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Title:
Sagres attracts Collection Hotels investors
Text reviewd on 08 Nov 2006 - The Baleeira Hotel closed last September to undergo a deep remodeling and enlargement plan carried out by its new owners- the Memmo Unforgettable Hotels Group. Belonging and managed since the sixties by the Rolim
family, the Baleeira was one of the first hotels built in the Algarve under Fundo de
Turismo - a program launched by the Portuguese government to fund hotel developers and builders of new units, at a time when Tourism was classified as a strategic sector of the economy. It opened when the first phase was concluded with about 60 rooms. Later some more 55 rooms were added, as well as a new popular restaurant favorite for groups - The Tasca, whish is still working - and other outstanding facilities for guests. It is due to reopen in June 2007, in time for the busy Summer season, with a new name - the Memmo Baleeira Hotel - and with a total of 145 renewed rooms, new conference centre and spa.
The investment - estimated at about 15 million euros - is being made by this new Portuguese hotel group - Memmo Unforgettable Hotels - under a three men partnership made up by the original shareholders and managers of Tivoli Hotel in Lisbon, Joaquim and Antonio Machaz, and the lawyer Joao Correa Nunes, who has considerable experience in real estate.
The Memmo Baleeira is the first unit of this group and of a new branding, under Collection Hotels. The partners are on the look out for similar opportunities along the splendid Lisbon-Sagres seaside axis - along the Litoral Alentejano route. In their investment portfolio are two excellent Lisbon restaurants: Vela Latina - on the waterfront of Belem Marina - and Estufa Real - in Tapada da Ajuda Park.
Rodrigo Machaz - a graduate from Hotel Management at Cornell University in the USA -
has been appointed general manager of the Memmo Baleeira. In his CV there is the
successful launching in 1996 of Al Foz Hotel in Alcochete, in the left bank of the Tagus River across Lisbon. His last positions were at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and Swisscom-Eurospot for Spanish NH Hotels group.
Sagres' hotel capacity will be enhanced with this upgraded unit located overlooking the beautiful Baleeira bay, beach, yacht fishing port. Visitors, tourists and faithful Sagres addicts find other options, at this top level, in the tradicional Pousada do Infante - the deluxe small inns State brand which now operates under a management contract awarded by the government to Pestana Hotel, Pousadas & Resorts group - the largest Portuguese hotel chain.
Other available options in Sagres are: Aparthotels Navigator, Don Tenorio, Pontalaia and Orquidea, Albergaria Navegantes, Residencial D. Henrique, Tourist Apartments Tonel, Mira Fortaleza and Quatro Ventos, plus plenty private housing with apartments and rooms to let by the night or the week. There is also a Camping Park run by Orbitur and, about 10 km North of Sagres, the remarkable Golf Resort Floresta Park.
In the next Sagreschool postings, I will be focusing on beaches, restaurants, food, sights,tours, cruises,sports and monuments.
POSTED ORIGINALLY BY HUMBERTO ON 04 NOV. 2006
AND REVIEWED ON 08 NOV, 2006 AT 19:55 (PM)