Algarve prepares for luxury tourism.jpg

Algarve prepares for luxury tourism

By: Natasha Smith

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PORTUGAL’S FIRST ever Hilton hotel, As Cascadas Resort and Spa, is due to open in Vilamoura this July. Ian Waremouth, from International Operations at the Hilton Hotels Corporation in the UK, confirmed the date.

The resort is spread across an area of 40,000sqm and located between the Old Course and Pinhal. There will be a five star hotel with 154 rooms and 69 timeshare apartments on the premises. There will also be 69 luxury apartments, which, according to Hilton International, have already been sold.

The resort will boast a luxury spa covering 2,000sqm, which has been advertised by Hilton International as one of the largest spas in the Iberian Peninsula. It is due to be managed by 7 SPA, which is a specialist company in luxury spa management.

Tourists and residents will be able to enjoy themed restaurants, six heated swimming pools, golf and tennis services, and 24-hour room service. The hotel is also due to construct a 3,000sqm kids club, equipped with a pool and other children’s facilities.

Other projects

As well as As Cascadas Resort and Spa, Hilton International has announced another two projects that are in the pipeline.

The Monte Santo Resort, in Carvoeiro, will have 67 Hilton Grand Vacations Club apartments and 54 tourist apartments. With a total investment of 55 million euros, the resort is due to open in May 2008.

Conrad Palácio de Valverde Resort and Spa is due to be constructed in Quinta do Lago, where there will be a six star hotel with a total of 160 rooms and 115 apartments over an area of 33,000sqm. The project has been valued at 90 million euros and will boast a cinema, swimming pools and three restaurants. Construction will begin this year and is likely to be completed in 2009.

The total investment in the Algarve by the Hilton group is around 220 million euros and will create 2,000 bed spaces in the Algarve.

Continued growth

Hilton Hotels Corporation is the leading global hospitality company, with almost 2,800 hotels and 485,000 rooms in more than 80 countries. The group employs more than 150,000 people all over the world under such hotel brands as Hilton, Scandic, Hampton, Conrad, Embassy Suites and the most recent brand, Waldorf=Astoria Collection.

For the last two years, the hotels and resorts, which are owned or under the management of the group, have recorded annual revenues of more than two billion US dollars collectively. Projections for the coming years suggest that this trend will continue.

It is hoped that the Hilton group will facilitate improvements in the luxury tourist industry and attract more tourists to the Algarve.

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