PBH Hotel Group Announces €12 Million 'Wine & Books' Resort in Algarve
The PBH hotel group has officially announced its latest project, the Wine & Books by the Sea, Algarve Resort, following a €12 million investment to rebrand and upgrade an existing property in the region. The new five-star unit, located in the Salgados nature reserve, is scheduled to open its doors in February 2026.
The project involves the transformation of the VidaMar Hotels & Resorts property, which originally opened in 2013. The new resort will operate under the group's Wine & Books brand, which aims to offer an experience centered on Portuguese literature, gastronomy, and wine. This will be the third hotel under the brand, joining locations in Lisbon (opened 2021) and Porto (opened 2024).
The resort's specifications include 250 rooms of various types, including suites and connecting rooms with sea views. The property will feature extensive amenities, such as four outdoor and two indoor swimming pools, a gymnasium, a spa, a kids club, and dedicated spaces for events. A significant focus will be placed on gastronomy, with five different restaurant concepts planned, offering a range of cuisines from Mediterranean to traditional Portuguese.
Carlos Saraiva, the chairman of the Board of Directors for the PBH group, stated that the project aims to elevate the destination. "This new venture in the Algarve is an affirmation of this strategy and seeks to leverage the destination to a patamar of quality, excellence, exclusivity, and personalization," he said. He described the brand's mission as being "messengers of Portuguese culture through a rich, disruptive, and complementary tourist and accommodation experience."
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The architectural and interior design work is being managed by Joana Saraiva, an Administrator of the PBH Group. The design concept is inspired by the natural landscape of the Salgados reserve, utilizing a color palette of soft, sand-like tones and dry greens to reflect the surrounding dunes, lagoon, and golf course. "The iconic bookshelves, a symbol of the Wine & Books Hotels brand, gain destaque, accompanied by madeiras that aquecem the environments and by mobiliário produced in a traditional way, reinforcing the authenticity and artisanal character of the project," explained Joana Saraiva.
The €12 million investment covers the complete adaptation of the property to the new brand standards. The project is moving forward with a clear timeline, aiming for a grand opening in early 2026. This development represents a significant capital injection into the Algarve's luxury tourism sector and reflects the developer's strategy of creating culturally immersive hospitality experiences.
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