Over two days, HOST Douro brought together more than 250 participants for an international gathering dedicated to exploring the future of hospitality, featuring award-winning chefs and sommeliers, researchers specialising in Artificial Intelligence and wine tourism experts.
On 5 and 6 October, the Centro Interpretativo D’Olival ao Azeite D’Ouro in Castedo, Alijó, hosted a gathering of renowned professionals and experts from Portugal and around the world. The exchange of knowledge, experiences and diverse perspectives sparked a wide-ranging conversation about the future of hospitality
The second edition of HOST Douro, organised by CIM Douro – Comunidade Intermunicipal do Douro, welcomed more than 250 participants and involved students from the Tourism course at the Polytechnic University of Viseu, the Douro School of Hospitality and Tourism, and the vocational schools of Moimenta and Rodo, strengthening the connection between the sector and the next generation of professionals. The initiative also involved around 20 local producers, businesses and partners, who showcased their products or opened their doors to host parts of the programme.
“For this second edition, we wanted to develop HOST Douro in a different way from the first, taking it out into the region and giving more than 250 participants the opportunity to experience first-hand the outstanding projects that exist here. We want this to be a conversation involving many different voices, one that begins on the HOST stage but resonates throughout the Douro. It became clear that the future of the region lies in sustainability, diversity and its ability to make the most of everything it has to offer. The Douro is recognised worldwide for the quality of its wines, whether Port or DOC Douro wines, and we want to preserve this cornerstone while also showcasing everything else the region has to offer,” says João Gonçalves, President of the Comunidade Intermunicipal do Douro.
For Miguel Santos, Executive Secretary of CIM Douro, the event has already established itself as a forum for reflection that puts people first. “The second edition of HOST Douro confirmed that this is a project that has already moved beyond being simply an event about tourism, hotels or restaurants. It has become a space for thinking about what we want the future of hospitality to look like and, above all, the role that regions can play in shaping that future. HOST Douro has carved out a place of its own because it does not simply seek to discuss trends. It seeks to understand how those trends can serve regions, businesses and, above all, people,” he says.
Highlights of the programme included Michelle Schneider, a specialist in the future of work; João Rodrigues, founder of Projecto Matéria; Carlos Léon, General Manager of Grupo Aponiente (Spain); Eduardo Bastos, Global Head of Food & Beverage at Aman, one of the world’s leading luxury hospitality brands; Luis Baselga, sommelier at Michelin-starred Smoked Room (Spain); Björn Kjellberg, General Manager of Röda Huset in Stockholm, one of Europe’s 50 Best Bars; António Roquette, Tourism Director at Esporão; and Katherina Cordás and Ivan Ralston, the team behind TUJU, the three-Michelin-starred restaurant in São Paulo.
On the culinary side, chefs Luís Guedes, Óscar Geadas, José Gomes, Milton Ferreira, Rui Paula and Vasco Coelho Santos, together with their respective teams, led the lunches held outdoors at the Centro Interpretativo, alongside wine producers from the region, in a celebration of local produce and flavours.
The second edition of HOST Douro was also marked by the awarding of four scholarships to the Basque Culinary Center, funded by proceeds from ticket sales from the first edition. The scholarships were awarded to students from vocational schools in the region who stood out for their merit, dedication and academic potential.
The scholarships reflect HOST Douro’s commitment to developing professional skills and nurturing local talent. Because establishing the Douro as an international benchmark for hospitality depends, above all, on investing in the people who bring the region to life and are building its future.
About CIM Douro
The Douro Intermunicipal Community is an association comprising 19 municipalities, with the mission of promoting the region’s economic, social and cultural development. Through a strategic approach focused on enhancing the territory and its communities, CIM Douro has implemented transformative initiatives in tourism, innovation, mobility, sustainability and skills development, strengthening Douro’s identity and positioning it as a destination of excellence.