Search ‘n Stuff Salon
Search Retreat
Sintra, Portugal
SEARCH ‘N STUFF WITH NUMBERS
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international attendees
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16 people. 4 nights. One glass house and private villa in the hills above Lisbon.
Web Summit Lisbon: 9–12 November 2026
Retreat check-in: Thursday 12 November, from the afternoon
Lisbon → Sintra: ~40 minutes by train from Rossio, or ~35 minutes by car
Already coming to Web Summit? Stay a little longer.
Web Summit Lisbon runs 9–12 November, and by the Thursday your notebook is full, your feet hurt, and you have roughly forty ideas you have not had a single quiet hour to think about.
Sintra is forty minutes up the road. Come straight from the summit, drop your bag at the villa, and spend four days unpacking what you just heard with fifteen people who will actually argue with you about it. The things you take home from a big conference are almost never the ones you wrote down, they are the ones you got to talk through with someone afterwards. This is the afterwards.
And if Web Summit is not your week at all, book anyway. The retreat was built to stand on its own and most of the room will not be coming from Lisbon. The timing is a convenience for the people it suits, not a requirement for anybody.
Sintra is forty minutes up the road. Come straight from the summit, drop your bag at the villa, and spend four days unpacking what you just heard with fifteen people who will actually argue with you about it. The things you take home from a big conference are almost never the ones you wrote down, they are the ones you got to talk through with someone afterwards. This is the afterwards.
And if Web Summit is not your week at all, book anyway. The retreat was built to stand on its own and most of the room will not be coming from Lisbon. The timing is a convenience for the people it suits, not a requirement for anybody.
What this actually is
SnS Salon is the smallest thing we run and the one people talk about longest afterwards. Sixteen people, one house, four nights.
Half of it is work, laptops open, everyone getting on with their own client load in the same room, which turns out to be the most productive week most of us have all year.
The other half is learning from each other, properly, with enough time for the conversation to go somewhere.
There is no stage. There is a glass house (event pavilion) at the villa with light coming in on all sides, and that is where we work and where we teach.
Meals are long and at one table. Nobody is networking. Everyone is just there.
Half of it is work, laptops open, everyone getting on with their own client load in the same room, which turns out to be the most productive week most of us have all year.
The other half is learning from each other, properly, with enough time for the conversation to go somewhere.
There is no stage. There is a glass house (event pavilion) at the villa with light coming in on all sides, and that is where we work and where we teach.
Meals are long and at one table. Nobody is networking. Everyone is just there.
You are not an attendee. You are on the programme.
Here is the part that makes this different from anything else you will book this year: everybody in the villa presents something (as long as they want to). A workshop, a training session, a walkthrough of the thing you have spent the last two years getting good at. Sixteen people, sixteen bodies of knowledge, four days to share them.
It does not have to be polished and it does not have to be long. Some people bring a full ninety-minute training. Some bring a twenty-minute teardown of a problem they solved last month. What matters is that you can turn up with something to give as well as something to take.
We’ll shape the programme together once the group is complete. You’ll have the chance to share what you’d be happy to teach, what you’d most like to learn, and we’ll build the days around the areas where those interests naturally overlap. And if presenting isn’t your thing, that’s absolutely fine too; you’re just as welcome to join, contribute to the conversations, and take part in the experience.
It does not have to be polished and it does not have to be long. Some people bring a full ninety-minute training. Some bring a twenty-minute teardown of a problem they solved last month. What matters is that you can turn up with something to give as well as something to take.
We’ll shape the programme together once the group is complete. You’ll have the chance to share what you’d be happy to teach, what you’d most like to learn, and we’ll build the days around the areas where those interests naturally overlap. And if presenting isn’t your thing, that’s absolutely fine too; you’re just as welcome to join, contribute to the conversations, and take part in the experience.
Salon Discussions
Small-group conversations around SEO, AI Search, GEO, content, paid media, analytics, business and the future of digital marketing.
Peer Problem-Solving
Bring a problem, an idea, a project or something you’re trying to figure out. Sometimes fifteen other smart people are more useful than another slide deck.
Optional Co-working
Quiet time to work, compare notes or get another pair of eyes on something.
Proper Networking
No awkward speed networking.
Four days together tends to solve that naturally.
Four days together tends to solve that naturally.
Long Tables
Breakfasts and dinners are part of the retreat experience, not gaps between sessions.
Sintra
We’re not travelling all the way to Sintra to sit inside a meeting room from 09:00 to 18:00. There will be time to explore 😉
A Rough Rhythm
We intentionally won’t over-programme the retreat, but here’s roughly how the four days will flow.
Thursday, 12 Nov
Arrive · Settle In · Welcome
Check-in from the afternoon, straight from Lisbon or Web Summit. Settle in, walk the grounds, then a welcome dinner at the villa where we all work out who everyone is.
Friday, 13 Nov
Salon Day – Open the glass house
Morning co-working — everyone’s own work, same room. Afternoon: the first sessions of the programme. Long-table dinner, cooked at the house.
Saturday, 14 Nov
Search, Ideas & SINTRA
The heart of it. Back-to-back workshops and training from the people in the room, and a guest or two up from Lisbon, with proper breaks and proper arguments in between. Dinner runs late.
Sunday, 15 Nov
What Comes Next?
A morning session, then out into Sintra for the afternoon, Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, the old town, or a very slow lunch, depending on the group. Final dinner back at the villa.
Monday, 16 Nov
Breakfast · Goodbyes · See You Somewhere Else
Breakfast together, then departures. Lisbon airport is about an hour away.
Your Home for Four Nights
PRIVATE VILLA – SINTRA – PORTUGAL
*More photos available upon request.
Your SnS Salon ticket includes accommodation from:
Your SnS Salon ticket includes accommodation from:
Check-in: Thursday, 12 November 2026
Check-out: Monday, 16 November 2026
That’s four nights in Sintra. We’ve 8 rrooms for the retreat and are offering three booking options.
Eight rooms, sixteen places, and that is the whole retreat. Take a room to yourself, or bring people and split it, three of you in one room works out at about €366 each, which is the cheapest four nights in Portugal you will find this November. The two bunk rooms are the easiest way in on a smaller budget, and there are only two of them.
*If you hold a Blind Date Package, your credit applies to this retreat and you get first pick of the rooms, email yagmur@searchnstuff.co.uk and we will sort it before general booking opens.
Eight rooms, sixteen places, and that is the whole retreat. Take a room to yourself, or bring people and split it, three of you in one room works out at about €366 each, which is the cheapest four nights in Portugal you will find this November. The two bunk rooms are the easiest way in on a smaller budget, and there are only two of them.
*If you hold a Blind Date Package, your credit applies to this retreat and you get first pick of the rooms, email yagmur@searchnstuff.co.uk and we will sort it before general booking opens.
Choose Your Room
EARLY ACCESS
Room Types 1: six available, sleeps up to three
Private Room
One guest · Private Room · Four nights
Perfect if you’re travelling solo and want your own space. Your ticket includes:
Limited private rooms available.
Room Type 2: Bunk room – only two available, sleeps two
Shared Room (for 2)
Two guests · One shared Room · Four nights
That’s €475 per person when booking together. Your booking includes for both guests:
Shared Room (for 3)
THREE guests · One shared Room · Four nights
That’s €366 per person when booking together. Your booking includes for both guests:
Workshops
14 November 2026
Building a B2B Outbound Engine with AI & Automation
10:00 – 11:00
How can B2B businesses turn their target market into a predictable pipeline of sales opportunities?
In this practical workshop, we’ll explore how to build a modern outbound engine by combining lead generation, AI and multichannel outreach. From identifying the right prospects and researching target accounts to creating personalized email and LinkedIn campaigns and automating outreach workflows, we’ll look at how AI and automation can make B2B prospecting more focused, scalable and effective.
Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to connect their go-to-market strategy with practical outbound systems that generate meaningful sales conversations.
In this practical workshop, we’ll explore how to build a modern outbound engine by combining lead generation, AI and multichannel outreach. From identifying the right prospects and researching target accounts to creating personalized email and LinkedIn campaigns and automating outreach workflows, we’ll look at how AI and automation can make B2B prospecting more focused, scalable and effective.
Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to connect their go-to-market strategy with practical outbound systems that generate meaningful sales conversations.
Tunahan Tolga Yıldız, Founder of TechSales
Tunahan Tolga Yıldız is the founder of TechSales, an AI-powered GTM platform and growth studio helping B2B startups and agencies streamline lead generation and outbound sales. Combining software, AI automations and go-to-market expertise, TechSales helps teams identify the right prospects and build more efficient, multichannel outreach workflows across email and LinkedIn. Tunahan has worked with 50+ B2B startups, helping them turn their positioning and ideal customer profiles into actionable growth strategies.
Beyond tech, Tuna has also trained in culinary arts and runs Turco Porto, a pop-up food venture based in Porto. At the retreat, he’ll bring both worlds together, leading the culinary experience while sharing practical insights on AI-powered GTM, lead generation and outbound automation.
Beyond tech, Tuna has also trained in culinary arts and runs Turco Porto, a pop-up food venture based in Porto. At the retreat, he’ll bring both worlds together, leading the culinary experience while sharing practical insights on AI-powered GTM, lead generation and outbound automation.
Running a Small Business: What’s Worked, What Hasn’t, and Keeping It Sustainable
11:15 – 12:15
An honest conversation about the realities of running a small business. I’ll share lessons from building Women in Tech SEO, including what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what I’m learning about keeping the business sustainable.
We’ll create an open, safe, judgement-free space to share our challenges, learnings, and questions with one another.
We’ll create an open, safe, judgement-free space to share our challenges, learnings, and questions with one another.
Areej AbuAli, Founder at Women in Tech SEO
Areej AbuAli is the founder of Women in Tech SEO, a global community for marketers. Launched in 2019, it has grown to over 100,000 followers worldwide, connecting professionals through online groups, mentorship programmes and conferences across the UK, Europe and the USA. Based in London, Areej is an international speaker and the author of Community Building for Marketers.
Career Experiments: Finding Your Next Step Without Having the Perfect Plan
13:30 – 14:30
In SEO, we’re used to working without knowing the outcome upfront. We form a hypothesis, test something, look at what happens and use what we’ve learned to decide what to do next. But when it comes to our careers, we often expect ourselves to know the right answer before taking action.
This workshop applies that experimental mindset to career development. Rather than trying to answer big questions like “What do I want to do in five years?”, participants will identify something they’re currently curious or uncertain about and turn it into a small, low-risk career experiment.
I’ll briefly use my own experience with the Women in Tech SEO Mentorship Program as an example of how taking one step without knowing exactly where it would lead helped me discover new interests and opportunities. The main focus, however, will be on participants applying the framework to their own careers.
This workshop applies that experimental mindset to career development. Rather than trying to answer big questions like “What do I want to do in five years?”, participants will identify something they’re currently curious or uncertain about and turn it into a small, low-risk career experiment.
I’ll briefly use my own experience with the Women in Tech SEO Mentorship Program as an example of how taking one step without knowing exactly where it would lead helped me discover new interests and opportunities. The main focus, however, will be on participants applying the framework to their own careers.
Main Takeaways
Participants will leave with:
- a different way of approaching career uncertainty: as something to explore rather than solve upfront
- a simple framework for turning a career question or curiosity into a small experiment
- a clearer idea of what they actually want to learn from their next step
- one concrete career experiment they can put into action after the retreat
Sophie Waldner, SEO Consultant at SYZYGY
Sophie Waldner is an SEO Consultant at SYZYGY, where she helps brands improve their visibility through search strategies.
With a background in content creation, social media, and digital marketing, her career has taken her through different roles and disciplines, teaching her that professional growth rarely follows a straight line.
She believes that curiosity, trying new things, and stepping outside your comfort zone can open unexpected doors. In her workshop, Sophie encourages participants to explore their next career steps through small, practical experiments rather than waiting for the perfect plan.
With a background in content creation, social media, and digital marketing, her career has taken her through different roles and disciplines, teaching her that professional growth rarely follows a straight line.
She believes that curiosity, trying new things, and stepping outside your comfort zone can open unexpected doors. In her workshop, Sophie encourages participants to explore their next career steps through small, practical experiments rather than waiting for the perfect plan.
Using AI in Day-to-Day Business Operations
14:45 – 15:45
A practical look at how we’re using AI at Women in Tech SEO to support our day-to-day operations. Erin will share real examples – including how they built an AI workflow to help manage community meetups and our website – and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Together, we’ll explore how to find opportunities to experiment with AI workflows, operationalise what works, and build in the right checks along the way.
Together, we’ll explore how to find opportunities to experiment with AI workflows, operationalise what works, and build in the right checks along the way.
Erin Simmons, Managing Director at Women in Tech SEO
Erin Simmons is Managing Director of the Women in Tech SEO community, focused on maintaining safe, inclusive, and helpful spaces. With 15+ years in marketing and analytics, they now focus on better understanding people and connecting them to the relationships and resources that support them most.
Search Retreat Partners
What’s Not Included?
Unless we specifically announce otherwise, your booking does not include:
Once your spot is confirmed, we’ll add you to the attendee WhatsApp group, where we can coordinate practical details such as the address, travel arrangements, shared taxis, and anything else you may need ahead of the retreat.
We’ll share recommended travel routes, transfers and optional activities with confirmed guests closer to the retreat. And guess what? If we find a headline sponsor, we may bring some complimentary surprises for tours and gifts.
We’ll share recommended travel routes, transfers and optional activities with confirmed guests closer to the retreat. And guess what? If we find a headline sponsor, we may bring some complimentary surprises for tours and gifts.
Getting to Sintra
Airport: Lisbon Humberto Delgado (LIS), roughly an hour from Sintra by car
From Web Summit or central Lisbon: train from Rossio station, about 40 minutes, running frequently; or 35 minutes by car
On arrival: full villa address and directions go out with the booking confirmation
Getting around: Sintra’s centre is walkable; taxis and rideshares run to the villa
From Web Summit or central Lisbon: train from Rossio station, about 40 minutes, running frequently; or 35 minutes by car
On arrival: full villa address and directions go out with the booking confirmation
Getting around: Sintra’s centre is walkable; taxis and rideshares run to the villa
Can’t join the full retreat?
14 November Workshop & Networking Day
We’re opening the villa for a full day of Digital Marketing, AI & Business workshops, with up to 40 participants, lunch, refreshments and evening networking drinks.
Speaker announcements and the full agenda are coming soon.
Register for Event
Speaker announcements and the full agenda are coming soon.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When is SnS Salon Sintra?
12-16 November, 2026. Arrival is on Thursday, 12 Nov and departure is on Monday, 16 Nov.
How many people are attending?
A maximum of 16 guests. We won’t increase that number once tickets sell out.
How many rooms are available?
We have 6 rooms allocated to Search ’n Stuff.
Is accommodation included?
Yes. Your ticket includes four nights’ accommodation at the private villa.
Is breakfast included?
Yes. Breakfast is included every morning.
Are dinners included?
Hosted group dinners included within the final retreat programme are covered by your ticket. We’ll share the exact meal schedule with guests closer to the event.
Can two people share a room?
Yes. Choose the Shared Room for Two or Three option.
Can I attend alone?
Absolutely. Most people at Search ’n Stuff events don’t arrive knowing everyone – and that’s never stopped us before.
Are flights included?
No. Guests arrange their own travel to Sintra.
Are airport transfers included?
Not currently. We’ll help coordinate arrival information and recommended transfer options closer to the event.
Do I need to be going to Web Summit Lisbon 2026?
Not at all, and most of the room will not be. The retreat is complete on its own, the timing just happens to suit people who are already in Portugal that week.
Will there be speakers?
Not in the traditional conference sense.
SnS Salon is deliberately built around conversations, peer learning and collaborative sessions rather than a stage full of presentations.
We may invite guests to lead particular conversations or workshops, but everyone in the room is expected to contribute.
What happens after I book?
You’ll receive your booking confirmation first. As the retreat gets closer, we’ll create a private attendee group and share:
- Travel recommendations
- Arrival information
- Optional activities
- Programme updates
- Guest introductions
- Everything else you need for Sintra.
Some Rooms Change Your View.
Hopefully this one changes a little more than that.
4
Nights
Nights
16
People
People
No giant
stage
stage
No endless networking queue
Just good people, useful conversations, a ridiculous Sintra backdrop and enough time to see where those conversations go.