Vila Galé Group Announces €130 Million Expansion Plan for Portugal and Brazil
The Portuguese hotel group Vila Galé has formally announced an ambitious expansion plan involving an estimated investment of €130 million over the next two years. The capital injection is designated for the construction and development of nine new tourist properties, with a strategic focus on reinforcing the company's presence in Portugal and Brazil. This move is in addition to several projects already in progress, according to statements from the group's administration.
Gonçalo Rebelo de Almeida, an administrator at Vila Galé, detailed the scope of the investment in written communication with ECO news. He confirmed that the funds will support the creation of new hotel units in both nations, which are considered key strategic markets for the brand. The group currently operates 52 hotels across Portugal, Brazil, Spain, and Cuba. With this new phase of growth, Vila Galé aims to significantly increase its capacity and market share, while also exploring potential entries into new markets such as Cape Verde and São Tomé.
The investment is heavily weighted towards Portugal, which will receive €96 million of the new funding in 2026 and 2027, supplementing €89 million already invested in 2025. A cornerstone of the Portuguese expansion is a stated strategy to develop projects in the country's interior, often through the restoration of historic buildings. A significant project highlighted is the €30 million allocation for the Palácio Almada Carvalhais in Lisbon. Other major Portuguese projects include a €20 million investment at Quinta da Cardiga, €16 million for a new unit in Miranda do Douro, €14 million for the Vila Galé Collection Penacova, and €16 million for the Paço Real de Caxias.
In Brazil, the group plans to invest an additional €34 million in 2026 and 2027. This includes €18 million for the Vila Galé Coruripe Alagoas and €16 million for the Vila Galé Collection Maranhão and Vila Galé Collection São Luís. These projects follow substantial 2025 investments in the country, including €38 million in the Collection Ouro Preto and €25 million in the Collection Amazônia.
Upon the completion of these new developments, Vila Galé projects its portfolio will grow to a total of 61 hotels and 12,764 rooms by the year 2027. This expansion is anticipated to elevate the company's global standing, with internal expectations of entering the list of the world's 100 largest hotel chains for the first time in 2025. The growth strategy combines the development of new hotels from the ground up with the sensitive recovery of historic properties, a model exemplified by the planned work on the Almada Carvalhais building in Lisbon and Quinta da Cardiga in Golegã.
Rebelo de Almeida commented on the health of the Portuguese tourism market, which generates over 55% of the group's total revenues. He expressed confidence that the sector will maintain its growth, although potentially at a more moderate rate compared to recent years. He attributed Portugal's continued success as an international destination to its reputation for safety, its rich cultural and gastronomic landscape, the hospitality of its people, and a strong quality-to-price ratio. This positive outlook on the market underpins the group's significant financial commitment to expanding its national hotel infrastructure.
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