been part of the Glandore team for six years. Not only does she keep our offices running smoothly, but she's also a talented multi-tasker, often stepping in to cover receptions and assist with Operations."

IPBN member Millimetre Design is looking forward to a great night tonight at this year's Fit Out Awards. "We have six of our designs shortlisted and our team is also shortlisted for Fitout Design Practice of the Year. We are super grateful to be recognized for our work in such a competitive and innovative field. Here's to a fun night & good luck to all!"

IPBN member re.store posted, "Imagine a bed that not only provides comfort to your pet, but also contributes to a better world. Today we want to share with you a fond moment in the life of our re.store® pet: the giveaway of a re.store® pet bed to our partner CRO (Official Pet Shelter Centre) of Agere, in Braga."

IPBN member Vicky Rodrigues shared that, "The Portuguese legal system does not currently allow children to be born to an unknown father/mother. Whenever a child is registered and the birth certificate does not show the identity of the father or mother, the Civil Registry Office must inform the Public Prosecutor's Office, which will open a case to investigate. Find out more in our newsletter this week."

IPBN member Salmon Software Limited invites you to join them for a thought-provoking webinar: "We delve into the critical question, Are APIs Always the Answer to Treasury’s Connectivity Challenges? When: December 4, 2024, at 1 PM GMT - Moderator: Eleanor Hill. Register here."

Finally, Pedro Castro Henriques from IPBN member Strongstep shared: To turn ssustainable goals into reality, a well-structured plan is essential. With the Compliance SATO roadmap, MC Sonae and Worten Portugal successfully outlined the key steps to integrate the innovative SATO Project, focused on energy efficiency and decarbonization. Strongstep’s role in creating this roadmap was instrumental in aligning every phase with the project’s objectives and preparing it to generate a positive environmental impact. Find out more here: