Madeira set to host AITO and AITO Agents’ joint overseas conference 2012

Jan. 17, 2012 - PRLog -- Sponsored by the Portuguese National Tourist Office and the Madeira Promotion Bureau, the joint conference will take place from 14-17 June 2012 and will see the two organisations come together on the popular Portuguese island to reinforce even greater links in the spirit of the Closer Ties scheme between AITO and AITO Agents.

Chairman of AITO Agents, Oliver Broad, says: “We’re excited to unveil Madeira as our choice for this year’s overseas conference. Following the decision to hold the 2011 conference in the little-known but beautiful city of Vilnius in Lithuania, in 2012 we’ve chosen Madeira so that we can rediscover and support a holiday destination that’s a firm favourite with the British consumer.

“Madeira, as a year-round holiday destination, is incredibly accessible and there is a great amount to experience of the island, including an abundance of not-so-obvious things such as the buzzing foodie scene in its capital, Funchal, the Madeira Wine Festival and other cultural events.”

Chairman of AITO, Derek Moore, says: “We’re looking forward to exploring Madeira during our 2012 conference - a destination that has strengthened again following difficult times. The decision to repeat the joint conference format follows the overwhelmingly positive feedback from last year’s first-ever joint event in Vilnius. It was evident that the destination played a big part in the conference’s success, and we have no doubt that Madeira will deliver an equally fantastic experience.”

Tourism Director of the Portuguese National Tourist Office, Filipe Silva, says: “We’re excited about welcoming AITO operators and agents to Madeira, showcasing the best of our destination to this association of highly-regarded, specialist travel companies. There is a great amount to experience on the island, such as the irrigation channels called the ‘levadas’ which form a network of walking trails that enable visitors to experience breathtaking landscapes. There’s also Laurissilva Forest, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and a vibrant calendar of events including the Carnival parades, annual flower festival and the Atlantic festival which includes firework displays and musical concerts. The island is also famous for its fortified wines and fabulous gastronomy, including seafood and meat cooked with a variety of spices and local herbs.”

The conference will see an engaging mix of big-name speakers from both inside and outside the travel industry and will offer delegates excellent networking and educational opportunities.

For more information about Madeira and Portugal, go to http://www.visitmadeira.pt and http://www.visitportugal.com

For more information about AITO, see www.aito.com and, for more information about AITO Specialist Travel Agents, visit http://www.aitoagents.com.

Ends – 16 January 2011

Press: For further information, please contact Stephanie Reed at Travel PR, telephone 020 8891 4440 or email s.reed@travelpr.co.uk

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