Better Living in Portugal Exhibition

Absolute Zero exhibited for the first time at the Better Living in Portugal in 2009, and confirmed that it is possible to do business with other businesses as well as doing business with the public at BLiP.

Portugal Auctions had such a good weekend that they booked their space for 2010 before the weekend was out.

Ashbourne Villiers, long-time supporter of the Better Living in Portugal exhibition, were constantly busy during the 2009 exhibition.

AFPOP and Exiberia donated space to the Associação Oncológica do Algarve allowing the association to promote its work and activities.

Casa Curiosa had a great range of furniture and artifacts to tempt the most discerning visitor

It wasn't all business at Catalina Spas - the weekend was mixed with family fun in one of the great spas on offer

Collections offered fashion in various styles and hues to suit all

2009 was another great event for Luzdoc and also for the exhibitors who visited their stand for check-ups and appointments

Arroja along with Junkers products made their first time exhibition at Better Living in Portugal 2009

Arguably one of the most attractive stands at the Better Living in Portugal 2009 exhibition was Casa Sonho

2009

Last year (2009) was one of the most challenging years in business that we had seen in Portugal for over 20 years and whilst exhibitor numbers were slightly reduced, Better Living in Portugal 2009 was still a resounding success.

A new layout of the pavilion offered visitors and exhibitors more light and space, and which allowed for better visibility of stands and greater business opportunities for everyone.

This year was the first year for several that we had not welcome the Mamamaratona run at the BLiP site, however we were pleased to offer the organisers of Mamamaratona space at the exhibition to promote their activities.
Whilst not having the run at BLiP took away a dynamic from the area, it did allow for much easier access to the exhibition site.

A welcome addition to Better Living in Portugal 2009 was the introduction of seminars from the UK Department of Work and Pensions and the British Consulate in the Algarve.

2009 brought some of the best, most innovative products available to those of us living in Portugal and we are sure that this will continue in 2010.

2008

Who could ask for anything more? - that was the cry from the exhibitors at the 2008 BLiP Exhibition.

Despite forecasts of poor weather, the sun shone; despite gloom and doom in the financial markets, all those in finance and finance related businesses reported good visitor numbers and interest in the products they had to offer; despite concern that Portugal, like many other European countries, was to experience a serious downturn in spending power many of our exhibitors at the 2008 Better Living in Portugal Exhibition reported good interest, better sales and a positive hope for the forthcoming 12 months.

Thanks to all those who supported the 2008 BLiP by taking space and to the 7800 plus visitors who helped make BLiP, the most successful exhibition of its kind in the Algarve.

2007

The 2007 exhibition was another rousing success at the Portimão Arêna (ExpoArade) and having ironed out most of the problems encountered in 2006 the exhibition went very smoothly.

Christopher Stephen, President of AFPOP, was delighted to welcome Celia Edwards, the then British Consul to the Algarve, to the seventh BLiP.

This year exhibitors were accommodated on the ground and first floors of the pavilion and the whole event looked extremely professional with all exhibitors making a great effort on their stands. (See also News section).

Again BLiP was blessed with good weather - this year hotter than most people can remember at this time in October.

Attendance was lower than in 2006 on the Saturday - maybe due to the number of sporting fixtures involving England! But Sunday proved to be as busy as it has been in the past with queues of traffic forming early in the morning.  The overspill carparks identified by the organisers, ExIberia were put to good use, as the newly introduced ‘BLiP Bus’ brought visitors (and in some cases exhibitors) in to the event from these carparks.  AFPOP and ExIberia would like to thank Auto Jardim and Yor Car Hire for their generosity in supply the mini-buses.

ExIberia were most grateful to the major sponsors in 2007 - the Algarve Resident, the Enova Group and British Airways.

The attendance for 2007 was 7800, and many exhibitors have reported that they made many more sales this year than in previous years.

The MM7 runners who had turned out in their hundreds, had a tough time in the heat, but those who supported the fund raising event by walking thoroughly enjoyed it.

If you missed BLiP 2007 then you must make a note in your 2008 agenda not to miss next year's event!

2006

Once again in 2006 ExIberia organised BLiP on behalf of AFPOP on October 14 and 15.

BLiP 2006 was one of the first events to use the new purpose-built pavilion and there were the inevitable teething problems.

The facilities in the new pavilion are far superior than anywhere that BLiP has been held in the past. But due to the number of spaces booked we had to use a temporary structure parallel to the main building. Whilst this provided a platform for many exhibitors it was not of the quality we had hoped for.

The other issue which was not within our control was the traffic jam which started early on the Sunday morning and lasted well past opening time.

Again, the weather was kind to us in 2006 and we welcomed nearly 8500 visitors over the weekend and the runners at the Mamamaratona had a great time raising a great deal of money for this cancer charity.

2005

The 2005 event was the first to be organised on a commercial turnkey basis by ExIberia on behalf of AFPOP.

ExIberia (which was then part of Canary Wharf Lda) was proud to have been awarded the contract by AFPOP to organize the exhibition proving their competance throughout previous years.

Held on October 15 and 16 at ExpoArade in Portimão the event was a sell-out with 317 spaces being taken up by exhibitors from all spectrums of business life in Portugal.

During the two day exhibition, we welcomed over 8000 visitors to BLiP and as the sun shone visitors and exhibitors alike were  extremely pleased they had been at BLiP. And this year AFPOP was particularly delighted to welcome the then Civil Governor of the Algarve, Dr António Pina.

On the Sunday morning the AOA held the Mamaratona starting and finishing at the BLiP event and raising a whopping 8,130 Euros for its funds with 757 people taking part.

2004

Having filled the Fissul Centre to bursting point, AFPOP had to find a new venue for the Better Living in Portugal Exhibition, if the exhibition was to continue to grow.  A visit to ExpoArade in Portimão proved to be the answer to their prayers.  With two tented pavilions and plenty of room to expand the exhibition, as well as good car parking and excellent access it was decided to make ExpoArade the new home of BLiP.

Once again the take-up of stand space was great and AFPOP was delighted to welcome many new exhibitors as well as those who had been with the exhibition from the very beginning.

The 2004 exhibition was open for two full days to the public and for the fourth year running visitors flocked to the event; by 11am on Saturday the car park was showing very few empty spaces.  Exhibitors hailed ExpoArade as a great venue for BLiP and visitors, which numbered around 7000, also found the new home of BLiP excellent.

2003

The 2003 exhibition was again held in Silves at the Fissul Centre, but due to space requirements far outweighing the space available, it was a difficult exhibition to organize. Some companies on the waiting list opted to take outside space rather than miss being at BLiP which was fast becoming an Algarve tradition.  Fortunately the weather was kind and the exhibition was yet another great success with 3800 visitors passing through the doors.

2002

In 2002 the event was extended with a business to business initiative on the Saturday afternoon when 600 people attended.  Once again the public flocked in on Sunday to the Fissul Centre in Silves, with 3200 people spending enjoyable hours visiting the 110 exhibitors taking part.

2001

In 2001 Sheena Rawcliffe, who was then the President of AFPOP, the Association for Foreign Residents and Visitors to Portugal, suggested to her colleagues on the Management Council that it would be a good idea to have an annual event at which members of the association (at the time there were around 4500 members) could meet companies offering products and services.

And so, the Better Living in Portugal Exhibition was born.  The first event, in November 2001, was held in the Fissul Centre in Silves.  The venue was chosen for its accessibility from the pan-Algarve motorway and because it was reasonably central for most members of AFPOP.

The exhibition in 2001 was a great success, both from the exhibitors’ viewpoint and also that of the visitor.  Visitors were queuing up before the event was officially opened and it was business all the way throughout the day.