Suppose we’re discussing a strategic location for a meeting or event in Lisbon, Portugal. In that case, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better place to hold it than Parque das Nacoes, an area specifically developed for the 1998 World’s Fair and home to the Lisbon Congress Center (Centro de Congressos de Lisboa), numerous restaurants and the bustling Vasco da Gama Shopping Center. Now that you’ve found your venue, the sleek Melia Lisboa Oriente is a natural choice for accommodations.
Positioned near the Tagus River just steps from the convention center, the hotel offers attendees matchless views of the riverfront and every service they could need. With 207 guestrooms and suites, it’s small enough for a takeover and big enough to house your small- to mid-size group with spouses—because those plus-ones are going to want to come. Having spent a few days in Lisbon, I can tell you without a doubt this is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever visited—and the Melia Lisboa Oriente is the perfect pied-a-terre.
For on-site meetings, the hotel has four meeting spaces (3,230 sq ft) equipped with the latest technology, that can accommodate up to 350 attendees. High-speed Wi-Fi, audiovisual equipment and dedicated event staff are on hand to support your successful event. Melia’s proximity to Lisbon’s main transport hubs, including the Oriente train station (across the street) and Lisbon Airport (literally ten minutes away), makes it a convenient choice.
Accommodations at Melia Lisboa Oriente are designed with business travelers in mind, though they have all the comforts a leisure traveler could require, including that view of the Targus. Our room was a Queen double with a great workspace, floor-to-ceiling windows, a big-screen TV, a minibar, spacious bathroom and more. The décor is in a palette of grays and blues, very soothing after a long day of meetings (or sightseeing).
On-site dining is at Bistro & Tapas, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is not your ordinary hotel restaurant, though. While it does have the usual breakfast buffet, it shines for lunch and dinner—think everything from gazpachos to carpaccios to tortellini to octopus. With as many options as there are nearby, Bistro & Tapas is still a great option.
That being said, there’s plenty to explore within walking distance. The Vasco da Gama shopping center mentioned above is a must, but there’s also the Lisbon Oceanarium—one of the largest aquariums in Europe—, the Jardim Garcia de Orta along the riverside promenade and any number of restaurants. But if you want to get yourself an original pasteis de nata (traditional custard tart), then you have to go to Old Lisboa, specifically the Belem district (at the Pasteis de Belem bakery), just 20 minutes away by Uber. (Ubers are ubiquitous in Lisbon, so you’ll never have to wait more than five minutes for one.) This is also home to the gorgeous Jeronimos Monastery, the Contemporary Art Museum and the massive Monument to the Discoveries on the waterfront—a must.
Old Lisboa is eminently walkable and incredibly diverse. The following day, we got dropped off at Praca de Entrecampos and made our way down the leafy Avenida da Liberdade, which took us straight to the heart of the old city. It was a Sunday, so the wide sidewalks were dotted with booths selling everything from handmade leather goods to antiques. We walked all the way to the Targus River, pausing along the way to marvel at the gorgeous buildings and plazas (including the famous Santa Justa Elevator), pop in and out of shops and cafes, and, finally, stop at the Ribeira das Naus riverfront promenade for a beautifully cooked piece of cod and prawns at Baia do Peixe Restaurante.
Truth is, this was just the tip of the iceberg because there’s no doubt attendees (and/or their plus ones) will find there aren’t enough days in their stay to take in everything Lisbon has to offer.
When it comes to bleisure in the big city, the modern Melia Lisboa Oriente offers meeting planners a spot right in the heart of the action—and minutes from everything else.
For more information, visit melialisboaoriente.com.
