Tenerife is an easy destination to fall for; it blends year‑round sunshine, dramatic volcanic landscapes and a relaxed island atmosphere. Few places manage this combination.
Whether you’re planning an incentive trip packed with memorable experiences or a corporate retreat designed for relaxation and connection, Tenerife offers the perfect balance. In fact, with inspiring settings, exceptional cuisine and a pace that encourages both productivity and downtime, it’s a destination where teams can achieve a lot. Alternatively, teams can simply switch off, and feel confident they chose well.
Geography and history
The largest and most populous island of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is an autonomous territory of Spain.
The island boasts a Mediterranean climate, similar to that of Barcelona and Mallorca, despite being much further south. Trade winds and cold sea currents have a cooling effect on its coasts and beaches. Moreover, the island has average temperatures of 18-20oC in winter and 24-26oC in summer.
The skyline is dominated by the volcano Mount Teide at most points around the island. Due to the volcanic area, Tenerife is thought to be very arid. However, there are pine forests within the Teide National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site). In addition, the northern area of the island also receives higher rainfall (almost 75%). So it is much greener and lusher than its southern neighbour.
Tenerife was thought to be discovered in 200BC by the Guanche Berbers. It was the last of the Canary Islands to submit to the Castillian Conquest, and Spanish rule, in the late 1400’s. The main religion is Catholicism, as with the rest of Spain.
Tenerife is served by two airports – South and North. The flight time is approximately 3.5 hours from the UK. Furthermore, there are direct flights from scheduled and chartered carriers.
Event venues
There is a large number of conference hotels on the island. These offer different experiences depending on the area you select, or options at the venue.
For example, The Hard Rock Hotel in the south has a large conference room and a collection of smaller meeting rooms. Meanwhile, the Gran Hotel Taoro in the north is brand-new and offers a completely different experience.
Group activities and incentive ideas
For a small island, there are lots of activities to choose from, such as:
On the water – catamarans can be privately hired for a luxury experience, and just off the coast of Adeje there is a huge trench, which attracts dolphins and whales
- Teide National Park – this is a must-see. Explore and discover more about this lunar landscape
- Wine tasting – Tenerife has five wine-growing regions. Malvasía Canary is considered to be their best wine
- On the water – catamarans can be privately hired for a luxury experience, and just off the coast of Adeje there is a huge trench, which attracts dolphins and whales
Being island, fish is in abundance in restaurants. Roasted or baked in salt are the most common cooking styles. Additionally, fish is usually served with a sauce (mojo) and some of their famous wrinkly potatoes.
Meat is also popular with chicken and pork being the most common, although goat and rabbit is also found on menus. Cheese is hugely popular. Tenerife exports 50% of its production!
Sustainability
With tourism contributing hugely to its economy, Tenerife is reshaping this to be more sustainable.
Many hotels are becoming eco-certified, designed to minimize water and energy use; active travel is encouraged via bike hire and promotion of walking and hiking tour options. Additionally, many hire cars are electric/hybrid and their public transport is affordable, scenic and provided on lower-emission buses.
The Cabildo de Tenerife (government) is steering long‑term sustainability policies. These policies blend environmental conservation, cultural preservation and innovation and economic diversification.
Want to find out more?
If you think Tenerife could work for an upcoming conference or incentive, please contact us and we can start that conversation!
