The Formentera Office of Commerce is pleased to report that individuals who wish to operate a booth at the 2022/2023 Christmas Market (Mercat Nadalenc) may submit applications from today. For ten calendar days, applications will be accepted at the Citizen Information Office (OAC) and online through the OVAC.

The Mercat Nadalenc will run Friday 2 December to 6 January 2023, both inclusive, in Plaça de la Constitució and Carrer dels Llaüts dels Damians in Sant Francesc.

The Consell de Formentera will assign up to seven booths for retail at the Mercat Nadalenc; three small booths for businesses and artisans; three for the hospitality sector and one for schools, public organisations and/or non-profit associations. The market will run Monday to Saturday, with vending booths operating 10.30am to 1.30pm and 5.00 pm to 8.00pm, and restaurant booths opening from 12.30pm to 4.00pm and 6.00pm to 11.00pm.
 
Mercat Nadalenc provisional terms and application.

29 October 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

As part of this year's Strengthening Local Business Plan (Pla per a l'enfortiment del comerç, PEC), the Formentera Office of Commerce will deliver a boost to local business in a series of workshops this November. Ana Juan, president and councillor of commerce, said the aim of the workshops is "to give Formentera merchants new tools and ideas to enhance their skills".

Focalizza, a consultancy specialised in business development, will develop the PEC and lead the online workshops. The first, Digital competencies and skills for managing a point of sale, will take place 7 and 9 November. Marketing strategies for managing a point of sale will be staged 14 and 16 November, with the third and final workshop, Ten ways to build customer loyalty locally, scheduled 21 and 23 November.

All workshops will be held online from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. For more information and to register, send an email to mercats@conselldeformentera.cat or telephone 971 321 275 ext. 2.

The strategic lines of Formentera's PEC include fomenting business planning; enhancing the competitivity of island businesses; preserving a locally-driven model, and promoting and regulating the local commercial landscape. President Juan recalled that the PEC's preparation and development "reflects the suggestions and concerns of the island's business community".

31 October 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

This past weekend was the eighth Formentera Zen, a wellness event organised by Puro Bienestar as part of the Consell de Formentera's Discover Formentera in October campaign. More than 150 came out for the event, which included experts in positive psychology, emotional intelligence, self-knowledge, healthy habits, nutrition, fitness, dance, neuroscience, self-care and beauty, sleep and rest, sound baths, yoga and meditation.

Alejandra Ferrer, vice president and councillor of tourism, pointed out that participants hailed from various corners of Spain and beyond, with participants from Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany. "The low season is a time when visitors can be in closer contact with islanders and our nature", said Vice President Ferrer, "Formentera Zen attendees can take advantage of their visit to enjoy people-centred talks tuned to cultivating healthy minds and bodies. And speakers and participants alike have ensured that, on social media, Formentera is associated with wellness, health and nature".

The 2022 programme included multidisciplinary sessions focused on the physical, intellectual, environmental and social aspects of human beings. The event featured professionals like Marta Verona (Masterchef 6), Cesc Escolà (Operación Triunfo and Muévete en casa), Jana Fernández (El Podcast de Jana Fernández), Marta Romo (Entrena tu cerebro), Marc Oromí (The Massage House), Júlia Rovira (Vadesabores) and Teresa Arnandis (Ladyscience). Additional participants included psychologist Elena Puig; London-based artist Diana Pintado; musical alchemist José Manuel Martínez, and Greek-born yoga instructor Yiannis Mukta Om.

Events on the holistic wellness programme included "When sleep gets better, everything gets better"; "Overcome the limits of your mind"; "The power of self-massage: a relationship of self-love"; "Supernutrition: nurture yourself healthily, soothingly and efficiently"; "Get to know your body to understand and care for it"; "Consciousness and ego", and "Hi, how's it going? Shall we talk?". Formentera Zen 2022 also included a live cooking session highlighting seasonal recipes and local produce and master classes in dance fitness and dharma yoga. Gecko Hotel & Beach Club hosted Formentera Zen with collaboration from Sa Pedrera Suites & Spa, Trasmapi, Proauto Rent a Car, La Fabrica Artigianale and Clinique.

17 October 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Today the Formentera Office of Tourism unveiled augmented virtual reality (VR) videos on Ca Na Costa, a megalithic sepulchre, and the history of the island's salt flats, part of an effort to use 3D virtual reconstruction to safeguard and share part of local history.

"The aim of this initiative", which Alejandra Ferrer, vice president and councillor of tourism, pointed out would be deployed in other heritage and historical sites, "is to transport visitors to another era, recreating the environment. With the help of mobile technology, we will be able to see in the present what life was like in the past". She called it "yet another tool to attract visitors in the off season and offer a range of activities that bring participants closer to our roots".

The initiative has benefited from the collaboration of the island's heritage office and historian Santiago Colomar, who have helped by contributing historical information. "These videos bring our history closer to residents and visitors and underscore this part of our heritage", said Colomar. In that regard, Colomar hopes that the initiative will continue in order to "uncover more stories of our past".

Carlos Bernús, who heads Formentera's Office of Tourism Marketing, explained that the videos will be promoted on the local tourism website, Tourist Information Points and promotional events.  They can also be found on the Formentera Office of Tourism's YouTube channel in Catalan, Spanish and English.

11 October 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera