ABTA is delighted to announce that The Azores will be the destination for the 2017 Travel Convention. The Convention will take place from 9 to 11 October 2017 at the Teatro Micalense, which is located in the heart of the old town of Ponta Delgada in Sao Miguel, the largest of the nine Azores islands. The Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism agencies (APAVT) and the Regional Government of the Azores will host the event.

The announcement was made today on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi at the end of a highly successful 2016 Travel Convention.

The historic Teatro Micalense, with its beautiful art deco façade, will provide state of the art facilities for delegates as it hosts the business sessions. The venue is a short distance from the main host hotel, the brand new Hotel Azor, which only opened earlier this year. This stunning five-star hotel, located on the marina in Ponta Delgada, will also play host to the Convention bar, the main venue for after-hours delegate networking and socialising.

Azores Airlines will provide delegates with specially scheduled flights from its main gateway in the United Kingdom – Gatwick airport. There are daily flights to the Azores which can also be made from Lisbon for delegates who prefer to travel via the Portuguese capital.

Noel Josephides ABTA Chairman said: "I am delighted that the Azores will be the destination for the 2017 Travel Convention. The Azores islands are a truly stunning location, one of the world’s last unspoilt wildernesses, with beautiful countryside offset dramatically by the Atlantic Ocean. Ponta Delgada, our host city, is a charming location with some wonderful old world buildings with restaurants offering the best in Portuguese cuisine and I know delegates will be very warmly welcomed by the local people."

Pedro Costa Ferreira, President APAVT said: "The UK is Portugal’s number one market, and whilst there is still a lot of room to grow in the most well-known Portuguese destinations such as Lisbon, Algarve or Madeira, we have decided to disclose one of our best kept secrets: The Azores Islands. The Azores are a hidden treasure which I’m sure British tourists will absolutely fall in love with. A staggering landscape, considered one of the most beautiful places to visit by National Geographic, the Azores offer a wide range of activities, from whale watching and swimming with dolphins to mountain climbing and trekking, bathing in hot spring waters, golf, and a lot more – all topped by fantastic Portuguese hospitality. We are very pleased that the 2017 Travel Convention will be held here, and

both ourselves and the Regional Government of the Azores look forward to welcoming you all in Ponta Delgada next year.