WordCamp Europe is the big event on the WordPress calendar. You know this, but does your boss? Do you need help convincing your boss to send you to WordCamp Europe? If the answer is yes, read on!
First of all, don’t be afraid of asking your boss to send you to an event. The worst that they can say is no. Approach your boss with enthusiasm, both for your job and for the event. Think about the reasons that you should attend WordCamp Europe and address the issue head-on. Build your case and present it.
1. WordCamp Europe is unique
WordCamp Europe is the biggest WordCamp in the world and it is unique in that it brings together the best speakers in the WordPress community as well as speakers from outside to share their insights. If you go to one WordPress event each year, WordCamp Europe will give you the highest value.
How will it improve your job?
Read through the schedule and identify those specific talks that you are planning to attend. WordCamp Europe will have a broad range of talks so it’s helpful to highlight the ones that will help you to grow and develop.
It can also help to contextualise the talks you want to see in relation to projects that you are working on. For example:
this front-end development talk will help me learn how to effectively use JavaScript in my project
this talk on international community building will help me speak to a global audience
What will you bring back to the company?
You should also think about what you can bring back to the company. Your boss has to think about the benefit to the overall company, as opposed to just your needs. Points that you can raise are:
that talks will help you when building current or future projects
that you will learn about new technologies that you can use in your projects
that you will find potential new hires for the company
that you will widen the company’s business network
that you will be able to talk about and promote a new product
that you will be able to find new collaborators and industry partners
Tailor your goals for the event to the current goals for your company. For example:
if your company is focusing on hiring, tell your boss that you will actively look for people to hire and set a goal for bringing five potential new hires to the company.
if your company is looking for a design partner, aim to speak to design agencies and bring back leads for your boss to follow up.
if your company is thinking of changing hosting providers, plan to talk to hosting representatives about what they can offer and report back.
Tips
ask your boss for a list of contacts that they’d like you to meet
tailor your pitch to match your company’s goals
put together a budget so that your boss knows exactly what the costs involved will be
pick the right time to talk
Email template
You can use and adapt the below email template to convince your boss:
Dear [your boss’ name],
I would like to attend WordCamp Europe in Porto, from 2 – 4 June 2022.
As the biggest WordCamp in the world, WordCamp Europe brings together the best speakers from across the WordPress community and beyond. There will be up to 3000 attendees giving me the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals and WordPress community members, and learn new skills and processes that I can bring back to the company.
In attending the event I will:
[Goal 1] [Goal 2] [Goal 3]
I’m confident that attending the conference will have a direct positive impact on [PROJECT].
When I get back from WordCamp Europe, I will put together a comprehensive report on the event and will share key knowledge and takeaways with the team, and explore how we can implement what I have learned.
Penny is a WordCamp newby and a WordPress beginner and she had some worries about not being able to contribute at Contributor day. To tackle this she had a conversation with Wendie, an experienced WordPresser and WordCamper, who already joined several Contributor days. Together they discussed several teams that Penny can contribute to even if she has no experience contributing. You can listen to the conversation here:
A beginner’s perspective is a valuable asset to bring to the table
Asking questions and sharing your experiences is also contributing
Contributing isn’t confined to Contributor day, you can do it any time that is convenient for you
Lo and behold, after our discussion, I now have the problem of deciding between 6 teams which I have an interest in participating in.
Penny
Are you a beginner at Contributing and a little scared and worried there might not be something you can contribute to? Contributor day will start off with a small introduction for beginners to get you started. Besides contributing, connecting to other WordPress people and learning new things are all part of the Contributor day experience. We look forward to seeing you there.
Porto is a city in the north of Portugal and is the second most important in the country, after Lisbon, the capital. There is a lot to do in Porto, from history, culture, museums, attractions, monuments, churches, castles, beaches, and nightlife.
Traveling to the city is easy and getting from point A to point B is usually a brief trek. We will describe how to get to the city from the airport, as well as how to get around the city ones you are there.
Map of Porto’s district showing the different Andante’s zones
From OPO airport to downtown Porto
Metro
You can take the metro line E from the airport into the city. A ride to one of the city’s central stations takes around 30 minutes. Buy the ticket and validate it before entering the train. Price for a single journey is 2€, plus the cost of the ANDANTE ticket (if you don’t have one).You must validate a charged ANDANTE always before beginning your travel, when you change line or transport. Both occasional and signature ANDANTE cards must always be validated. You can validate it, at most, with 10 minutes of antecedence before beginning the trip. Not doing it will provide you a fine of 95€.
Besides the metro, the airport is served by three public bus lines that will take you to Cordoaria’s Garden in the centre of Porto, and to Saint John’s Hospital, in the Paranhos neighbourhood.
Itineraries and departure times can be found on the STCP website.
ANDANTE Ticket
ANDANTE ticket is a card that can be (re)charged with travel titles and can be used in the different public transport operators (STCP, CP and Metro) in the Porto Metropolitan area.
All ANDANTE are rechargeable. Do not throw them away after your journey has ended. If you use the blue ANDANTE, you can recharge it with how many titles you want to and how many times you want to.
If you use the ANDANTE Gold, you can travel freely inside the zones previously selected. You can use that same card to recharge your pass every month. The Blue ANDANTE costs 0,60€ and the ANDANTE Gold 6,00€.
You can buy ANDANTE here:
Andante Shops (in several stations of Metro do Porto and CP)
Automatic Machines (in all the stations of Metro do Porto)
Service posts STCP
Ticket sellers CP with ANDANTE sale
Mobility Centre
Payshop Agents and Post Offices
Road Private Operators Terminals
Private shuttles
Several private companies offer direct shuttle services from the airport to different areas of Porto and neighbouring cities. More information about these options can be found on the airport website.
Taxis and ride-sharing services
Taxis can be found right outside the arrivals area. There are also 4 ride-sharing services operating around the Porto area:
Uber
Bolt
Kapten
Cabify
How to get around the city
Porto’s public transportation system is operated by STCP (Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos do Porto) and includes the metro, suburban train lines, buses, and historic trams.
To use the system, you will need to purchase an Andante card from one of the metro stations or from Andante stores.
By Bus
Besides Porto’s tourist bus, the city’s normal bus system is very good and works perfectly. It is one of the most traditional ways of getting around in the city, and even with the arrival of the metro, it continues to be used by many people, from the youngest to the oldest. The buses run daily from 6am to 9pm. Tickets can be bought directly from the driver or at newsstands and tobacconists (it is cheaper to buy a set of tickets).
You can pay for journeys either using an Andante card or in person to the driver for a fixed cost of €2.
Most bus stops have timetables and itineraries, but online services like Google Maps or Moovit will also come in handy when planning your journey.
The closest bus stop to the WCEU venue is Palácio (Stop IDs: PAL 2, PAL 3, PAL 4 and PAL 5). This is served by the following services running on both sides of the road:
You can also check timetables and route maps at the STCP website.
By Metro
The subway is the newest means of transportation in the city. It also works as a streetcar, in Portugal, since they can ride on the surface.
Porto Metro has six lines that run from A to F covering a good part of Porto and neighboring cities (Matosinhos, Vila Nova de Gaia, Vila do Conde, Maia, Gondomar, Póvoa do Varzim).
Lines A, B, C, E and F run on the same axis, while line D runs on a North-South axis crossing the center of the city.
A curiosity is that there is no turnstile or any kind of barrier. There are only some poles (not preventing the passage) where you pass the “andante card”, which is the ticket, and ready, you can continue the walk to the subway. Many people think that it is easy to get around this scheme, but many guards go through the subway checking whether the tickets have been validated. If they catch someone who entered without paying, they will certainly charge a good fine.
Most metro stations will have a table that will help you work out the number of zones your planned journey will cross. On buses, the loudspeaker announcing the stations will indicate when the bus is moving into a new zone.
A ride to Aeroporto station (Airport) would require a Z4 ticket, while a Z2 ticket is enough to travel to Aliados station.
Example of a table at the Bolhão station, in the city centre.
STCP offers a discount when purchasing more than 10 journeys at once. This ends up being more cost-effective than paying for one trip at a time, but it’s worth noting that you’re not allowed to top up the same card with different types of tickets. For instance, you cannot have a Z2 ticket and a Z4 ticket loaded onto the same Andante card.
An Andante card can only be used by the person who bought it. If you’re travelling with other people, each person will need their own Andante card.
Ticket Validation
There are no turnstiles on the network, but you will need to validate your Andante card at the start of your trip. This can be done by simply tapping the card on one of these totems:
It is not necessary to validate your card at the end of your journey.
An Andante validator at São Bento Station (Photo: Tiago Miranda)
To get to the Super Bock Arena – Pavilhão Rosa Mota, the most convenient metro station is Casa da Música. This is on the A, B, C, E and F lines. From there, you can either take a 1.5km walk, or catch one of the following buses to the venue:
Another station that is close to the venue is Carolina Michaelis, which also sits on the A, B, C, E and F lines. From there, you will be able to either walk 1.5km to the event, or take one of the following buses, which will drop you about 400m away from the arena:
Called “comboio” in Portugal, the train is another very traditional way of getting around, especially to visit other cities. The main train stations are São Bento Station and Campanhã Station. See our specific article about train travel in Porto, where we give the main information.
Buses are the main way to get around Porto in areas not covered by the metro.
Suburban trains
Trains leaving from the São Bento and Campanhã train stations can take you to other areas in the Porto district, and other major cities in northern Portugal, like Braga and Guimarães.
Prices vary depending on the destination. Tickets for all lines can be purchased in person at stations, and some routes are also sold through the CP website or apps.
Tourist tram
While the tram is not widely used anymore, STCP still has a few lines running across Porto, mostly aimed at tourists. The tickets are more expensive than the rest of the network and can be purchased before boarding. For more information, please visit the STCP website.
By Taxi
Taxis in Porto are identified by their teal and black colour scheme and can be found all over the city, especially in the city centre. Fares start at €2.50 and increase depending on the time and distance of the journey. There are also extra charges for carrying luggage and pre-scheduled pick ups.
A ride from the airport to downtown Porto costs around €20-25, and trips within the city centre typically cost around €5-10.
Ride-sharing services
There are 4 ride-sharing services operating in the Porto area:
Uber
Bolt
Kapten
Cabify
By Car
Renting a car in Porto is very easy and a very worthwhile option. Portugal is a very small country, compared to other big countries in the world. The trip from north to south of the country can take only 6 hours, so it is very easy to visit the main cities and places in Portugal. Another advantage, even if you are not going to travel the country and stay in only one city, is the convenience and freedom of schedules. If you go shopping in Porto, for example, there is nothing better than having your own vehicle to put all the bags in.
Great tip to find the fastest and cheapest route
A very good tip for you to see all the transportation options from one city to another, and be able to choose the cheapest one, is to use this route finder.
It is a great site that shows all the transportation options between one city and another. It searches for all the airplane, train and bus options, and you can buy the best and cheapest one for your trip.
The prices are cheaper than anywhere else, and the site is a leader in this service in Europe, showing only companies that are reliable and consolidated there.
In any case, for more information about timetables and stops of the trains and buses, you can visit the Porto Public Transport Company website where you will find all necessary information.
Find the time during the event to connect and meet with others. WP Café is located under the canopy outside the catering tent at Gate 7.
Especially created for the attendees to meet, connect and chat about a range of topics that interests them, WP Café is the place to be during the event. Loosely held conversations and lots of coffee in a space ideal for relaxation.
The setup for WP Café this year will have three different sections. Each section will be colour coded and will hold a different subject. There will be a morning and an afternoon session for each section on each day of the event.
Let’s connect!
Schedule
Friday 3 June
10:00 – 13:00
WordPress basics SEO for WordPress Full-Site Editing
14:00 – 18:00
WordPress and Content Working with Blocks eCommerce
Saturday 4 June
10:00 – 13:00
Choosing Themes and Plugins Blogging with WordPress Advanced SEO for WordPress
14:00 – 16:00
Getting Involved in the community WordPress Security Headless WordPress
If your t-shirt size was not on the original registration form, sorry. We are aware that 3XL as the biggest size is limited and we are adjusting our process to be more size-inclusive. If you would like to change your 3XL to a different size please do so by sending us a completed form.
WordCamp Europe is fast approaching and soon it will be time to dust off the suitcase and head to Porto. Whether you’re flying, taking a train, or driving, we have all the information you’ll need to plan your trip.
Getting to Porto by plane
The award-winning Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) is the second largest international airport in Portugal and is located only 11km from downtown Porto. In 2017, it was named the 2nd Best European Airport in its category, for the 9th time in 10 years.
All major airlines operating in Europe fly directly to Porto, including:
Aegean
Air Berlin
Air Canada
Air France
Air Transat
Arkia
Azul
British Airways
Brussels Airlines
Czech Airlines
EasyJet
El Al
Emirates
Eurowings
Finnair
Iberia
Iberia
KLM
Lufthansa
Luxair
Royal Air Maroc
Ryanair
Swiss
TAP Airlines
Transavia
Turkish Airlines
United Airlines
Volotea
Vueling
Wizz Air
Official carrier: TAP Airlines
TAP Airlines is partnering with WordCamp Europe as the event’s official carrier. TAP is the largest airline in Portugal and offers direct flights to Porto from all major cities in Europe, Brazil, the United States, Canada, and several countries in Africa and South America.
Attendees will be able to enjoy discounts on TAP flights to Porto or Lisbon of up to 10% when buying from the official TAP website.
Comboios de Portugal (CP) runs trains between Lisbon (Santa Apolónia and Oriente stations) and Porto (São Bento and Campanhã stations) every hour. Schedules, itineraries and reservations can be found at the CP website.
CP offers several types of discounts for train tickets, including significant reductions for trips purchased in advance. Please visit the CP website for more details.
By coach
Hourly coaches between Lisbon and Porto are operated by Rede Expressos. Schedules and ticket information can be found on the Rede Expressos website.
Travelling from Galicia (Spain)
By train
Renfe connects Porto and Vigo with two daily departures from both cities. Schedules and ticket information can be found on Renfe’s website.
By coach
There are companies that connect Porto to Vigo and other cities in Galicia (A Coruña, Pontevedra, Santiago de Compostela) by coach. Schedules and ticket information can be found on the companies’ websites:
Due to the pandemic, the circulation of the international trains Sud Expresso and Lusitânia Comboio Hotel is suspended until further notice.
By coach
Companies like flixbus.com and rede-expressos.pt have regular services running from Porto to many major European cities.
Passports and Visas
Portugal is part of the Schengen Area and, therefore, is bound to the EU regulations of free movement.
To enter Portugal you may need a passport and/or visa, depending on the country you live in. Citizens of the European Union do not need a visa to enter Portugal.
Passports must be valid for up to six months (depending on your nationality) and are required for all visitors to Portugal, except for European Union nationals and nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Norway and Switzerland holding valid national ID cards. British, Australian, Canadian, American and Japanese citizens must hold a valid passport.
Although it is not obligatory to have a return ticket, it is advisable you do so because, without one, you may have to prove you have sufficient financial means to complete your return journey.
Visas are required for all stays of up to 90 days, except for Schengen Area nationals and for other selected countries. To check if you need a visa for your stay and more information on Portugal’s visa requirements, please visit the Government of Portugal – Foreign Affairs website.
We’re pleased to introduce our second batch of our Small Business Sponsors who are supporting us for WordCamp Europe 2022!
We simply couldn’t run WordCamp Europe without the generous support of our sponsors. They make everything you get to enjoy as attendees possible, and we are so grateful!
For our 2022 event, we’re pleased to announce our Small Business Sponsors. All of these sponsors will be joining us in Porto, Portugal in June. Head over to their sponsor page to find out more about them and where you’ll find them in the Super Bock Arena during the event.
We’ll be introducing you to even more Small Business Sponsors in our next update!
On behalf of the 2022 WordCamp Europe organising team, thank you very much to all of our sponsors for their support. We couldn’t run an event like this without them, so do visit them during our event, thank them for their ongoing support, and find out what they’re doing in the world of WordPress!
Would you like to attend WordCamp Europe this year, but you don’t have a way of arranging a sitter for your child(ren)? Don’t let that stop you from attending WCEU.
We want parents and guardians to have access to WCEU as well, and therefore offer free childcare during Contributor day and the main conference in Porto from 2-4 June.
We accept children up to the age of 16. Read all information on our dedicated Childcare page and register your child(ren).
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