Page 24 - FDCCFlyer_Summer2025

EXPERIENCE
LISBON
A Mosaic of
Memories
FDCC 2026 Annual Meeting
July 26-31, 2026
Lisbon, Portugal | Hotel Corinthia
by Lee Hall
Pack your bags,
secure your passport,
and prepare for
an unforgettable
journey—The
Federation of Defense
Lee Hall
and Corporate
Counsel (FDCC) invites you
to the 2026 Annual Meeting in
Lisbon, Portugal, hosted at the
luxurious Corinthia Hotel, which
was nominated for recognition as
a Leading Luxury Hotel, Leading
City Hotel, and Leading Conference
Hotel in 2025 by World Travel
Awards.
Our theme, “A Mosaic of Memories,”
is more than just a title—it’s a
promise. We’ll be celebrating
Lisbon’s vibrant tapestry of history,
innovation, and tradition in one
of Europe’s most enchanting,
most authentic and oldest, cities.
Awarded Europe’s Leading
City Designation, Best World
Heritage City, and Best City Break
Destination in 2024, Lisbon took
a record 20 awards at the World
Travel Awards in 2024.
Old, New, Borrowed and Blue
Lisbon is a city that beautifully
embodies the spirit of “old, new,
borrowed, and blue.” Though
my efforts to use this as theme
were resoundingly and uniformly
rejected by my fellow convention
team colleagues, this phrase was
originally used to describe the
city of Lisbon, not a wedding
trousseau. Dating back to 1200
BC, Lisbon is the second oldest
capital in Europe, and predates
other European capital cities
by centuries. Its old soul shines
through ancient landmarks like
the Moorish São Jorge Castle, the
winding alleys of Alfama, and
centuries-old monasteries. The new
is ever-present in its vibrant street
art, modern architecture, and the
lively energy of its contemporary
neighborhoods, including the
electric riverfront site of our Gala,
SUD Lisboa. Lisbon’s history and
character is borrowed-from the
Moors, whose influence lives on
in the city’s iconic blue-and-white
azulejo tiles, and the many cultures
and countries that were once a
part of Portugal’s empire. Finally,
Lisbon is unmistakably blue: from
the dazzling Atlantic coastline and
the wide Tagus River to the brilliant
skies and the signature blue tiles
that adorn its buildings, blue is
woven into the city’s very fabric.
This unique blend makes Lisbon
a living mosaic where history,
innovation, and beauty meet.
Lisbon blends centuries of history
with a contemporary spirit that’s
both cosmopolitan and relaxed.
Our afternoon excursions will
include rides on the iconic Tram
28, strolls through Alfama, Lisbon’s
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