Torel Group Inaugurates €2.2 Million Five-Star Hotel in Angra do Heroísmo
The hotel group Torel has officially opened its first establishment in the Azores, the Torel Terra Brava, following a €2.2 million investment on the island of Terceira. The project involved the complete renovation of the former Hotel Zenith, located in the historic center of Angra do Heroísmo, transforming it into the city's first five-star boutique hotel. The group's stated goal is to introduce a new segment of "added value" tourism to the archipelago.
The development, led by Torel CEO João Pedro Tavares, was inspired by the city's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The historic building, a manor house dating back to the Age of Discoveries, was redesigned by Porto-based Nano Design and architect José Parreira. The renovation resulted in a reduction of the number of rooms to 44, to create larger and more luxurious spaces, including 11 suites. The hotel is now the second on the island to hold a five-star rating, with room prices starting at €140 per night.
The architectural and design concept for the hotel is based on the four elements of nature—fire, water, air, and earth—which thematically organize the different floors and rooms. The hotel features amenities from the Azorean cosmetics company Bam & Boo and will include the 'Cala' spa with two treatment rooms, an indoor pool, sauna, and Turkish bath. The financing for the project is expected to be supported by European funds, which are more readily available in the Azores due to its classification as an outermost region of the EU.
At the inauguration ceremony on Monday, João Pedro Tavares expressed his confidence in the project's future. "We have every indication that we will be a reference in the coming years to contribute to valuing this unique destination," he stated. However, he also acknowledged significant operational challenges, primarily the difficulty in recruiting qualified staff on the island. This labor shortage has meant that the hotel's main restaurant, 'Três,' has not yet opened for dinner service, although breakfast and a bar service are available.
The project has more than doubled the hotel's workforce to 36 employees, with the group retaining all staff from the previous ownership and prioritizing the hiring of local residents before looking to recruit from outside the island. This commitment to local employment was part of the project's development strategy.
Berta Cabral, the Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility, and Infrastructure, attended the inauguration and praised the investment. "The entry of a hotel group in the Azores is always a huge congratulation," she said, emphasizing that while local entrepreneurship is vital, external groups are fundamental for promoting the Azores on a wider scale. Cabral noted that tourism in the archipelago has been experiencing double-digit annual growth but that the regional government's strategy is focused on increasing value over volume. "We have had more profit than the number of tourists. It is a sustained and sustainable growth," she remarked.
The Torel Terra Brava project represents a significant new development in the Azorean hospitality market. The investment by an established mainland hotel group underscores a growing confidence in the region's potential for high-end tourism. The project's specifications and market positioning are intended to attract a new demographic of traveler to Terceira, contributing to the regional government's goal of value-focused, sustainable tourism growth.
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