Tag: event destination

A busy winter season

Posted on by Al Slinn

As the end of March approaches, we are still buzzing as we look back to the ski season just passed. After Covid slowed down the event industry for over two years, who would have thought we’d have such a busy winter season!

Our calendar overflowed with events and we probably had one of the busiest months of March ever, with 9 events across France, Austria, Italy and the UK. Here is a photographic overview of the places we have visited with our clients since the beginning of winter.

Val d’Isère

We started off visiting one of the most renowned ski resorts in France. Val d’Isère is known for its big party scene and it’s home to the first Folie Douce ever built. We found some great snow conditions and weather!

Verbier

When in Verbier, try the Rösti! This Swiss ski resort is impressive in size and quality of the skiing. That said, we still prefer the French cuisine…

Courmayeur

Finally, a little jump on the sunny side of Mont Blanc. Courmayeur never disappoints: the weather is often sunny indeed, and if it’s not, you can always get into a fancy après bar or a wooden restaurant on the slopes to eat delicious food. Our n.1 recommended restaurant on the slopes: Maison Vieille.

Chamonix

Chamonix is our base and we will always consider it the best ski resort in the world! We ran several events in Chamonix this winter and our clients stayed in great hotels as well as fabulous private chalets. Look at that stunning view! Not too bad for a lunch spot, is it?

London

If Chamonix is indeed our new home, most of the Ten80 team is originally from the UK and has spent a part of their life in London. That’s why it is always so emotional to go back with our clients. We ran this event at 180 The Strand, an inspiring venue for a very inspiring conference!

St Anton

If you are looking for a party spot in the Alps, look no further than St Anton. This resort is legendary for its crazy après, and we are sure our clients could confirm! In the picture: Krazy Kanguruh, the most well-known après spot in St Anton.

Flaine

And finally, Flaine. This French ski resort is not one of the most well-known, but it certainly delivers in terms of skiing and value for money. It was a great resort to close off our season and get a bit nostalgic already.

We are now off to some well-deserved rest for a few weeks but we will back soon, running our summer events and organising our next ski season. We can’t wait for another amazing winter in the Alps!

Courmayeur

Posted on by Al Slinn

After our habitual quiet time in February, we are getting ready for the busiest time of the season. March will be a pretty exciting month, with several events happening all over the Alps! Our first destination is Courmayeur, on the Italian side of Mont Blanc. Courmayeur could be considered the antithesis of Chamonix – glamorous, fashionable and chic as opposed to sporty, casual Cham.

There are many reasons why we love Courmayeur (the pizza, for example!). But the main one is, this resort has much to offer to both skiers and non-skiers.

On this article on. Svadore.com we found a list of activities to do in Courmayeur, whether you are a pro skier or just a very passionate shopper & eater!

1. Cafes

How can you be in Italy and not try the very italian espresso + cornetto breakfast? Caffè della posta, Caffè Centro and Bar la Briciola are all great spots to experience a well-made traditional Italian breakfast in Courmayuer.

2. Aperitivo

Same goes for the traditional Italian aperitivo! We have personally tried Café Roma, where the EXTREMELY copious buffet will be enough to cover your aperitivo, dinner and midnight snack. For a more fancy vibe and an outdoor lounge, you want to try the Grand Hotel Royal and Golf right in the pedestrian center of Courmayeur. Other pretty cool spots are La Bouche and Le Dahu.

3. Skyway Monte Bianco

Skyway Monte Bianco is what some call the eighth wonder of the world. A sight like this of Mont Blanc and its neighbouring alps cannot be described or captured in pictures. Above it all, it feels like you are walking on an entirely separate planet. Skyway Monte Bianco opened in 2015 is the world’s most expensive cable car linking Courmayeur to Pointe Helbronner. But it’s not just any ordinary ski lift…there are plenty of cool stops along the way you’ll want to experience. You can visit the highest library in Europe, stop by any of the 3 Skyway Monte Bianco Stations for a luxurious Alpine meal, wander through the Saussurea Alpine Botanical Gardens, toast to your experience with a glass of wine at the Cave Mont Blanc, and more.

4. Ski

And then, of course, the skiing! In Courmayeur you can ski leisurely on some easier slopes, take on some harder less frequented slopes, or find a perfect balance of on-piste and off-piste activities. This is just perfect for our corporate groups, where ski levels typically vary. And if you want to take a break and have a fancy glass of Prosecco, Super G on the slopes is where you want to head to!

5. Shop

Hit the slopes, then hit the shops on the main street, Via Roma. Courmayeur is ritzy with its ’70s style buildings lining the main street, but ritzy is not always a bad thing. It also means the town is extremely well maintained. Shopping here is definitely at the top of many people’s lists. There’s no shortage of Mont Blanc, The North Face, Gucci, Hermès, Balenciaga, Aspesi, Rolex, Moncler etc. Of course, for a different type of shopping, you can also visit Enoteca Gioio: you will find plenty of grappa ai mirtilli here!

6. Dinner on the mountain

One of the best and most unique things about Courmayeur is that you can enjoy dinner on the slopes till midnight. Some restaurants offer transportation in different and fun forms, whether it’s by dog sled, snowmobile, or other means. Some even offer the added experience of skiing back down the mountain with an instructor at night. Our n.1 recommended spot for this experience is Maison Vieille, where we have been taking our clients for years. On the menu: a 4-course dinner followed by grappa and lots of dancing!

7. QC Terme Pré Saint Didier

After a few days skiing, you’ll be in need of a thermal bath to help your muscles relax. The hot waters are said to stimulate blood circulation and improve muscle movement. QC Terme Pré Saint Didier, just a 10-minute drive from Courmayeur, is a stunning spot for relaxing after a day on the slopes. Who doesn’t want to sink in a hot thermal bath surrounded by snow capped mountains anyway?

Best Carnivals

Posted on by Al Slinn

It’s that strange time of the year when winter is still lingering and spring has not started yet. You are starting to wonder how to pass the time until the warmer days come. And then you realise: it’s Carnival! This celebration exists in more than 50 countries all over the world and some cities have really taken it to the next level, making their Carnival worth a trip. In this article on carnivaland.net we found the best 10 best Carnivals in Europe, so you know exactly where to head to next time you find yourself a bit bored during February days.

1. Viareggio Carnival, Italy

One of the most renowned carnival celebrations in Europe is the Viareggio Carnival. This carnival takes place in Viareggio, an Italian coastal town in Tuscany, and attracts around a million visitors every year. It first started back in 1873 when the city’s rich residents protested the high tax rates.

Viareggio Carnival is famous for the most amazing floats, which are the biggest and the best in the world. The floats are giant 20-meter-high papier-mache floats that will usually represent that years’ current carnival theme. The floats can range from mythical creatures to politicians like Donald Trump. There is also a famous Carnival Museum in town where you can see the floats or do a papier-mache workshop.

2. Nice Carnival, France

Many speculate that Nice Carnival may be the oldest carnival celebration in the world. There are documented records of it dating as far back as the 13th century. It runs for two weeks prior to Ash Wednesday and attracts a million people.

Nice Carnival hosts several street parades, but the one that it is most famous for is the Flower Parade. The Flower Parade sees participants riding impressive decorated floral floats and throwing flowers to the audience. It is estimated that around 100,000 flowers are thrown during this parade. Another popular parade is the Night Time Parade.

The celebrations end with the Grande Parade followed by an impressive firework show and bonfire. There are numerous street parties that occur during carnival and it is a time that sees revellers over-indulge in food and drink.

3. Venice Carnival, Italy

Venice Carnival is one of the most famous carnival celebrations in the entire world, it dates back centuries and is famous for its venetian carnival masks. Millions come from all over the world to marvel at the beautiful period costumes and masks that look majestic against the beautiful backdrop of Venice. 

Venice Carnival is also famous for throwing extravagant, luxurious and glamorous private masquerade balls and parties in grand Venetian Palaces. St Marks Square is the epicentre for all the action, and sees parades, costume competitions, acrobatic shows, theatre performances, live music and more. Shrove Tuesday is the main day of celebrations.

Wearing masks is an ancient carnival tradition that allows people to hide their social class and anonymously get up to some debauchery. It means that a housewife could indulge in some hanky panky or a noble man could mix with the common people. The Venetian Carnival masks are famous all around the world and are usually white with some intricate design on the edges.

4. Binche Carnival, Belgium

Binche Carnival is one of the oldest carnivals in all of Europe. UNESCO recognises it for its Intangible significance. Binche is a small town located south of Brussels and is only a short car ride away.

This carnival is famous for its main character the Gillies. The Gillies are mythical creatures that date back centuries to its pagan roots. They perform traditional dances and make scary noises to chase away the evil winter spirits and usher in the spring. The Gillies are performed by thousands of local boys and men who wear traditional carnival costumes and masks.

Binche Carnival attracts about 100,000 visitors every year and its main festivities occur in the three days prior to Ash Wednesday; Shrove Sunday, Rose Monday and Shrove Tuesday. During these days there are street parades, a confetti battle, firework shows, a champagne and oyster breakfast and lots more.

5. Ivrea, Italy

Ivrea Carnival is another ancient carnival that occurs in the small medieval town of Ivrea in Italy. It dates to medieval times and it hosts Italy’s biggest food fight, known as The Battle of the Oranges.

The Battle of the Oranges uses 400 tons of oranges in their food fight and re-enacts an ancient battle from when the town of Ivrea was freed from an evil tyrant that ruled the city. You can opt out of the fight by wearing a red hat but what’s the fun in that!

6. Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival, Spain

Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival, held in Spain’s Canary Islands, claims to be the second best carnival celebration in the world after Brazil. While this is a debatable statement it certainly is a popular and wild carnival celebration.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival in kicks off the celebrations with electing a carnival queen in a competition that sees candidates wear elaborate costumes that can weigh up to around 200 kilos. For the entire week prior to the carnival there are 24/7 wild street parties and live music concerts that feature lots of Latin tunes. Celebrations end with burning of a giant sardine.

7. Notting Hill Carnival, UK

This carnival is a summer carnival taking place in the month of August. Notting Hill Carnival is Europe’s largest street party with about two million people taking to the streets of London. It occurs on the Sunday and Monday of August Bank Holiday in the UK. Notting Hill Carnival was created to celebrate and embrace London’s Caribbean communities.

There is lots of drinking, dancing and socialising. The rum flows freely and people dance the day away to all the Caribbean music that pumps out from the 40 sound systems set up all over West London’s streets. You can also taste some of the delicious Caribbean cuisine like jerk chicken or goat curry.

8. Cologne Carnival, Germany

Carnival in Cologne is considered to be the ‘fifth season’. It officially begins on the 11/11 every year at 11:11am. Cologne Carnival is full of street parties, pub parties and parties that occur throughout the Cologne’s public squares, where the beer doesn’t stop flowing from morning until night.

The biggest day of carnival is Rose Monday which is when the three main carnival protagonists; a virgin, prince and a farmer, are marched through the streets of Cologne in a huge procession that features thousands of participants. Cologne Carnival is also known for the locals wearing extravagant costumes which are on par with what you would expect from Comicon.

Basel Fasnacht, Switzerland

Fasnacht is the name for carnival in many areas of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. There are numerous Fasnacht celebrations that occur all over that area of Europe but the biggest and most popular Fasnacht celebration is Basel Fasnacht.

What is unusual about Basel Fasnacht is that it starts one week after carnival. Basel Fasnacht features lots of parades and street parties. But the unique thing about it is the insane amounts of confetti. After the parade you may find yourself knee deep in confetti and that is because this town actually invented confetti!

Cádiz Carnival, Spain

Heading back to Spain, the Cadiz Carnival is one of the most renowned carnival celebrations in all of Europe. This carnival is a ten-day celebration of music and humour and was the only carnival in Spain that Franco couldn’t ban.

Cadiz Carnival features numerous street processions, live music concerts, comedy shows, theatre shows, puppet theatres and fireworks. It is known for everyone dressing up in the most amazing costumes that are more satirical then sexy in nature.

One of the main features of this carnival is the “Chirigotas”, satirical singing groups that make fun of current events and politicians. The groups spend most the year planning for carnival.

What’s new in Val d’Isère

Posted on by Al Slinn

The ski season has just begun and we are currently delivering our first event in Val d’Isère, one of the most well-known ski resorts in France. But what’s new in val d’Isère this year? Well, a lot of has to do with sustainability! We were happy to discover that Val recently won the CIMES DURABLES (Sustainable Peaks) prize for its investment in sustainable development.

In this article on seevaldisere.com we found a few other interesting news about what’s coming to Val this winter.

On the slopes

Eco piste groomers
Val d’Isere are championing a more sustainable approach, so their 39 piste groomers will be powered by HVO fuel this winter. This fuel is 100% renewable using vegetable oil (no palm oil) and reduces their carbon emissions by 90%.  

In the resort

Speed-riding
Evolution 2 has invested in new specially designed tandem wings to offer tandem speed-riding half days. They also offer ice floating on Ouillette lake at an altitude of 2513 metres for a unique relaxing wellness boost.  

Treetop adventures
Val adventure has opened 4 different tree-top adventure courses for a great après-ski activity in the Rogoney forest. This course includes rope bridges, zip wires, nets, beams and walkways.

Hotels

First Club Med Exclusive Collection in the Alps! 
The Club Med in Val d’Isere is the first of the exclusive collections resorts to be located in the mountains. This completely redesigned resort is the epitome of luxury with 215 deluxe rooms and suites. The new decor reflects the village style using natural wood, stone and wool to provide authenticity.

Chalets

Hip Hideouts Chalets have 2 new chalets this winter. Situated in the village both chalets sleep 10. Chalet Cala, slopeside and Chalet Loup in Le Fornet. You can expect the same high quality modern hospitality concept in these chalets that Hip Hideout offer in their other serviced accommodation in the resort. 

Travel

Electric shuttle buses
Two new electric shuttle buses join the fleet of ValBuses this winter. The rest of the fleet of buses will this year change over to HVO biofuel. These changes represent a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. By 2025, 15 electric buses will run between the village and its hamlets.  

Restaurants

The Edelweiss, an established restaurant on the slopes, celebrates its 20th Anniversary this winter and is opening a second restaurant on the Mangard slope in Le Fornet, called Rene. This new adjoining restaurant pays tribute to a family member and is offering a completely different dining experience with an open kitchen, charcoal oven and a fully glazed dining room giving an incredible panoramic view across the valley.

2030 Winter Olympics

Posted on by Al Slinn

Just yesterday morning, we were getting excited about a piece of news released by the Swiss newspaper Le Temps. Chamonix seemed involved in a bid to host the 2030 Winter Olympics, along with the Swiss canton of Valais and the Italian Aosta Valley.

Chamonix hosted the first Winter Olympics back in 1924. Having another edition of the Games here in the valley would surely be exciting to many.

However, just a few hours after the announcement, Chamonix released a statement denying its involvement in the Olympics. “Following up on the many articles in the Swiss and French press this morning […] the project of a common candidacy for the Olympic Games […] is not on the agenda”.

Searching for a candidate

As this article on the subject explains, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) is struggling to find a candidate for the 2030 Winter Olympics. This especially after its first choice, the Japanese city of Sapporo, “paused” its bid due to public anger following a bribery scandal involving Tokyo 2020.

With a bid from Vancouver lacking the support of either the Provincial or State Government, Salt Lake City seemed like the last choice. But officials in the US seem to prefer a bid for the Games in 2034 to avoid a clash with the 2028 Summer Olympics scheduled in Los Angeles.

Last month, the IOC had announced it would postpone choosing a 2030 host.

As professionals of the events world we love to stay updated on matters like the Olympic Games. We will have our eyes open for new bids, and we will definitely keep dreaming about a future Olympic edition in Chamonix!

Patagonia

Posted on by Al Slinn

As an event business based in the Alps, we are well aware of the impact our choices might have on the environment. That’s why we work closely with local businesses, encourage coach transfers, and run a paper-free office, among other things. One of the environmentally-driven decisions we are most proud of is our choice of clothing for uniforms and gadgets. We use Patagonia – a brand internationally recognised for its sustainability.

Patagonia’s decisions as a company never cease to amaze us. In recent months, the founder Yvon Chouinard gave up ownership of the company and used the profits to fight climate change. Over the past few days, Patagonia has closed all stores in the U.S. and Canada to give employees some deserved rest over the holidays.

Patagonia CEO’s words

CEO Ryan Gellert recently made an announcement on Linkedin. “In 2021, we closed our stores […] for the last week of the year and gave employees paid time off. The purpose was to provide […] a much-needed break, and our customers were overwhelmingly gracious about it. 
 
We’re doing it again this year. Our North America stores […] will be closed from December 25 through January 1 because we believe in providing quality of life for our people. I want to thank Patagonia’s incredible employees for an amazing year of working to save our home planet […].”

Our experience

We couldn’t be happier with our Patagonia products. They are fun, extremely colourful, and use great quality materials. Most importantly, they are good for the planet! We purchased our Patagonia-branded Ten80 uniforms at our local store in Chamonix. It’s very easy to take them in for repairs, and we could even give them back once used in exchange for credit. Not that we intend to return those amazing uniforms anytime soon!

We would highly recommend Patagonia to anyone, whether in search of trusted technical material, or looking for a stylish everyday look. We will be happy to point you to our Patagonia local store next time you are in town!

A guide to Chamonix

Posted on by Al Slinn

Having been based in Chamonix for almost 20 years, we are obviously very fond of this town and all it has to offer. It’s always exciting to show our clients around this incredible destination! We work constantly to build local connections and discover new gems for our future events here.

That’s why we were quite curious when discovering an article recently published by The Guardian, where a local shares his tips for a stay in Chamonix. It puts together a guide to Chamonix that’s both very accurate and personal, and we definitely agree with its suggestions.

Here are some highlights from the article.

Food

Cool Cats in the Rue de Moulins is best in the summer when you can sit outside. But as it does artisan hot dogs and street food such as nachos, it can also be good when you’re coming off the mountain in winter.

Le‑Cap‑Horn, in the same street, is a good option for sushi but a bit more expensive. Being able to get good sushi makes Chamonix a bit special for a mountain town.

Inspiration

The mountains here are unique but I think what makes Chamonix special is that they are so accessible from the valley. And because this is the birthplace of alpinism, when you’re in the mountains you’re either on a historic route or you can see one. I enjoy just being in the mountains with good friends and family, but in town, the Maison des Artistes, an artist’s residence dedicated to musical creativity, has a concert programme that changes all the time and can be quite unusual.

Neighbourhood

Chamonix is incredibly international: people from all over the world are brought together by the mountains. This part of the Arve valley is divided into three main towns: Argentière, Chamonix and Les Houches. I live in a hamlet called Les Bois, between Chamonix and Argentière. Closest to me is another hamlet called Les Praz, which has a nice bar, Le Petit Social, for coffee or après ski.

On the other side is Le Lavancher and a 30-minute walk from that hamlet is la Buvette du Chapeau. This is a mountain cafe with traditional food (cheese, charcuterie, chanterelle omelettes) and desserts such as fruit tarts and faisselle (local fromage blanc) with blueberry jam.

Nightlife

Chamonix is a busy mountain town with lots of tourists so the nightlife is good. But my preferred way of spending an evening is getting the cable car to Plan de l’Aiguille and watching the sunset from the Refuge du Plan de l’Aiguille, which is a 15-minute walk from the cable car.

You can have dinner and stay the night there, too, but in summer I like to take a picnic and camp up there. It is my favourite refuge in the whole Mont Blanc range and the mountains are pretty steep from there on, so if I stay the night, I know I can soon be up and doing something interesting the next morning!

Stay

Pointe Isabelle, in the centre of town, is a hotel, bar and bistro with 72 rooms. It sits on a corner, so it’s a good place for apéro and people watching.

Christmas markets

Posted on by Al Slinn

Christmas is approaching and one of our favorite activities this time of year (aside from skiing!) is Christmas markets shopping.

We are lucky to be located a stone’s throw away from Italy and Switzerland, as well as Geneva airport – a gateway to most European destinations. This means we can easily organise trips to the best Christmas markets around Europe!

You might be wondering which markets are worth a visit this year – so we have found this list by The Times, compounding the best 24 Christmas markets in Europe for 2022. Here are the top 10 on the list.

1. Cologne, Germany

Cologne has several Christmas markets, the largest of which is in the city centre, beneath the cathedral. Markt der Engel provides some of the most magical moments, with hundreds of twinkling lights suspended overhead like stars, and angels flitting between elaborately decorated gables.

2. Salzburg, Austria

The pretty hometown of Mozart comes into its own at Christmas, with snow-sprinkled renditions of Silent Night (the carol was written and first performed nearby) and market stalls that look much as they did when they were first set up way back in the 15th century.

3. Berlin, Germany

For a more modern take on tradition, arty Berlin has it covered. The city centre is festooned with around 80 Christmas markets (there’s even one specifically for dogs), so don’t try to cover them all.

4. Budapest, Hungary

Igniting the Christmas atmosphere in mid-November, Budapest brings two Christmas market contenders to the table: Vorosmarty Square and Basilica. Vorosmarty Square is Budapest’s oldest Christmas market. Here, you’ll find plenty of food stalls, handicraft shops and free concerts. Basilica has all of the above, but with the slight edge: Christmas laser projections on the Basilica and an ice-skating rink that circles around a grand Christmas tree.

5. Prague, Czech Republic

Postcard-pretty Prague is perfect for the festive season. Make like a local and swap your mug of mulled wine for a glass of grog — rum, water, lemon and sugar.

6. Strasbourg, France

France’s “Capital of Christmas” looks like a real-life nativity scene at this time of year. You’ll find 300 traditional market stalls crowding the city’s central squares, doing a strong line in hand-painted wooden Christmas decorations.

7. Gothenburg, Sweden

Liseberg, Sweden’s most popular amusement park, morphs into one of the world’s classiest Christmas open-air markets — no creaky Ferris wheels, plastic Christmas trees or drunk elves here.

8. Bratislava, Slovakia

Christmas in the Slovakian capital is a time of childlike wonder. Fairy lights are draped around Christmas trees, while market stalls sell traditional wooden toys and handsome Christmas decorations.

9. Bohemia, Czech Republic

In search of Christmas decorations and Christmas lights beyond Prague? Head for the southern Bohemian cities of Ceske Budejovice and Cesky Krumlov and you’ll find two of the most atmospheric markets in Europe.

10. Vienna, Austria

Come Christmas and Vienna sparkles with fairy lights. Snowy streets glow as light spills out from vast palaces; icicles dangle off grandiose Habsburg buildings. Add in steaming drinks in made-to-linger coffee houses and you’ve got a city full of festive atmosphere that doesn’t feel twee.

Amsterdam

Posted on by Al Slinn

There’s a moment every event planner loves: receiving that confirmation e-mail where the client finally gives the go ahead for their next event. We have recently experienced this thrill in the office when one of our large corporate groups confirmed an event in Amsterdam for next summer.

Amsterdam is perhaps not your usual summer destination as clients tend to choose the mountains or seaside, especially for incentives. However, the city is perfect for an urban escape and extremely corporate-friendly.

Reasons to host an event in Amsterdam

In this article on Iamsterdam.com we found 7 reasons why Amsterdam is just the perfect event destination.

  1. Amsterdam is easily accessible by international train and plane (the airport is only 20 minutes away from the city centre by public transport). On top of that, it is a very compact city with short travel times between hotels, venues and restaurants. 
  2. It has great digital connectivity: Amsterdam is a tech hub with one of the strongest internet backbones in the world and a leader in innovation and applying new technology.
  3. There are more than 500 beautiful venues.
  4. There are more than 40,000 hotel rooms, all located close to the venues.
  5. It is an iconic international destination with 750 years of history to discover and countless things to see and do.
  6. It has an extensive knowledge and business network coupled with world-class universities and research centres.
  7. Amsterdam is known for its commitment to collaboration and social connectivity. Parties involved in your event are well-connected and accustomed to working together.

…And some rankings

On top of these very valid reasons to organise your event in Amsterdam, here are some top rankings involving the city:

#5 among world’s best cities for smart mobility

#6 city for international association meetings 2021 in Europe

#1 safest city in Europe and #6 worldwide

#1 sustainable European city

#3 best airport in Western Europe

#1 for direct connectivity and hub connectivity 

Needless to say, we are thrilled to explore this destination thoroughly and polish our local connections in preparation for our upcoming event!

A recce trip to Porto

Posted on by Al Slinn

When we are not on the field running events with our clients, we spend our time exploring new destinations for future events. This October we decided to go on a “recce trip” to Porto, in the north of Portugal.

You might think of Portugal as a destination for summer events, but this small city in the north of the country is just perfect in autumn time. Sun is still shining and the temperatures go down by a few degrees, making the weather much more enjoyable than in summertime. The city gets an autumn-y, melancholic look, perfectly in line with the decadent vibe of Portuguese cities.

We spent five days exploring the best shops, restaurants, activities and viewpoints in Porto. Here’s a few of the gems we found.

SHOPS

While wandering the small streets of the old town we came across a couple of very interesting little shops. These are not the typical touristy stores selling you tiles made in China, but local shops with hand-made clothing and beautiful prints. Our favorites were Coração Alecrim and Mercado 48.

RESTAURANTS

We don’t want to reveal too much here, but if we had to choose one restaurant, then Museu d’Avó (granny’s museum) is a must-go. The typical cuisine is amazing, and the candle-light atmosphere with antiques hanging from the walls and ceiling is just fascinating.

ACTIVITIES

There is one activity you cannot miss in Porto: a Porto wine tasting. You can choose among the many cellars available, from Burmester to Sandeman or Cálem. After a guided tour of the cellar learning everything about Porto wine, you can choose to taste 2, 3 or 5 Porto wines, sometimes accompanied by cheese or chocolate. The experience will leave you delighted, and a bit light-headed too!

VIEWPOINTS

There are several spots to stop and admire the city, but we have no doubt: the Crystal Palace Gardens is top of the list. This is a public park where ducks, hens, peacocks and turkeys range freely. You can sit to relax in the grass or walk around the terraces, admiring the city and river from above. There’s even a tower you can climb up to take pictures of the view!

This was not our first time in Porto, and it surely won’t be the last. Thanks to the knowledge we have accumulated over the years, the city is now fully part of our destination portfolio. We hope to see you there on our next event soon!

Monferrato

Posted on by Al Slinn

Who said that corporate events should only happen in sunny destinations or on the slopes?

We love autumn – it’s that melancholic time of the year where you can still enjoy the outdoors but also get cozy with a good cup of tea. We are big fans of organising corporate events for our clients in the fall, as the big crowds are gone and the colours of nature are just beautiful. While exploring event destinations in Europe we have found just the perfect place to visit this time of the year. It’s the Monferrato region in Piedmont, northern Italy.

Monferrato is an enchanting place, made of castles and vineyards and hills. People know it worldwide for its landscapes and wines, and it has become part of the UNESCO heritage since 2014. Monferrato produces some of the best Italian wines along with specialties like hazelnuts, mushrooms, cheeses and truffles. On autumn days, its colourful hills take your breath away.

The climate and particular shape of this region make it perfect for wine production. Famous red wines from Monferrato are Dolcetto, Bracchetto, Barbera, Moscato and Grignolino. But the white sparkly ones don’t disappoint either! This abundance makes Monferrato ideal for hikes in the vineyards, wine tastings and other wine-related activities. Just what you need after a day in the conference room, right?

You can find more information on this beautiful corner of Italy on the visit Italy website. And if you are interested in running your next corporate event in Monferrato, our team at Ten80 will be delighted to help.

Iceland – the Land of Fire and Ice

Posted on by Al Slinn

One of our all time favorite destinations for corporate events is Iceland – the Land of Fire and Ice.

We have discovered this magical land on a corporate trip in 2018 and we’ve since been dreaming of running another event there. This week, it finally happened: we are back in Iceland with our clients!

But why is Iceland such a popular destination for corporate travel?

As this article on cooltraveliceland points out, Iceland has first of all a breathtaking, extremely varied landscape. Glaciers, volcanic landscapes, waterfalls, and black sand beaches, to name just a few.

However, the country also offers a rich culture, a world-class food and drink scene, and some of the most amazing natural hot springs in the world. Quite a few ways to relax and unwind after a busy day in the conference room!

Corporate trips in Iceland can be planned at any time of the year, as the country has something different to experience in every season. From puffin watching in the summer, to discovering ice caves and watching the Northern Lights in the winter. The best news? Its bustling capital city, Reykjavik, has a wide choice of hotels and conference venues to suit every budget.

As our local connections in this destination increase, we will continue to propose Iceland to our clients for future trips. We do hope to see you there on your next corporate event!