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Shop-local campaign ‘Compra a Casa’ concludes summer push to boost small business

foto 2020 compra a casa finalAfter drawings in July, August and September, the Formentera Department of Commerce announces the momentary end of Compra a Casa a l’estiu (“Shop locally in summer”), a joint effort which saw the Consell de Formentera and the island’s small- and medium-sized business group, Pimef, teaming up to reward islanders for supporting local small business amidst the pandemic.

Commerce chief Ana Juan highlighted the warm welcome received by the initiative during “what has been a tough year for everyone—local business owners too”. “Local commerce is part of our identity as islanders”, asserted the consellera, who said, “For Formentera businesses, ‘quality’ and ‘locally-sourced’ are pilars. Locally-owned establishments form the bedrock of our society here on Formentera, which is exactly why we’re encouraging people to get out there and see for themselves”.

September winner
This September the €100 gift card went home with Lourdes Costa Ramon, who went shopping at Carniceria San Francisco, a recent addition to the Compra a Casa’s list of partner businesses.

Compra a Casa did better this July than last, with spending rising to €176,366 from €160,982.28, while figures were comparatively worse in August and September, when they dropped from €168,225.67 to €151,347.82 and €144,860.74 to €161,505.51.

Consellera Juan underscored a host of initiatives steered by the Consell this summer in association with Pimef, the Balearic Office of Commerce and other island administrations to support mom-and-pop operations and locally sourced products. And she told islanders to watch out for new and improved bids to promote small business this autum and winter.

Among other Compra a Casa news this year was the launch of a website, www.compraacasa.com, “a way for islanders to connect with locally-run businesses, see which establishments are taking part and find out about available discounts”.

7 October 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

Formentera gears up for Formentera 2.0 and Formentera Fotogràfica

foto 2020 f.20 3The Formentera Department of Tourism reports that from tomorrow, Thursday 1 October to Sunday 4 October, the island will play host to Formentera 2.0 and Formentera Fotogràfica. Consell premier and tourism chief Alejandra Ferrer underscored efforts centred on guaranteeing the two events, originally scheduled to take place in May, take place in lock-step with public health protocol to avoid spread of Covid-19, and said the programming highlights the “firm commitment to elongating the tourist season in a year as complicated as this one”.

A digital communication and networking event currently in its eighth year, this year’s intimately scaled Formentera 2.0 will bring together thirty professionals from the world of digital culture. Eight speakers will discuss topics including the digital transformation, social media, creativity, the world of multimedia, video and digital marketing, content and communication and digital platforms. Attendance at the lectures is closed to the public but twenty spaces have been set aside so islanders not taking part in the rest of the event can attend a special Saturday afternoon lecture by “Instagramers” founder Phil González in Plaça de la Constitució. Contact info@formentera20 to request tickets.

Formentera Fotogràfica celebrates its eighth edition over the same four-day period. Sixty-five photography lovers have already signed up to attend the event, also atypically intimate given the circumstances. Fourteen figureheads of contemporary photography will offer classes running the gamut from hands-on to theory-driven, creating a space for collective reflection and creation in a closed-to-the-public format. As in years past, Formentera Fotogràfica organisers have led with an eclectic and intergenerational programme playing on equal parts local talent and marquee names from the national and international photography scenes.

30 September 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

This weekend, Formentera Zen

foto 2020 Formentera ZenThe Formentera Department of Tourism reports that Friday 25 September marks the start of the latest Formentera Zen. A programme spanning talks, workshops and classes will take place outdoors at Gecko Beach Club in line with Covid-19 protocol.

Showcasing nine leaders in the fields of personal health and wellness, the programme will begin after a 6.30pm welcome address to attendees from Consell de Formentera president and tourism chief Alejandra Ferrer. Workshops and classes will continue all day Saturday and into the day on Sunday.

The complete programme can be viewed here. The Consell de Formentera contracted Puro Bienestar to organise the event.


21 September 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

Sixth Formentera Zen crowns weekend of health and physical and emotional wellness

foto 2020 f zen 2The Formentera Department of Tourism reports that Formentera Zen concluded yesterday. “Covid-19 safety protocol may have made this an atypical edition”, said Consell president and tourism chief Alejandra Ferrer, “but health and wellness held on to their spot at centre stage”. Describing the aim of the programme as “sweeting the deal for our visitors and stretching out the tourist season”, Ferrer offered kudos to speakers and participants alike and highlighted the significance of their commitment to in the midst of such difficult circumstances.

All told 150 participants came out for the event, which got rolling Friday evening and ran through Sunday with a lineup of talks, clinics and master classes from leaders in health and physical and emotional wellness. President Ferrer, meanwhile, underscored the prestige surrounding Formentera Zen’s collaborators as the event entered its sixth year. Friday’s kickoff centred on a motivational talk titled “Self-esteem for success” by professional psychologist, author, speaker and online leader in personal development Sílvia Congost.

The main event came Saturday with a workshop on the magical combination of exercise and music. The event was led by Cesc Escolà, who is renowned for his appearances on TV programmes like Operación Triunfo. Dietician, nutritionist and “Realfooding” creator Carlos Ríos followed with a talk exhorting participants to return to “real food” and reviewing nutrition and healthy habits. “Batch cooking, healthy and efficient weekly kitchen prep” was at the centre of another clinic on Saturday, and it came courtesy of Paola Freire, a chef and pastry chef at Le Cordon Bleu and creator of “Foodtropia”.

Xuan Lan
For many attendees Saturday afternoon was the most hotly anticipated, for it came with Xuan Lan’s master class “Flow to slow sunset yoga”. Lan is not only an expert on wellness, a teacher and an exponent of a wide range of yoga styles, she is also an author and instructor on Operación Triunfo.

As Sunday got started, participants were treated to a pilates workshop from Claudia Constans, a psychologist, top-ten fashion and healthy-lifestyle influencer and the creator of “Ffitcoco”. A clinic on “FaceFit” came next, which saw Daniela Toro expounding on posture-based solutions to cervical and facial woes. A physiotherapist specialising in face and mouth pain and jaw disfunction, Toro pioneered the FaceFit method, which incorporates physiotherapy, psychoneuroimmunology, dermapharmacy and cosmetics.

Arturo Álvarez-Bautista followed with a lecture on active cosmetics and the importance of ingredients. Álvarez holds a degree in chemistry and physics, a master’s in dermacosmetics and biomaterials for medicine, a PhD in nanomedicine and is the creative mind behind a host of prestigious cosmetic products. For Formentera Zen’s closing talk, audiences got key wellness tips and the low-down on healthy habits from Marián García (alias Boticaria García), who holds a PhD in pharmacology and bachelor’s in human nutrition, dietetics, optics and optometry.

28 September 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

Formentera unveils events and promotional activities to wind down season

foto 2020 platja final estiuThe Formentera Department of Tourism reports that, after postponement in May due to public health concerns, an array of intimate events are set to take place in the closing days of September and the early part of October. The activities will be tailored to ongoing exceptional circumstances and covid-19 public health and safety protocol will be in place.

From 25 to 27 September next week it’s Formentera Zen. Dedicated to health and physical and emotional wellbeing, the event see an array of world-renowned speakers converge in an altogether singular backdrop. Formentera Zen has already registered the maximum number of participants and no space remains.

Also next week, on Saturday and Sunday (26–27 September), Plaça de la Constitució will welcome Fernando Valmaseda as he presents an episode of Capital Radio’s “Miradas Viajeras” foregrounding Formentera’s biggest tourist draws. With a set mounted in Plaça de la Constitució from 10.00am to 1.00pm, passersby can follow the national programme in real time.

The aim of these events, according to Consell president and tourism chief Alejandra Ferrer, is “to promote Formentera in a particularly tough year where efforts need to centre on upgrading our island’s image and, to the extent possible, presenting perks to our visiting tourists. Getting there will mean respecting public health protocol and convincing travellers to visit all year long.”

Formentera 2.0 and Formentera Fotogràfica
1–4 October the island will host the eighth Formentera 2.0, an event devoted to digital communication and networking. Occurring simultaneously is Formentera Fotogràfica, an event that boasts international names in photography, professionals from the sector, adepts of imagery and enthusiasts of visual culture. Regata Ophiusa is also scheduled to take place from 9 to 11 October.

Marketing pushes
President Ferrer pointed out that, uncertain times or not, the island’s marketing efforts continue: “Working with traditional and online media outlets, we led a targeted inter-island campaign at the start of the new normality which was extremely well-received. A similar push currently under way highlights end-of-summer events.”

Other efforts, including press trips and next week’s “Miradas Viajeras”, have sought to reach national audiences by harnessing written press and online media outlets.

Press trip, travel blogs and global efforts
The summer months also saw Formentera’s tourism team leading marketing pushes to court Italian, Swiss, French, Portuguese and Dutch travellers. Recently at the centre of such efforts have been a visiting Portuguese influencer and a visiting German media outlet, and in the week ahead the island will welcome a group of French journalists.

Expos
4–7 October the Consell de Formentera will participate remotely in San Sebastián Gastronómika, the World Travel Market of London and the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) of Cannes, all of which are projected to take place virtually.

16 September 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

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