Monocle’s Lisbon retreat and summer newspaper are the perfect summer supplements
What are you doing the first week of September? That’s when we’re hosting The Monocle Quality of Life Conference in sunny Lisbon and I would like you to join me and the rest of the crew, of course. It will be the 10th outing for the event and over the past 11 years (Covid punctured a hole in the line-up), we have created something pretty special.
To explain, I’ll steal the words of a guest at last year’s gathering in Barcelona, “This isn’t just a conference, this is an urban retreat where you get to spend three days in the company of amazing people and go home with a new outlook on life.” And, no, she wasn’t my mum – not least because she’s dead.
This comment hits it on the head. We bring readers, speakers, editors together for a gathering that includes incredible conversations on stage and off, fun lunches and dinners – dancing too – and access to a city’s most impressive buildings, ateliers and galleries. This Monocle moment is always a highlight of my year.
Still unsure? Here are a few more things to consider. You will make new friends and you will be surrounded by people who care about making better businesses, cities and lives. You can come on your own – most people do and everyone thrives.
OK, I’ve said my bit – check your diaries for Thursday 3 to Saturday 5 September and click here for more details (we are not revealing everything just yet but we have a few surprises planned).
When Monocle started almost 20 years ago, and I had not a grey hair, we promised ourselves that we would always have fun with print, look at new ideas that merited getting presses to whirr, ink to hit paper. That’s one of the many reasons why I am delighted to announce the arrival this week of our new summer newspaper, Med, Mountains & More.
But, “Ah”, I hear you say, “don’t you always have a summer newspaper?” Well, yes, and thank you for paying attention to our print schedule. But this year it comes with a large-format glossy summer supplement that might just blow your socks off – or your Birkenstocks if you are currently hosiery free in your part of the world.
Why? Well, have a look at our report from Syria’s chic beach clubs, come with us as we discover a different side to Sardinia, check in to the new Mandarin Oriental in Mallorca as the brand sets out to reinvent the resort (wonder who wrote that?) and come to the Alps with us on Austria’s military secret: the handsome donkey.
It’s on sale at all wise newsstands from Thursday and available for pre-order here. But I noticed a nice pile already in our Zürich shop this week – so head to Dufourstrasse 90 to be a print leader of the pack.
