More than 6,000 visitors attended afpop’s 2010 Better Living in Portugal Exhibition (BLiP) last weekend with organisers hailing the event a success that fulfilled its aim of appealing to as many residents and visitors to the Algarve as possible.
Sheena Rawcliffe from organisers Exiberia, part of The Resident Group, said: “We were heartened by the number of companies who had committed to being at the exhibition when times are so tough, and also by the number of visitors who said that they had found just what they were looking for at BLiP.”
While the thousands of visitors of all nationalities were able to enjoy a huge variety of stands at the show, from picking up delicious homemade chocolates, breads and pies to learning about financial services or even receiving beauty and health treatments, exhibitors at the show were also very positive about BLiP 2010.
John Scott from Algarve Removals said: “The show was very well done but more to the point, we personally had our best show ever, many more people visiting our stand and some really good enquiries.”
“We had some great feedback and hope that BLiP has boosted business for us and all the other exhibitors,” said Jacqui Vehlow, owner of Estética.
Kenneth Grondijs from MM4 Web Design said: “Although a tough year, 2010 was again a great BLiP for us with many serious leads.”
Paul Harris of PC Centre said: “We were amazed and delighted at the amount of business we did at BLiP this year. The mornings were busy with slightly less business in the afternoons, giving us a chance to catch our breath!”
Inês Lopes, Editor of The Resident Group, publishers of the Algarve Resident, Algarve Goodlife Magazine and Algarve Golf & Property Magazine, among other publications, said: “It was fantastic to interact with so many long standing readers of our publications. Our team did not stop all weekend but BLiP was a lot of fun and we shall be there again next year.”
New to BLiP this year was the Wine at BLiP area where visitors were able to try some of the region’s top wines, an area dedicated to sustainable living and also the mobile blood unit collecting blood for the Western Algarve Blood Donors Association, ADSBA.
A spokesman from ADSBA told the Algarve Resident: “We have been a little disappointed with the response at BLiP bearing in mind the large number of people who were there. Sunday was a better day for collection but we had hoped that more members of the foreign community would have participated in the blood drive.”
Overall however, the exhibition that aims to showcase better living in Portugal did just that as Michael Reeve, CEO of afpop, explained: “Given the gloomy outlook when we began discussing the BLiP exhibition earlier in the year, I was very pleased with the response from exhibitors and visitors alike.
“Organising partners Exiberia did an excellent job once again and I was particularly delighted to see lots of first time exhibitors. We are always delighted to see long term supporters of the event returning each year and I really like the variety that we attract to BLiP.”
He added: “We were told many times over the weekend just how important BLiP is to exhibitors and we are already planning for 2011 and have many ideas for making the exhibition even better and even more inclusive – and I would like to pass my personal thanks to all those who have contributed to BLiP and who have given suggestions for the future. We are sure that we will continue to make living in Portugal better.”
For more information about BLiP, please visit www.blip-exhibitions.com To know more about afpop, Portugal’s largest association for foreign residents, visit www.afpop.com
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