This week on the roundup: introductions, masterclasses, partnerships, jobs, world-class executive education, special guests, essential oils, maternal and fetal health, currency strategies, automation challenges, convenience, honours, nurturing leads, social innovation initiatives, understanding spirits, highly regulated sectors, historical legacies, resilience, capital gains, tightrope walking, healthy spreads, and more!

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

We introduced our new member, Carmo & Cerqueira, represented by Partner Jose Carmo! Carmo & Cerqueira is a Statutory Chartered Accountants and Advisory Company, with offices in Porto and Lisbon, that employs over 20 professionals dedicated to assurance, tax, and financial advisory services. Check the profile here on the IPBN Members Directory.  

We reminded everyone of our next Masterclass, Friday, September 26, from 10h–11h, entitled "Design Thinking for Complementary Internationalisation" with Prof. Ricardo Morais of Católica Porto Business School. Discover how design thinking can unlock new pathways for international growth. Register here. 

We reported on the 18th edition of ART&TUR International Tourism Film Festival, which took place last week in Fundão, of which the IPBN was a proud partner! Special congratulations to Mariana Calaça Baptista for an amazing organisation of the festival. Our General Manager, Arnold Delville, attended on behalf of the IPBN and IPBN member Lisbon Heritage Hotels, celebrating an award-winning entry and witnessing first-hand the power of film to shape how we experience destinations. Read the full story and watch The Lisbon Heritage Hotels Video Award and a video of the Festival Awards Ceremony here. 

We announced a new partnership with Católica Porto Business School (CPBS), opening new opportunities for our members to access world-class executive education tailored to today’s fast-changing business landscape. In our latest Spotlight Interview, we spoke with Carlos Vieira, Executive Director of Executive Education at CPBS, about the school’s mission, its approach to innovation, and what IPBN members can expect from this exciting collaboration. Read all about it here.

We shared the Press Release about the upcoming IPBN Tourism conference in Lisbon on October 22. Read all about the program and special guests, and start registering here. We look forward to seeing many of you there. 

We also highlighted just over 50 new remote roles that need to be filled at IPBN member company Otonomee. Check out this and other offers from IPBN members and partners on our job board. 

And now...

IPBN member Brian Shanahan Shared, "This Thursday I will be speaking at the IFEAT (The International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trades) conference in Gothenburg, Sweden about the stench of late payment. Let’s hope I end up smelling of roses." 

IPBN member HPA Health Group posted, "The 7th National Symposium on Pregnant Women is coming! It will be a morning dedicated to maternal and fetal health, breastfeeding, birth planning and vaccination, with the participation of professionals from the HPA Health Group." September 27th | 8:30 a.m.- Hotel Real Marina, Olhão - Registration here

IPBN member Blevins Franks invites you to discover the new Portugal. "If you are thinking about moving to Portugal join this free expert-led webinar on Wednesday, 17th September at 4 PM UK/Portugal time. Expert panellists will explore the latest insights on Portuguese property, tax planning, and currency strategy. For more information and registration, please click here."

IPBN member Hafedh Ridene - IT Business Automation posted about "The Strategic Evolution Reshaping Enterprise Operations. The automation landscape is experiencing unprecedented transformation, with organizations achieving 300% ROI within the first year of implementation. Find here the critical developments redefining business process optimization. What automation challenges is your organization currently addressing?"  

IPBN member Lazer introduced Lazer's Smart Internet! "Enjoy more services, faster speeds, endless entertainment, and maximum convenience — all in one smart bundle! Find out more here."

IPBN member Aziza Akrami is deeply honoured and humbled to share that she has been selected as the Afghan Youth Representative to the UN 2025. "After six months of preparation and hard work through the competition, and more than 7 years of academic and professional experience (Empowered Circle), I have learned that success is not an overnight job, but it can be achieved in one day." 

IPBN member WEbrand Academy says, "Email Marketing is still one of the most powerful tools for capturing and nurturing leads. Want to know how to harness your full potential? Join Henrique Paranhos, trainer in the Email Marketing Strategy for Companies course, from September 22nd to 25th. Register here before the seats sell out." 

IPBN member re.store shared that last Saturday, September 13th, they were present at the Social Innovation Festival & Braga Expo Social 2025! "Largo de São João do Souto hosted this initiative, which aimed to disseminate the social innovation initiatives of the Human Power Hub community." 

IPBN member Quinta do Lago's bar teams across the outlets took part in the WSET Level 1 Spirits course, gaining a deeper understanding of the world of spirits through learning, guided tastings and, finally, an exam to put their knowledge to the test. "At Quinta do Lago, we believe that every great guest experience begins with a knowledgeable and passionate team." 

IPBN member BRIDGE IN has expanded to Italy! "This move reinforces the company's European expansion strategy, following its entry into Spain in 2024. Italy was chosen as the next step due to its status as the Eurozone's third-largest economy, its excellent academic ecosystem producing thousands of engineers, and its significant presence of highly regulated sectors. The goal is to simplify market entry for companies in Italy, just as it has done successfully in Portugal and Spain."  

IPBN member Lisbon Hotels Group was awarded in the "Servicos Turisticos Ex-Aequo" category at the prestigious ART&TUR International Tourism Film Festival, whose award ceremony took place on 12 September in Fundão. The video “A Lisbon Story – Lisbon Heritage Hotels” was recognised for its ability to communicate the authenticity, charm, and historical legacy of our hotels and the city of Lisbon. This distinction represents recognition of our ongoing work in promoting the city's cultural heritage through genuine and distinctive hospitality. 

IPBN members Liliana Domingues and Stephanie Prenderville say, “Growth isn’t enough. Efficiency, control, and resilience come first.” You cannot scale chaos. I’ve seen leaders pour energy into expansion while basic processes quietly sabotage growth. In my latest newsletter, Stephanie Prenderville and I share how SMEs can regain control, optimize workflows, and free capacity for what really matters. Read it here. 

IPBN member Teresa Patricio & Associados says, "Capital gains and inheritance: what you need to know. Not all transfers of inherited assets are exempt from income tax. The exemption only applies when the heir transfers their entire inheritance, and not when they sell specific assets from the inheritance. In our latest newsletter, we explain in detail the differences and tax implications of this distinction."

IPBN member Clelar Strategy says, "Managing Reference Data manually is like walking a tightrope without a net: unpredictable, unsafe and potentially life threatening for your business. Is it worth it? Tempo, a Game-Changer for Reference Data Management, solves this problem by effectively managing Enterprise Reference Data within your Data Platform. Protect your business today." 

IPBN member Glandore kicked off their Autumn Breakfast Series with a delicious, healthy spread at Bottleworks this morning! "Huge thanks to all our members who attended, we hope you enjoyed it! The sun even made an appearance."