Second edition of HOST Douro comes to a close in Portuguese wine region, putting people at the heart of hospitality’s future

A community of international food, wine and tourism professionals gathered in Castedo, in the municipality of Alijó in Portugal’s Douro Valley, earlier this month for the second edition of HOST Douro. The two-day event examined the future of hospitality, and although much of the discussion focused on AI, organisers and speakers stressed the continuing importance of people in the sector.

The occasion was organised by CIM Douro, the collective representing the region’s municipalities. It was held at the Centro Interpretativo D’Olival ao Azeite D’Ouro and brought together chefs, sommeliers, AI researchers and wine tourism specialists from Portugal and abroad. Students came from the Tourism course at the Polytechnic University of Viseu, the Douro School of Hospitality and Tourism and the vocational schools of Moimenta and Rodo, and around 20 local producers, businesses and partners showcased their products or hosted parts of the programme at their own premises.

João Gonçalves, President of the Comunidade Intermunicipal do Douro, said the format had changed from the first edition. “For this second edition, we wanted to develop HOST Douro in a different way from the first, taking it out into the region and giving more than 250 participants the opportunity to experience first-hand the outstanding projects that exist here. We want this to be a conversation involving many different voices, one that begins on the HOST stage but resonates throughout the Douro. It became clear that the future of the region lies in sustainability, diversity and its ability to make the most of everything it has to offer. The Douro is recognised worldwide for the quality of its wines, whether Port or DOC Douro wines, and we want to preserve this cornerstone while also showcasing everything else the region has to offer,” he said.

A range of experts spoke at the event, bringing perspectives from around the world. Author and industry and employment specialist Michelle Schneider visited from Brazil to expand on the future of work itself. João Rodrigues, the prominent Portuguese chef and founder of Projecto Matéria, talked about his non-profit online database and encyclopaedia that maps, researches, and promotes small, family-owned and ethical Portuguese food producers to connect them with chefs and consumers. Also on the roster were Carlos León, general manager of Spain’s Grupo Aponiente, and Eduardo Bastos, global head of food and beverage at the luxury hotel group Aman. Bringing his expertise on wine, both global and local, was Luis Baselga, sommelier at the Michelin-starred Smoked Room in Spain. General manager of Stockholm bar Röda Huset Björn Kjellberg took the stage, as well as António Roquette, tourism director at Esporão, and Katherina Cordás and Ivan Ralston of TUJU, the three-Michelin-starred restaurant in São Paulo.

Lunches were served outdoors at the Centro Interpretativo. They were led by chefs Luís Guedes, Óscar Geadas, José Gomes, Milton Ferreira, Rui Paula and Vasco Coelho Santos and their teams, working alongside wine producers from the region to present local produce.

This year’s event also saw four scholarships awarded to the Basque Culinary Centre. They were funded by ticket sales from the first edition and went to standout students from vocational schools in the region, reflecting HOST Douro’s commitment to developing professional skills and nurturing local talent – because, as the organisation explains, “establishing the Douro as an international benchmark for hospitality depends, above all, on investing in the people who bring the region to life and are building its future”.

Miguel Santos, executive secretary of CIM Douro, described the gathering as a forum that puts people first. “The second edition of HOST Douro confirmed that this is a project that has already moved beyond being simply an event about tourism, hotels or restaurants. It has become a space for thinking about what we want the future of hospitality to look like and, above all, the role that regions can play in shaping that future,” he said. “HOST Douro has carved out a place of its own because it does not simply seek to discuss trends. It seeks to understand how those trends can serve regions, businesses and, above all, people.”

Food Desk

For further information about HOST Douro and future events, visit the organisation’s website here.