IN AN exclusive interview, Oceânico’s General Manager Martin Date spoke to The Resident’s Eloise Walton about the completion of the luxury Amendoeira golf and resort development as well as the company’s progress and expansion across the Algarve, on the Silver Coast and beyond.
“The two golf courses at the new Amendoeira development in Alcantarilha, designed by professional golfers Nick Faldo and Christy O´Connor Junior, are due to be inaugurated on October 13,” said Martin Date. “We are planning a variety of events and Nick and Christy will be signing off their course designs at the end of August ready for the inauguration.”
Oceânico’s interface with the local community is very strong, he says: “Our five golf courses in Vilamoura have gone from strength to strength, and with the opening of the Amendoeira resort, we will be able to offer residents, holidaymakers and our property owners access to seven championship courses.”
Renowned Irish gardener and landscape designer Diarmuid Gavin is also involved with several of Oceânico’s projects, including the recreation of his award winning Chelsea Flower Show garden in Vilamoura.
“We have a very good relationship with Diarmuid and so it was decided that his garden from this year’s Chelsea Flower Show would be brought over to our latest development in Vilamoura, the Infinity resort,” said Martin Date. “This will be finished in around three weeks.”
Luxury
Oceânico, which caters mainly for Irish and British clients, is keen to maintain its high end luxury status and so welcomes Portugal’s new planning laws which came into effect earlier this year.
“The new laws favour the concept of keeping quality in the market, which Oceânico greatly supports,” said Martin Date. “People are much more discerning nowadays; they don’t just want a pool and a golf course, they want more facilities such as spas, fitness centres, restaurants and bars, shops and much more.”
Oceânico is, he said, committed to providing top quality products aimed at the top end of the market and to complement the luxury services, two brand loyalty products have also been launched this year, one of which is Oceânico Rewards, a swipe card which is credited with points that can be spent on goods and services at any Oceânico resort in Portugal.
Despite the current difficult economic situation, Oceânico is still flourishing, according to Martin Date, with an encouraging number of sales still coming through.
“In the next 12 months, we will have completed the sale of around 450 properties, due to the drive and determination of all our staff,” he said.
After eight years in Portugal, Oceânico has bought its first golf resort in America, the Little River Golf and Resort, located in the Sandhills of North Carolina.
“With the current economy, now is a good time for us to invest in America, but we are also looking at other places to expand the brand,” said Martin Date.
For more information about Oceânico Group, please visit www.oceanicodevelopments.com
GERRY FAGAN and Simon Burgess took control of the company in 2000 and began an ambitious programme of development in the western Algarve. Companies in the Oceânico Group include Oceânico Developments, Oceânico Golf and Oceânico Resorts & Leisure. Following the acquisition of five golf courses in 2007, and the recent expansion into the USA with the purchase of Little River Golf & Resort in North Carolina, the Oceânico Group now manages a portfolio of golf and property valued at around two billion euros.
Oceânico Resorts
Jardim da Meia Praia – near Lagos town centre; completed in March 2004. It comprises 44 three-bedroom apartments and 22 two and three-bedroom townhouses, a swimming pool, tennis court, children’s playground, restaurant and poolside bar.
Estrela da Luz – located in Praia da Luz; completed in March 2005, this resort includes 146 apartments, two outdoor swimming pools and one indoor pool, restaurants, bars, a gym, health & beauty centre, tennis court, a multi-purpose sports pitch and a children’s playground.
Vila Baia – also in Praia da Luz, this four star luxury development consists of one, two and three bedroom apartments and three bedroom linked villas. The development features two outdoor swimming pools, a children’s playground, a multi-purpose sports pitch, a tennis court and a restaurant.
Belmar Spa & Beach Resort – in development now, Belmar overlooks Porto de Mós beach between Lagos and Praia da Luz. A five star health and beauty spa with 189 units, Belmar will include a gym, aerobic studio, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a multi-purpose sports pitch and a tennis court.
Quinta do Monte Funchal – located on the Funchal Ridge, this six hectare development includes 16 luxury villas with landscaped gardens and private pools.
Amendoeira Golf Resort – a luxury 500 million euro golf and leisure resort in Silves. The 640-acre development is designed to be one of the finest golf resorts in Europe, with two championship courses – one designed by Nick Faldo and one designed by Christy O’Connor Jnr.
Vilamoura Golf & Garden Resort – situated on a 170 acre site, this new development will offer a mix of two and three-bedroom apartments and three bedroom semi-detached villas with communal pools and four and five-bedroom villas with private pools.
Royal Óbidos Spa & Golf Resort – located on the Silver Coast 45 miles north of Lisbon. Golf legend Severiano Ballesteros is designing the Golf Course.
