In our latest inCROWD feature, we catch up with inVOYAGER Luís Coelho, Director of Sales MICE at Minor Hotels on his favourite inVOYAGE moments, California dreaming, and Portugal’s hidden gems.

After achieving a hospitality degree at the University of Hotel Management in the Algarve, Luís worked in F&B and airlines, before joining the Algarve Tourism Board.

A role at one of Marriott’s Luxury Brands gave him his first taste of the luxury sector, and led to his current role at Minor Hotels, where he has spent the past five and a half years leading MICE sales for properties including Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort.

My favourite #inVOYAGEMoment is… to be honest every single show I have attended since Porto in 2017 has been a memorable experience. inVOYAGE is always an amazing opportunity to meet new partners, strengthen relationships and leveraging networking.

If I had to pick just one favourite moment, I would choose the farewell dinner in Porto. Everyone was really connected to each other and super inspired following a fantastic couple of days. It was a remarkable event that I will keep in my mind forever.

The thing I most love about working in events is… there is nothing more rewarding than seeing people being joyful together, connected and sharing experiences. Every single event aims to be unique, creative and memorable.

Being part of the events industry is a huge responsibility, not only to assist in delivering this uniqueness, but also to deliver it in a way that adds value to the client, the industry, and the attendees. Delivering events that help to increase knowledge and happiness makes me feel fulfilled.

I truly love the social part of our industry and, now more than ever, we understand how valuable these moments are and how important it is to continue to push them forward.

We are returning stronger, not only motivated to do even better, but also understanding the responsibility we have in bringing people together to create impressive experiences that can change the world for better.

Luxury to me means… authentic experiences that involve being surrounded by natural beauty, connected with destinations and local people and understanding the roots and traditions of different cultures.

The value of these simple things, the touch of personalisation and detail-driven service and, of course, being able to live all of this with comfort, sophistication and peace of mind.

What is your earliest travel memory?
I used to travel a lot with my parents as a kid but mainly domestic, so it was a fantastic experience when I went for the first time to Seville aged 7. At that time, 200km was the equivalent to a world of discovery and it felt like we experienced a new adventure every minute.

City slicker or beach bum?
I grew up by the coast and I am a sea lover, so for me holidays are all about the beach, being in shorts and flip flops, with loads of surf and diving, family and friends around the table, barbecues, quality food and wines.

If I could get on a plane right now…
I would fly to the Maldives to surf with my best friends.

Suitcase essentials?
I am a light traveller, so I would say a toothbrush and noise cancelling headphones for the aircraft.

Favourite hidden gem?
Ria Formosa Nature Park. It is the most important wetland zone in southern Portugal and features a wide variety of habitats – barrier islands, marshes, sandbanks, dunes, saltpans, freshwater and brackish lakes and wonderful variety of fauna and flora. I really love Barreta Island (also known as Desert Island) – I got married there in 2011.

Most memorable event moment… I believe it was in California. The event was fantastic, but it was also a dream come true as I was longing to visit California since I was a child.

Do you have a mantra you live and work by?
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it doing things you don’t love.”

When I’m not working, I’m most likely to be… with my family, my dog and friends. I spend a lot of time surrounded by nature, doing sports, or just chilling. I also love to have good meals and quality wines with friends.