Lagoa Congress Centre reopens after €2 million revamp – Portugal Resident

Lagoa’s previously abandoned congress centre officially reopened this Friday, May 15 following a major €2 million refurbishment that aims to turn the venue into a flagship events hub.

The building, previously known as Pavilhão do Arade and Centro de Congressos do Arade and now renamed Centro de Congressos de Lagoa (Lagoa Congress Centre), had remained shut for several years after the company that owned it declared insolvency. During that period, the venue was vandalised and left abandoned before the municipal council of Lagoa swooped in and purchased it for €2.5 million at the end of 2022.

Speaking at the reopening ceremony, Lagoa Mayor Luís Encarnação described the venue as “a strategic, modern infrastructure prepared for the future”.

“The municipality of Lagoa understood the strategic importance of this facility, believed in its enormous potential and decided to act,” he said.

According to the mayor, the investment has created a congress centre “prepared for the challenges of the present and the future”, capable of hosting national and international congresses, business conventions, fairs, exhibitions, concerts, cultural shows, brand launches, academic initiatives and institutional meetings.

Encarnação also highlighted the municipality’s focus on the growing MICE market – meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions – which he said plays an important role in reducing the Algarve’s dependence on seasonal tourism.

“It is a sector that brings visitors throughout the year, generates wealth, creates opportunities for local businesses, and benefits tourism, hospitality, restaurants, commerce and services,” he said.

He added that Lagoa has all the conditions needed to become “a leading destination” for the sector, pointing to the municipality’s strategic location, hotel capacity, gastronomy, wine production and cultural identity.

Secretary of State for Local Administration and Land Planning Silvério Regalado called the reopening “good news not only for Lagoa, but for the whole country”.

“There are projects whose significance goes far beyond their physical dimension,” he said. “Reopening this congress centre means recovering an asset that was standing still and turning abandonment into opportunity.”

Regalado said the venue will help the Algarve grow beyond its reputation as a sun-and-beach destination.

“The Algarve is one of Portugal’s best-known regions in the world. It is a very strong national brand, but the Algarve cannot only be seen as a tourism destination for sun and beach,” he said. “It is also a territory of events, culture, innovation, blue economy and entrepreneurship.”

He added that the renewed venue would help attract visitors outside the traditional tourism season, diversify the regional economy and strengthen the Algarve’s international image.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by many other regional leaders, including José Apolinário (president of the Algarve’s regional development commission, CCDR Algarve), André Gomes (president of the Algarve’s tourism board and association), and Álvaro Bila (mayor of Portimão, a neighbouring municipality).

Located beside the Arade river, the congress centre has been redesigned as a multifunctional venue with updated technical, accessibility and energy-efficiency features.

The reopening weekend also marks the start of the venue’s cultural programme. The Algarve Jazz Orchestra featuring Rita Redshoes performed this Friday at 9pm, while Carmina Burana by the Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra is scheduled for Saturday, May 16 at 6pm. Portuguese DJ and producer KURA will also take to the stage at 10pm.