Over the past year, Blendon Communications has become a familiar name in the Algarve. They publish leading UK property magazines, such as Homes Overseas, and organise a series of property exhibitions around the UK and further afield, which are well known to many real estate agents and developers in the region.
Last year, they organised the first Homes Overseas Magazine Awards, where properties and developments in the key destinations covered by the magazine – Cyprus, France, Florida, Portugal and Spain – were judged by an independent panel of judges, comprising industry specialists and journalists. Portugal did very well in those awards, scooping three overall prizes – Alma Verde for Most Environmentally Aware Development, Praia d’el Rey for Best Golf Development, and Vale do Lobo for Best Luxury Development.
The 2005 Awards have now been launched and, in view of the success of the first year, new territories are being included – Italy, South Africa and Central and Eastern Europe – reflecting the wider choice that potential buyers and investors have now that the world is shrinking.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper, British Airways and Moneycorp sponsor the Homes Overseas Magazine Awards. It is the only scheme of its kind to send totally independent judges to view each short-listed property and to carry out a rigorous assessment of each development to measure it against the scheme’s checklist of standards and expectations. There are a total of 23 categories available for developments of all sizes, and now is the time to start preparing entries for the closing date of September 10.
Further information is available from Homes Overseas Awards Manager Felicity Quigley in London (tel: +44 20 7939 9888, e-mail [email protected]), or from the project’s local co-ordinator, Judy Sharp(966 108 605 or e-mail [email protected]).
