Between advances in technology and the enforced evolution of many businesses’ attitudes to remote working as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, opportunities for remote working are now more varied than ever. And it’s not just employees who are clamouring to cut out the commute – many business leaders are also pushing for the benefits of leading remotely to be more widely understood.
“Leading remotely is a kind of super-power. It means you can build a team defined by talent, not borders, and you can lead that team to tackle challenges creatively and with energy, all while your competition are stuck on a train trying to get to a meeting room filled with stale air and bad coffee.”
James Hirst, COO, Tyk
This growing embracing of remote leadership has led to some interesting developments. One is that countries are increasingly looking to court remote workers – including remote leaders.
Portugal sets out its stall
One country that is keen to attract an international community of business leaders, as well as remote workers, is Portugal – and it isn’t just the tech capital Lisbon that is opening its arms. The sun-kissed Algarve region, which extends across the entire breadth of the southernmost part of the country, is keen to draw in digital nomads and remote leaders who are looking to take a thoroughly modern approach to running their businesses.
With that in mind, here are five reasons why business leaders might like to relocate to the Algarve.
- Tech credentials
The Algarve offers reliable connectivity with super-fast broadband packages that will keep even the most demanding of workers happy. It is also home to the dynamic Algarve Tech Hub, which serves as a focal point for entrepreneurs, leaders and digital nomads alike. A 10-year strategy from the private, non-profit associations Algarve Evolution and Algarve STP is driving the hub’s success and providing remote workers with a welcoming community of like-minded innovators and leaders – perfect for networking.
- The ideal work/life balance
The opportunity to enjoy a healthy work/life balance is another key attraction when it comes to leading a business from the Algarve. The area’s plentiful sunshine (it boasts 300 sunny days per year) means that all manner of outdoor sports and water-based leisure pursuits are possible almost year-round.
The extensive coastline (it stretches for 155 km along the Algarve’s south-facing edge) is awash with opportunities for spending time on the water. The Algarve is popular with surfers, parasailers, sailors, scuba divers, kayakers, snorkelers, swimmers and more. For business leaders, this provides quick and easy access to a huge range of activities that can counterbalance the stress of running a company. The plethora of leisure opportunities also means that company away days and team-building activities are easy to host in the Algarve.
Nor is the Algarve only about spending time on the water. On dry land, the region is home to superb facilities for everything from tennis to equestrian sports.
In addition to the amazing climate and mile upon mile of sandy beaches, the Algarve is also home to an outstanding local gastronomic scene. The sunny climate means the region is bursting with fresh fruit and vegetables, with trees weighted down with an abundance of figs, carobs, almonds, oranges, olives and so much more. With so much easily accessible ocean, there’s also bountiful seafood, with plenty of excellent Portuguese wines to accompany it.
- International connections
Faro Airport sits roughly in the centre of the Algarve’s main motorway, which stretches along the whole length of the region (and offers direct access to Spain at its eastern end). It means that travellers can get from the airport to any of the towns or cities along the length of the Algarve in well under an hour and a half.
The fact that Faro connects directly with both London and Amsterdam also puts most of Europe (and beyond) within easy reach. This is ideal for business leaders who want to attend in-person meetings and events from time to time, whether in Portugal or elsewhere around the world.
- Flexible property options
For business leaders looking to settle long-term in the Algarve, the region offers a wealth of property ownership options. Many international residents opt for resort living due to the lifestyle benefits that it provides. At Palmares Ocean Living & Golf, for example, buyers can enjoy exceptional golfing and leisure facilities, including an award-winning clubhouse and fine dining restaurant Al Sud, which earned its first Michelin Star just seven months after opening. In property terms, they have a choice of homes designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects RCR Arquitectes. Turnkey villas are priced from €3.4 million, while the resort’s Signature Apartments start at €600,000.
The other advantage of purchasing a resort property is the flexibility that it provides. Owners can choose to live at the resort full-time, spend part of the year there and part of it elsewhere, or rent the property out full-time. This means that business leaders can settle in the Algarve in whatever manner suits them best and enjoy the freedom to flex their plans should the need arise.
More broadly, Portugal was recently rated as a transparent country in which to buy property, according to JLL’s Global Real Estate Transparency Index, 2022. This speaks to the relative ease with which individuals from overseas can purchase property in Portugal. The country also has a number of fiscally attractive options for high net worth individuals who are seeking to buy property, work and live in Portugal.
- World-class golf courses
For business leaders who like to do their deals over a round of golf, the Algarve also has plenty to offer. The region is home to several world-class golf courses. The Faldo Course at Amendoeira Golf Resort, for example, was designed by Sir Nick Faldo with strategic play firmly in mind. The par 72 championship course demands careful positioning, just like the deals that business leaders hope to pull off on its fairways – or at the resort’s new clubhouse.
“The Algarve has it all when it comes to running a business remotely. Not only does it offer an efficient, well-connected environment in which business leaders can operate, it also provides everything from leisure facilities to networking opportunities. As a location from which to run a company, it makes a very compelling proposition.”
Alda Filipe, Sales and Marketing Director, Kronos Homes