NEARLY 8,000 people attended the Better Living in Portugal (BLIP) exhibition, an AFPOP event, at Portimão’s ExpoArade at the weekend.
A large array of products and services aimed at enhancing residents’ lives in Portugal were available at the exhibition, which featured 166 exhibitors occupying 263 stands.
Visitors were offered advice
 Some of the representatives from the best in show and highly commended stalls pose for a photo. From left, Adam Ainscough from Expression Photography, Henrique Pinheiro from Medal, Scott and Charlotte Thornycroft from Rococco Natural Stone, Tim Gurnett and Dra Maria Alice from Luzdoc. |
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on a diverse range of subjects, including property, insurance, beauty, healthcare and finance. Large and small businesses were on hand to show off their products including food, Christmas goodies, furniture,
 Tom Henshaw and Cecília Pires representing The Resident at BLiP. |
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clothing, hot tubs and much more.
AFPOP President, Christopher Stephen, officially opened the event on Saturday morning and among the many visitors this year were Faro’s Civil Governor, Isilda Gomes, and the British Consul Celia Edwards.
Awards for the best
 From left: Robin Birn, Theo Ter Haar from Importeco and Gad Ron from the Balaia Village Resort. |
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stands were judged by the panel of judges including Paul Felix, a fashion designer, Ivor Jones, a retired design consultant and Susan Winstanley, a partner in Moveison.
These were presented on Sunday by Sheena Rawcliffe, Managing Director of Exiberia, organisers of BLiP, and announced on Kiss FM who presented their show live from BLiP
 Louise Woodhams and Paul Goodchild at the Goodwoods furniture stand. |
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during the entire weekend.
Congratulations to Luzdoc, the healthcare specialists, whose stand won best in show, closely followed by Rococo Natural Stone. Six stands were also highly commended, including Lusco Fusco furniture concept store, Expression Photography, Atelier Bongard, Hotel Garbe,
 The team from Blacktower Financial Management Group was present at BLiP 2007 |
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Medal and the Enova Group.
Michael Reeve, CEO for AFPOP, said: “AFPOP was delighted with the event, which gets better every year, this year being no exception.
“The exhibitors we spoke to were all delighted with the event and the visitors
 Sheena Rawcliffe drew the winner with Rita McKinlay from the Photograph Portugal stand |
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all commented on what an excellent and colourful exhibition it was.”
He added: “It was wonderful to see the colour and energy people had put into their stands and I am looking forward to BLiP 2008, which is only 12 short months away.”
Sheena Rawcliffe said: “Saturday was quieter than previous years, probably due to
 PDM Travel asks Sheena Rawcliffe to pick the winner for their free return flight to the UK or Germany. |
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several sporting events involving England; however, Sunday saw a great surge of visitors, bringing the total to 7,767 visitors through the gates.”
Sheena added: “We know other people came in through other entrances and we were asked to open all of the gates on Sunday morning.
“All exhibitors we spoke to had good quality leads and purchases and seemed very satisfied with the weekend. And visitors really
 Richard Farr and Sheena Rawcliffe pick the winner of a mobile phone at the Brasfone stand. |
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liked the minibus services to the overflow car parks, which was a new addition this year.”
AFPOP has recently invited tenders to organise future BIiP exhibitions: “Exiberia has put a tender in again for renewal of the contract to organise BLiP,” said Sheena Rawcliffe, “and looks forward to working with exhibitors again next year.”
More than 2,000 people participated in the seventh Mamamaratona, a marathon run
 Once again Sheena picks out a winner with Peter Wilkinson at the Royal British Legion stand. |
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or walk of five or eight kilometres which took place at ExpoArade on Sunday.
This annual event, organised by the Associação Oncológica do Algarve (AOA), the Algarve’s cancer association, aims to raise funds for AOA’s projects in the region. Previous Mamamaratonas raised enough funds to buy a mobile unit that has been used since June 2005 to detect breast cancer in women across the Algarve.
Isilda Gomes, Civil Governor of Faro, said: “This group of men and women who carry
 Volunteers at the Mamamaratona stand pose in their pink T-shirts |
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out such an important event deserve all of our support and thanks as they are doing something we should all do, which is to help people have a better life.”
For more information about the breast cancer awareness marathon, please visit the website which is in both English and Portuguese; http://www.mamamaratona.com
Visit www.blip-exhibitions.com for full coverage of the event.
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