The Island of Sardinia, The Undisputed Leader of Bleisure Tourism

The island of Sardinia does not miss the annual appointment of the IBTM fair, world leader in MICE tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions)to be held in Barcelona from November 28 to 30. As a sign of itsfirm commitment to the events and business sector, Sardinia will be present with its own stand, D-20, showcasing its extensive tourism infrastructure and a powerful cultural, natural and gastronomic offer that perfectly responds to the trend that is moving the MICE sector, bleisure (combination of business and leisure, in English). All this, within the framework of the MICE product structuring plan developed by the Sardinian administration.

When we mention the island of Sardinia, we think of dazzling beaches and coves, often associated with luxury and glamour. But, in reality, Sardinia offers much more and for all tastes: spectacular natural landscapes; a fascinating past, partly shrouded in mystery; age-old traditions, wellness, artistic craftsmanship, good food (and excellent wines); memorable experiences for all tastes in towns and villages that combine identity and innovation. Sardinian tourism has made a great effort to enhance this rich heritage

Top 5 Bleisure experiences in Sardinia

Sardinia has been nominated for 'world's leading island destination 2023' by the World Travel Awards and is a strong candidate for business destination thanks to its added hospitality, a perfect combination of business and leisure. To understand it better, Sardinia interprets bleisure with experiences as unique as these

1. The unique characteristics of the island mean that MICE makers do not have to travel to the other side of the world to experience moments of absolute beauty during conferences, workshops or team building activities.

2. An authentic combination of environmental protection and ancient traditions. In moments of "disconnection" from conventions or events, it is possible to take itineraries between nature and culture in its protected spaces, throughout the region, on the coast and in the interior.

3. "Open-air museums" allow you to breathe the magical sacredness of prehistory just a few steps from hotels or event venues. From the domus of Janas to the nuraghi and the tombs of the Giants. Also, learn about the attraction of history, with the Phoenician-Punic and Roman ruins or the testimonies of the countless dominations that have taken place on the island.

4. The visit to the island can be accompanied by a wine experience in historic wineries and vineyards spread throughout the region, with tastings of wines and typical products. From the coasts to the hilly landscapes, Sardinia is a land of special wines: Vermentino, Cannonau, Carignano, Cagnulari, to name the best known, in addition to having rediscovered ancient native grape varieties.

5. In Sardinia, lunchtime or the break between work sessions is spent in bar-kiosks a few meters from the shore of beautiful beaches. Even in Cagliari: just a few minutes from the center, there are nine kilometers of white sand and the turquoise blue waters of the Poetto sandy beach. 

Most of these experiences are based on the ancient Sardinian culture, evolved to modernity with innovation and creativity to offer a unique experience within the European tourism offer. A way of understanding the territory that the locals transmit to all those who visit them and that is in line with the thematic axis of this edition of IBTM: 'culture and its impact on the MICE sector'. "Big companies and big events have big cultures", the fair assures.

Goal: Destinazione Sardegna MICE 2023

From the coast to the inland, the island offers hotels, resorts, congress centers and event venues qualified to welcome tour operators, businesstravelers and event organizers. It also hasincentive houses: It is no coincidence that Sardinia has grown as a business destination in recent years. The decisive factorsforthis growth are the synergy between operators, the structuring of a more competitive offer, a renewed promotion and a series of added values. Sardinia, in fact, stands out from its competitors for its central position in the Mediterranean, a mild climate all year round, its safety, variety of landscapes and ideal conditions for outdoor activities. In short, for the quality of life, the extra element that congress participants, professionals, organizers and guests in general can experience just a few steps away from the conference rooms and in any season of the year.

The distribution of this flow of visitors throughout the year and throughout the territory is the clear result of the plans for structuring MICE tourism, as well as the agreements between specialized operators, airlines, and accommodations, which are being led by the administration on the island. In this regard, the second edition of 'Destinazione Sardegna MICE 2023', an international event organized by the Regional Government of Sardinia together with SOGAER, the company that manages Cagliari airport, took place in Cagliari from September 28 to October 1, highlighting the Sardinian conference offer, its quality and professionalism, as well as the opportunity to position itself in national and international markets. The meeting was attended by 36 buyers, two thirds of whom were Italian and one third from Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. They were joined by 45 Sardinian sellers representing congress hotels, event venues and organizing agencies. "A great opportunity for Sardinia to make itself known on the national and international market, not only as a beach destination, but also for the business sector" according to Gianni Chessa, councilor for Tourism, Craftmanship and Trade of the Sardinia Region.

With a view to promoting MICE tourism on the island, the region has embarked on a promotional tour that began in Frankfurt with the IMEX fair, continued at the recent MICE Trade Show in Venice and concluded at IBTM Barcelona.

Territorial Connectivity

With more than 24,000 km2, Sardinia is the third largest region in Italy and the second largest island in the Mediterranean, all served by an extensive transport infrastructure that is ideal for travel. The Sardinian territory has three international airports, Cagliari-Elmas Airport, Olbia-Costa Smeralda Airport and Alghero-Fertilia Airport, with direct connections from Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia and Bilbao. It also has four seaports; one of them, Puerto Torres, connects with Barcelona thanks to the company Grimaldi Lines