The 5th Edition of the IPBN Annual Tourism Conference, organized by the Ireland Portugal Business Network (IPBN), will take place on 22 October 2026 at WELL Vale do Lobo, Almancil, Algarve, Portugal. The conference will run from 09:00 to 13:00, followed by a light lunch and networking session.

The annual conference will bring together tourism and hospitality professionals, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, experts, IPBN members, Executive Partners, and other key stakeholders from Ireland and Portugal to discuss current opportunities and challenges shaping the tourism sector.

The 2026 edition will focus on the role of innovation in transforming tourism, with discussions organized around three main areas:

• Tourism and Artificial Intelligence & Local Experiences: Examining the growing use of artificial intelligence in personalized travel planning, conversational assistants, hospitality operations, predictive maintenance, and data-driven resource management.
• Gastronomy and the Preservation of Agriculture and Land: Exploring how quality local products can reach consumers while supporting producers, communities, agricultural traditions, and landscapes in Ireland and Portugal.
• Sustainability across Sport and Leisure: Discussing the relationship between sustainability, sport, and leisure, with particular attention to balancing environmental protection, social inclusion, and economic viability.

The conference will open with keynote perspectives from leading voices in the Algarve and will provide participants with opportunities for professional discussion and networking. The organizers have announced that the full programme and guest speaker list will be released subsequently.

Conference at a Glance

Event: 5th Edition of the IPBN Annual Tourism Conference
Organizer: Ireland Portugal Business Network (IPBN)
Date: 22 October 2026
Time: 09:00–13:00
Venue: WELL Vale do Lobo, Praça Vale do Lobo, 8135-034 Almancil, Algarve, Portugal
Main Themes: Tourism and Artificial Intelligence; Local Experiences; Gastronomy and Preservation of Agriculture and Land; Sustainability across Sport and Leisure
Participants: Tourism and hospitality professionals, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, experts, IPBN members, Executive Partners, and tourism stakeholders
Networking: Light lunch and networking following the conference
Registration: Registration is currently open through the official event page.