2026 Hotel Conferences and Trade Shows in Portugal
ortugal has emerged as one of Europe's most dynamic hospitality markets, with Lisbon and Porto becoming major tourism destinations and the country's hotel sector experiencing significant investment and innovation. Portuguese hotels are known for their warm hospitality, design sensibility, and increasingly sophisticated use of technology to enhance guest experience and operational efficiency.
In 2026, Portugal will host several important hotel and hospitality events that reflect the country's growing importance in European tourism. These events provide opportunities for discovering new solutions, connecting with international partners, and learning from the innovations driving Portugal's hospitality sector forward.
Let's take a look at the top hotel conferences and trade shows in Portugal for 2026:
1. BTL – Bolsa de Turismo de Lisboa
Date: March 2026
Location: FIL – Feira Internacional de Lisboa, Portugal
Description: BTL is Portugal's largest tourism trade fair, attracting thousands of professionals from the travel and hospitality sectors. This four-day event brings together tour operators, travel agencies, hotel groups, and destination marketing organizations from Portugal and key source markets. For Portuguese hoteliers, BTL provides direct access to international distribution partners, particularly from European markets that drive substantial tourism to Portugal. The event features exhibitions, networking sessions, and presentations on travel trends, making it valuable for hotels seeking to establish relationships with tour operators, meet with travel agencies, and understand evolving traveler preferences. Many Portuguese hotels use BTL as their primary platform for building distribution partnerships with international travel buyers.
2. Web Summit
Date: November 2026
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Description: While Web Summit is primarily a technology conference rather than a hospitality-specific event, it has significant relevance for hotels interested in travel technology, hospitality SaaS solutions, and digital innovation. This massive four-day event attracts over 70,000 attendees from the global tech industry, including many startups and established companies focused on hospitality technology. For Portuguese hoteliers interested in emerging technologies, partnerships with tech companies, or understanding how digital innovation is reshaping guest expectations, Web Summit provides unique insights and networking opportunities. The event's presence in Lisbon has also helped establish the city as a hub for travel-tech startups, many of which offer innovative solutions specifically designed for hotels.
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Date: November 2026
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Description: The AHRESP Congress is organized by Portugal's hotel, restaurant, and similar businesses association and serves as the industry's primary strategic conference. This one or two-day event brings together hotel owners, general managers, and industry leaders to address challenges and opportunities facing Portuguese hospitality. Topics covered typically include workforce development, regulatory changes, sustainability initiatives, and operational best practices. For Portuguese hotel operators seeking to benchmark their operations, understand policy developments, and learn from successful peers, the AHRESP Congress provides essential strategic insights specific to the Portuguese market. The event also facilitates networking among Portuguese hospitality leaders and provides a forum for discussing industry-wide challenges.
Date: April 2026
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Description: Host Hotel Congress is a conference focused on hotel management and operations, bringing together general managers, operations directors, and hospitality consultants for educational sessions on operational excellence. The event covers topics such as revenue management, guest experience optimization, technology implementation, and team management. For Portuguese hoteliers seeking practical operational insights rather than equipment exhibitions, Host Hotel Congress provides focused education through case studies, workshop sessions, and presentations from experienced hotel operators. The compact format allows for meaningful networking with peers who face similar operational challenges in the Portuguese market.
Date: April 2026
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Description: The Short Stay Conference addresses the growing serviced apartment and short-term rental sector, bringing together operators, investors, and technology providers who serve alternative accommodation markets. This one-day event is particularly relevant for Portuguese markets where short-term rentals have become significant competitors to traditional hotels. Topics covered include regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and guest experience optimization specific to short-stay properties. For hotel operators diversifying into serviced apartments or property managers navigating Portugal's evolving short-term rental regulations, the conference provides valuable insights and networking opportunities with others in the sector.
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These Portuguese hotel conferences and trade shows in 2026 provide valuable opportunities for hospitality professionals to connect with international partners, discover innovative technologies, and learn from the dynamic developments in one of Europe's fastest-growing hospitality markets. Whether you operate a boutique hotel in Lisbon's Alfama district, manage a resort in the Algarve, or oversee properties in Porto, Portugal's event calendar offers platforms suited to different business objectives and market segments.
For additional Southern European hospitality insights, explore our related guides:
