At Living Tours Group's Living Stars of the Year 2024 event, we paid tribute to those who stood out in the most diverse areas and teams in 2023. Living Stars are extraordinary people who have dedicated their time and energy to giving their best for the excellence of what we do, of what we are. These people are true stars of the tourism and experience trips we offer in Portugal and Spain. They inspire and are inspired by their colleagues, team leaders, and the group's Founder and CEO, Rui Terroso. In their daily practice, they show a loyal commitment to the organization's culture, professional pride, and welcoming treatment of our guests. Whether in person or online.

What did we celebrate at Living Stars of the Year 2024?

At the Living Stars of the Year 2024, we remembered and rewarded one person from every team that has most distinguished itself by contributing and adding value to the primary objectives of the Living Tours group.

"Putting our people first is the secret to Living's success, and fun is at the heart of everything we do as a company.", Rui Terroso, Founder and CEO of the Living Tours group.

In the year in which we celebrate 20 years of existence, we reaffirm our purpose: "Proud and Patriotic, we show the world the best we have, are, and know how to do in Portugal and Spain".

The Living Group's business areas and departments with their "stars" are varied. They include administration and back-office teams, interpreter guide teams from our regular shared and private tour operation, transfers, walking tours, and tuk tuks or Party Boat; from our receptive agencies in Porto and Lisbon, as well as our online e-commerce platforms; from accounting and finance to human resources, events, sustainability, SEO, marketing and technology, quality, and the Living Training Academy.

If people are at the heart of this and other Living celebrations, it's worth remembering that the values we all share, as well as our social and environmental actions, are also celebrated.

This year, 22 "stars" were honored. In a constellation of more than 250 professionals, the celebration belongs to everyone. And who knows who the "heroes" will be next time?

How did the 2024 Celebration go?

At around 6 p.m. on April 24, 2024, music started playing in the Living Tours offices. The sound entered the departments’ rooms as if asking to be followed. Those who did so went to the lounge on the first floor and found a very attractive setting for those who had spent the day working: plenty of delicious food and drinks, and a DJ who made sure the event was lively. A good opportunity to chat with that colleague you see passing by during the week and with whom you only exchange a hurried "hello".

Suddenly, a sea of red painted the room. The livingtourians were wearing their Living jackets, showing their pride in belonging to a company that values and recognizes its employees.

The conditions were thus in place for a good evening, which began with a relaxed get-together, food, drinks, and lots of music.

An hour later, the Founder and CEO of the Living Tours group, Rui Terroso, took the stage, wearing red, ready to proclaim the names of this year's "stars".

Before moving on to the awards, Rui Terroso gave an opening speech, in which he mentioned the people of Living, both those who currently work for the company and those who have passed through here, leaving their mark and contributing to making Living Tours what it is today.

The dedication and talent of the entire Living family were reinforced several times and, although only a limited number of people received awards, the team was delighted to receive the words of thanks and recognition from the Founder and current CEO.    

There was also time to remember the social causes with which Living Tours is involved and the respective volunteer actions that take place every month, from planting trees and cleaning beaches to preparing and delivering meals to the needy and visiting animal shelters.

Valuing inclusion and diversity was not forgotten, not least because Living is made up of people with unique characteristics and, as such, Rui Terroso dedicated a few words to the subject. 

And then came the moment many had been waiting for. The Living Stars of the Year 2024 awards were presented. One by one, the team leaders took the stage to award someone from their group who they felt had stood out in 2023.

A total of 22 awards were handed out to 22 stars. Throughout the ceremony, colleagues applauded and encouraged the winners, a very positive attitude among people who sometimes only meet at these events.

The leadership award was one of several categories, awarded to Tiago Martins (leadership award 2022) and Tânia Monteiro (leadership award 2024), chosen by Rui Terroso himself. 

But the day didn't end there. The smell of hot dogs and hamburgers signaled that the awards ceremony was over. It was time to socialize, eat, drink and dance.

And the party continued well into the night.

See you next year!