The Algarve region in Portugal will be showcasing its sumptuous cuisine offerings among other outstanding services when it plays host to the World Travel Awards (WTA) Europe Ceremony 2012 on October 6th 2012, which will draw senior representatives from Europe’s finest travel brands.

Guests at the red-carpet event will also be invited to participate in the WTA Europe Golf Classic tournament which will be played on the region’s finest championship course, Quinta do Lago South Course on the morning of the big ceremony.

Food can play a huge part in a family of holidaymakers deciding where to go on their holidays. Families who love pizza might head straight for Italy, while fans of bratwurst and pretzels would be in food heaven in Germany.

The Algarve region in Portugal has a thriving food industry, with something for everyone. From the harvesting of figs and oranges to the birthplace of ‘piri-piri’ chicken, the southernmost area of Portugal can please even the most demanding of palates, all washed down with a signature Algarve wine.

Much of the economy in the Algarve depends on the farming of oranges, strawberry trees, figs, cork oak and carob beans. Large areas of the land are covered with greenhouses to ensure the strong growth of these products, and as a result, many of the dishes Portugal is renowned for feature these foods.

Portuguese fig cake is a favourite of many in the region, while orange rolls and orange cakes are sold in many bakeries in the area. As many of the tourists who visit the region shun hotels to stay in luxury Algarve villas, the self-catering aspect means that any budding bakers will have access to prime ingredients should they wish to have a go at creating these Portuguese delicacies themselves.

The Algarve is also renowned for its invention of the famous ‘piri-piri’ chicken, which can be found everywhere from roadside takeaways to the most exclusive of restaurants. Anyone staying in an Algarve holiday villa will have easy access to this regional dish, which has been exported across the world and even has chain restaurants dedicated purely to the spicy flavour which is beloved here.

Aside from chicken, the proximity to the coast means that the Algarve also specialises in seafood dishes. Conquilhas are small clams and incredibly popular in the Algarve, with bags of them at every fish counter, while many starters and main courses in restaurants feature sardines, prawns or monkfish.

Wine in the Algarve is also a huge export, and draws many tourists to the region on specific wine-tasting tours. Lagoa, Portimão and Tavira are the main areas within the Algarve which produce most of the wine; Cliff Richard’s vineyard is situated just a little way outside of Tavira and close to the quaint town of Guia, where many luxury Algarve holiday villas make it a perfect hotspot for those on a wine-tasting trail.

Other alcoholic favourites in the area include the fiercely potent fruit brandy ‘Medronho’ (better known as ‘fire water’) and port, Portugal’s best known drink. Many restaurants offer Portuguese wines and beers as their house options, so the chance to introduce your palate to these beverages need never be far away.

For keen foodies hoping to experience Portuguese cuisine firsthand, the region is just a three hour flight direct from the UK into Faro.

Over seven UK airlines including Monarch, BA, Jet2, BMI, Ryanair and Easyjet serve the Algarve from 26 regional airports making the region one of the most accessible European golf destinations.

World Travel Awards

The highlight of the tourism calendar for any region, the World Travel Awards will visit the Algarve later this month for the annual Europe Gala Ceremony.

Taking place at the new Conrad Algarve, the event will welcome the leaders of the European tourism industry to a red carpet event designed to select the best-of-the-best.

World Travel Awards president Graham Cooke said: “We are delighted to host our first ceremony in the Algarve, a decision that reflects the crucial role that tourism plays in the region and its overall contribution to the Portuguese economy.”

He added: “The Algarve is also one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the world, and the new Conrad Algarve will set a new precedent for luxury in the region.

“Our Europe Ceremony will provide a perfect forum to showcase its facilities to travel’s top decision-makers.”

Visit the officialwebsite for more information.

Portugal city guides showcase top attractions

With a free mobile travel guide for fabulous Faro, travel and tourism industry professionals attending the prestigious World Travel Awards Europe ceremony in the Algarve next month can discover more about Algarve’s capital via a new city guide.

Faro.City.Mobi, created by mobile web development company World Mobi Group Limited, showcases the charming resort town of Faro via a state of the art tool that is free of charge, quick to download and easy to use.

Faro has long been a popular holiday spot for travellers; home to some Europe’s most scenic coast, with its laid back vibe, friendly people, charming old town and buzzy nightlife.

Travellers tapping into Faro.City.Mobi can expect to find information on the destination’s leading attractions, from the Faro Marina, to the delightful old town with its historic sites, picturesque churches, cobbled streets, enticing cafés, leafy parks and sociable plazas.

For those travellers who are feeling adventurous and keen to explore beyond Faro and the Algarve, World Mobi have launched city guides highlighting Portugal’s largest and capital city Lisbon and popular tourist destination Albufeira.

Lisbon.Mobi and Albufeira.Mobi include extensive information ranging from accommodations, to restaurants, shopping, nightlife, and transport. In addition there is emergency information to hand. 

Other innovative features that all these city guides contain include a currency converter and translating tool while web links and contact details are provided for all the featured services.

Designed specifically for the needs of travellers on the go, the guides load efficiently and reduce download costs for the user.