Alentejo Tours Follow AC-United Airlines Race

After competing in a hard-fought Air Canada-United Airlines Race last week in the city of Evora in Portugal’s Alentejo region, about 30 travel advisors from the U.S. and Canada split up into three groups and starting exploring the region.

But before setting out on those trips, Press Today’s western editor, Ted Davis reports that the agents joined Portugal tourism officials and airline brass for a gala dinner at the historic Pousada de Estremoz, atop the hill above the town of Estremoz.

There, they learned that the top team in the Race was the Pinks amongst six coloured-keyed groups of five agents each – or four in a few cases.

The Pinks had amassed the most points in a competition that was roughly similar to the amazing race format, in stages ranging in diversity from ice cream, wine and herbal taste comparisons, to illustration and video production challenges.

All the tests had to be accomplished in blocks of 20 minutes each at the most, after which teams quickly searched for their next puzzle destination in the historic city of Evora.

Two days later, the travel advisors – each of whom had completed knowledge modules on Alentejo before being invited to attend – set out on post-Race tours to explore the province.

The three tours were defined as Culture & Heritage, Active & Nature and Gastronomy & Wine, and were designed to best illustrate Alentejo in each of those categories.

With very knowledgeable tour guides on board with each group, these three-day missions to discover Alentejo were deemed a resounding success by participants.

Go to www.visitportugal.com for more.

In the Photos

TOP

Ines Garrett, the director of the Portuguese National Tourist Office in Toronto, met with Nuno Pina, Alentejo area operations manager of Pousadas de Portugal (left) and Filipe Silva, board member of Turismo de Portugal (right) during a gala dinner celebrating the Race.

MIDDLE

Travel advisors Cheryl Fountain of CWT in Stratford (l.) and Kim Renouf of Winnipeg competed together in the Race and later celebrated at a gala dinner.

BOTTOM

Amongst those attending the post-Race gala dinner were (l. to r.) Raquel Serra-Pinto of Air Canada, Naz Javidneshan of AC, Audrey Tanguay-Beaudette of AC, Kelly Ferrigno of United Airlines, Ana Paula De Souza  of AC Vacations, Cathy Cangemi of United, Stacey Nishikawa  of United, Angela Mendes of Visit Alentejo, Edna Ray of Air Canada, Tracey Bellamy of AC, Lupita Cardiel of AC, Kim Ahearn of United and Elizabeth Ohayon of AC.