1. Most visitors stick to the east of the Algarve in resorts like Vilamoura or Albufeira. But the undiscovered west coast has plenty to offer and it's still only a 90-minute drive from the airport. The rugged coastline and pristine beaches extend around Cape St Vincent, where the waves become bigger, making it a popular spot for group surfing or kite surfing lessons. For accommodation, you can't beat the whitewashed contemporary four-star Memmo Baleeria hotel, with 105 rooms, 49 suites and meeting space on the top floor for up to 150 people.

2. The Algarve isn't short of five-star luxury hotels. It's also the proposed site for Portugal's first 'six-star' hotel, the Conrad Hilton, due to open in 2010 with 158 guest rooms and suites. This will be in Quinta do Lago, which BI client service director Brian Revill describes as "the Algarve's original five-star resort, offering high levels of service and accommodation and a superb golf facility". In the meantime, the property everyone's talking about is the new five-star Tivoli Victoria in Vilamoura, which boasts an impressive 600m2 ballroom for entertaining.

3. The Algarve has many advantages in its favour as an incentive destination. But what entices many event planners back isn't so much the climate, ease with which they can fly there from the UK or choice of accommodation, but the friendliness of the people and level of service they have to offer. Reflex Event Management joint managing director Peter Thomas says: "This is our 17th year of holding customer incentives in the region, as the people are happy to have you and make it easy to organise an event."

4. One of the Algarve's biggest attractions is golf - and there are 32 courses to choose from. "Our guys have played at a few courses out there and everyone raves about the golf," says Towergate Partnership events manager Annajane Thorpe. One of the first golf resorts to open in the region remains one of the most popular: groups from Motorola, Canon and Manchester United Football Club have all teed off from one of Vale do Lobo's two courses. More recently, the Oceanico-owned Amendoeira Golf Resort near Silves has opened two new golf courses (designed by Nick Faldo and Christy O'Connor Jr) and a clubhouse featuring a restaurant and banqueting room for up to 250 people.

5. Make the most of the Algarve's stunning coastline with a trip out to sea from the marina at Lagos or Vilamoura. Explore the caves surrounding the shoreline or drop anchor and swim in the refreshing cold waters of the Atlantic to one of the Algarve's many otherwise inaccessible beach coves. "It's a nice way to fill an afternoon and a different way to see the coastline," says agency World Events senior account manager Steph Harris.

6. Event planners looking for something different should head inland off the beaten track. The Algarve's mountainous interior hides a clutch of whitewashed villages, making it ideal terrain for a group treasure hunt. Lisa Pennington, managing director of Definitive Events, organised a jeep safari on her last trip. "If people have been in two days of meetings, it's good to get out and see a different side of The Algarve," she suggests. Alternatively, enjoy some respite at the Villa Termal das Caldas de Monchique, with its thermal spa, restaurants, shops and two meeting rooms, the largest of which can cater for up to 120 people.

7. Opportunities for corporate hospitality have increased significantly with the opening of a £175m Autodromo Internacional Algarve track in Portimao, which can hold 100,000 spectators. Forthcoming events include the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport in April and the Superbike World Championship in October.

8. The Algarve historically hasn't scored as highly on the conference and meeting front as it has as an incentive destination. That's all changed, however, with the opening of the region's first congress centre in Portimao. The Arade Congress Centre offers a flexible meeting and exhibition space of nearly 9,000m2. Its main auditorium has capacity for 1,000 people and incorporates a unique adaptable foldaway chair system. In addition, points out Teresa Santos Leitmann, director of the English department at DMC, AIMS Portugal: "A new five-star hotel is being built by the CS Group to support the congress centre." The Palace Reguengo Hotel will open later this year and have 100 rooms plus meeting facilities.

9. Dining out in Portugal is a relaxed affair with fresh fish, meat and local dishes like cataplana and salt cod on most menus. A popular haunt for groups is La Cabane, in Quarteira's old town, which offers a French-Portuguese menu and a good selection of local wines, plus a free minibus service to Vilamoura. For high-end gastronomy, diners should head to the restaurant at Vila Joya hotel in Albufeira, which has been awarded two Michelin stars. "The food is excellent and it offers a very personalised service," says Leitmann.

10. Enjoy an exclusive dinner on the beach at the Sheraton Algarve Hotel in the Pine Cliffs resort at Albufeira. The Sheraton has its own private beach, accessed via a lift and candlelit boardwalk, which can be used to create a magical event. "It's definitely worth doing." says World Events' Harris. "The catering is all on your doorstep so it's hassle-free and the food is really good, plus the whole setting is so tranquil."

DIRECTORY THE ALGARVE
Algarve Promotion Bureau
Contact: Elia Freitas, +351 289 80 04 02
Email: efreitas@atalgarve.pt