DUCO Travel Summit has successfully concluded the second edition of DUCO Spain & Portugal, a four-day luxury travel summit connecting Spain & Portugal’s top hospitality providers with top-tier media and leading English-speaking travel advisors. This year’s theme, ‘DUCO Cantares,’ approached the region through a lens of poetry, rhythm, and memory, further underlined by industry insights pointing towards growing interest in exploring the region’s heritage through cultural experiences across the culinary, craft and arts realm.
Rebeca Pinheiro, President and Partner of DUCO Travel Summit, said:
“I am delighted with the second edition of DUCO Spain & Portugal in Marbella. It marks an important milestone for the summit, as we continue to strengthen our position in the market, with unprecedented interest from both travel advisors and hospitality partners. DUCO is built on the belief that the right connections lead to lasting partnerships and tangible business results. Bringing people together in person, in a welcoming atmosphere and through carefully curated experiences, makes these connections even more meaningful. Throughout the summit, destination immersion has been central to the experience, giving travel advisors and Spanish and Portuguese hospitality professionals the opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and build new ones.”
The immersive travel event brought together 215 hoteliers, DMCs, and travel experience providers representing 225 esteemed Spanish and Portuguese brands, alongside 157 leading travel advisors and influential travel experts from key English-speaking markets, including USA (70%), Europe (13%), Canada (4%), Australia (2,5%) and other destinations (10.5% amongst Latin America, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, India) in exclusive venues across Marbella.
With DUCO, Spain and Portugal continue to hold a place on the calendar of the world’s finest travel events focused on a single destination. Attendees immersed themselves each day through enriching appointments with DUCO Spain & Portugal’s selected participants through face-to-face table-top meetings, followed by celebratory evening events allowing attendees to deepen their connections on a personal level.
DUCO is sponsored by the Andalucía Tourist Board, Luxury Travel by Costa del Sol Tourist Board and Marbella Tourism.
Estrella Diaz Sanches, General Director of Tourism of the Regional Government of Andalucia
“These events, which we have hosted for so many years, have made Marbella an international benchmark, both for welcoming visitors from all corners of the world and for hosting major events. Andalusia is a truly luxurious destination. Not only because of the wonderful climate we can enjoy year-round, top-notch hotels, gastronomy, unforgettable experiences, all kinds of services, unique beach and inland landscapes, unparalleled culture and heritage, flamenco, and so much more… in addition to all this, Andalusia captivates with its people and their way of life. I must highlight the contribution of premium tourism to the destination, for its significant contribution to reducing seasonality, distributing stays across the region, and generating shared benefits through high-quality tourism that creates quality jobs and, with events like Duco Spain & Portugal, opens up business opportunities for Andalusian companies.”
Esperanza González, CEO, Costa del Sol Tourism Board
“Costa del Sol has established itself as one of the leading destinations for luxury tourism, thanks to the growth and ongoing improvements taking place across the province of Málaga in recent years. These developments have further strengthened our position in the luxury tourism market. Our destination meets the needs of the most discerning travelers, who particularly value our climate, hotel infrastructure, safety and wide range of venues for hosting events, as well as the many tailor-made experiences available across the destination. Choosing Costa del Sol as the host destination for DUCO added value for participants, who had the opportunity to enjoy its internationally renowned gastronomy, cultural attractions and leisure offerings. We are a leading destination across a wide range of tourism segments, and we will continue to build on this position through initiatives such as DUCO.”
Marbella Mayor Ángeles Muñoz
“Marbella offers an exceptional combination of a privileged natural environment, outstanding hotels, internationally renowned gastronomy, first-class services, sport and leisure, and a Mediterranean lifestyle that captivates those who visit us. But our city stands out not only for what it offers, but also for the way we welcome our visitors. We are committed to a sustainable, innovative, and diversified tourism model, built on quality, authenticity, and attention to detail. We also understand the importance of promoting Marbella throughout the year. Events such as DUCO help us connect with new markets, strengthen professional relationships, and contribute to the de-seasonalization of tourism, creating value for our local economy and community beyond the traditional peak season. This work is made possible through collaboration between public institutions and the private sector. By bringing together destinations, tourism businesses, travel advisors, buyers, and specialist media, DUCO provides a valuable platform to showcase the best of Marbella, the Costa del Sol, and Andalusia to the world.”
Hosted events in this year’s edition included:
An exclusive Press Program connecting top-tier journalists with Exhibitors on Monday, October 19th, followed by Gastronomic Evening at Hotel Finca Cortesin
A celebratory Opening Party hosted at Marbella Club Hotel on Tuesday, October 20th, gathering participants for an evening that celebrated connection and discovery in a setting emblematic of Andalusian charm.
Three comprehensive days of scheduled tableside appointments hosted at Anantara Villa Padierna Palace from Tuesday, October 20th to Thursday, October 22nd, where attendees engaged in one-to-one meetings throughout the week, surrounded by immaculate gardens and scenic vistas of the Mediterranean and surrounding mountains.
Among the experiences featured at the venue, Portuguese textile brand Lameirinho presented a mockup of a high-end hotel suite showcasing its premium linens and home textiles. Marbella Club Hotel and Anantara Villa Padierna Palace delighted guests with iconic cocktails served at The Leading Hotels of the World exclusive area.
DUCO Spain & Portugal’s second annual DUCO Awards, presented on Wednesday, October 21st at the Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Amphitheatre
A momentous Closing Party to conclude this year’s event with a grand celebration, which took place took place on Thursday, October 22nd at Villa La Serrana, by Puente Romano Marbella.
Selected travel advisors also had the opportunity to explore more of Spain through post-event journeys organized by partners including Marbella Club Hotel, Don Carlos Marbella e Kimpton Los Monteros.
Ahead of the main program, DUCO Spain & Portugal 2026 also featured a three-day Press Program for 14 international, Spanish, and Portuguese media from October 18th to 20th. The program began with a Welcome Press Dinner at Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club, followed by a guided visit and press lunch, meetings with Exhibitors and Cocktail at Hotel Finca Cortesin. It concluded with a dedicated press activity hosted by METT Marbella, a visit to Anantara Villa Padierna Palace and a Farewell Press Lunch & Experience at Lanserhof Marbella.
DUCO Spain & Portugal gathered a carefully selected group of Exhibitors, including distinguished members of The Leading Hotels of the World, Relais & Châteaux, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, and Small Luxury Hotels of the World. For the full list of Exhibitors, please refer to the Exhibitors List.
DUCO Spain & Portugal 2026 Awards took place at the Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Amphitheatre, honoring outstanding hoteliers, experience providers, and properties, with winners recognized across five categories:
Best Spanish Hotelier
Estreya Gosalbez, General Manager | Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor
Best Portuguese Hotelier
Rita Soares, CEO and Owner | Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Relais & Châteaux
Unique Experience Provider
Madrid & Beyond
Estrella de España (Best Spanish Hotel)
Abadía Retuerta Le Domaine | Sardón de Duero, Castile and León
Joia de Portugal (Best Portuguese Hotel)
Reid’s Palace, a Belmond Hotel, Madeira | Funchal, Madeira
The third edition of DUCO Spain & Portugal will take place in Marbella from October 18 to 22, 2027, under the theme DUCO Longing Tiles. Inspired by the Iberian tradition of azulejos, Longing Tiles tells stories of journeys, encounters, landscapes, achievements, and everyday life. Like travel itself, a tile is made of small individual pieces that come together to reveal a greater picture.
DUCO Travel Summit continues its calendar with DUCO France in Paris from November 2nd to 6th, 2026, DUCO Italy in Rome from March 15th to 19th, 2027, and the debut of DUCO UK & Ireland in London from April 12th to 16th, 2027.