Pousadas de Portugal

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Pousadas de Portugal is a Portuguese hotel chain of luxury historical hotels. These pousadas were created in the 40's decade. It has 44 Pousadas installed in historic buildings. This group is part-owned by the Portuguese state and managed by a private group, Pestana Pousadas Group.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Origins 1.2 Privatization 1.3 The future 1.4 In the World 2 Pousadas Hotel Chain Segmentation 2.1 Pousadas Historical 2.2 Historical Design Pousadas 2.3 Nature Pousadas 2.4 Charming Pousadas 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Origins

Created by the Law 31.259 of the 1st of May, 1941, by António Ferro's initiative. The first hotel was inaugurated in 1942, in Elvas, Alentejo, region that has several historical pousadas. Other "Regional Pousadas" were inaugurated, always with a small number of rooms and a special attention to the local gastronomy.

In the 50's, a new designation was added, "Historical Pousadas", these hotels were installed in historical monuments and buildings, castles, convents e monastaries. The first Pousada created under this new designation was Pousada do Castelo in Óbidos.

In 1995 the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and the Smithsonian Foundation, awarded the Pousadas de Portugal the annual prize for the institutions around the world with an active part in the protection of cultural and environmental heritage for touristic purposes^[1].

[edit] Privatization

In 2003, due to the accumulation of negative results for more than a decade^[2], the Portuguese Government led by Durão Barroso decided to privatize the 49% of ENATUR's capital, as well as concede the management of the Pousadas to the winning group.

The winner was the PPG - Pestana Pousadas Group, formed by Pestana Group (59.8%), CGD Group (25%), Oriente Foundation (15%) and more two companies with 0.2% (Abreu & Portimar). On September 1 2003, the PPG became responsible for the management of the Pousadas hotel chain for a period of 20 years^[3].

[edit] The future

In Portugal, the PPG intends to continue the expansion of this hotel chain . In 2007 it will open the Pousada de Ínfias in Braga. in 2009 it estimates the opening of Pousada do Freixo, Porto and the Pousada de Viseu.

[edit] In the World

Under an internationalization optic, the PPG wants to open Pousadas in all the countries were the portuguese have been: Asia (Goa, Macau), Africa (Cape Verde, Mozambique) and new places in Brazil^[4].

[edit] Pousadas Hotel Chain Segmentation

[edit] Pousadas Historical

(In historical buildings)

1. Alvito - Pousada do Castelo de Alvito
2. Beja - Pousada de São Francisco
3. Belmonte - Pousada do Convento de Belmonte
4. Estremoz - Pousada da Rainha Santa Isabel
5. Évora - Pousada dos Lóios
6. Guimarães - Pousada de Santa Marinha
7. Mesão Frio - Pousada do Solar da Rede
8. Óbidos - Pousada do Castelo
9. Palmela - Pousada do Castelo de Palmela
10. Queluz / Lisboa - Pousada D. Maria I
11. São Salvador da Bahia/Brasil - Pousada do Convento do Carmo (First Pousada outside Portugal)
12. Setúbal - Pousada de São Filipe
13. Tavira - Pousada do Convento da Graça
14. Vila Nova de Cerveira - Pousada de D. Dinis
15. Vila Pouca da Beira - Pousada do Convento do Desagravo
16. Vila Viçosa - Pousada de D. João IV

[edit] Historical Design Pousadas

(In historical buildings with modern architectonical elements)

1. Alcácer do Sal - Pousada de D. Afonso II
2. Amares/Gerês - Pousada de Santa Maria do Bouro
3. Angra do Heroísmo/Açores - Pousada do Forte de São Sebastião
4. Arraiolos - Pousada de Nossa Senhora da Assunção
5. Crato - Pousada Flor da Rosa

[edit] Nature Pousadas

(In calm and relaxing places, with characteristics for eco-tourism)

1. Caniçada/Gerês - Pousada de São Bento
2. Manteigas - Pousada de São Lourenço
3. Marão - Pousada de São Gonçalo
4. Proença a Nova - Pousada de Amoras
5. Ria de Aveiro - Pousada da Ria
6. Sagres - Pousada do Infante
7. Santa Clara-a-Velha - Pousada de Santa Clara
8. Santiago do Cacém - Pousada da Quinta da Ortiga
9. Sousel - Pousada de São Miguel
10. Torrão - Pousada de Vale do Gaio

[edit] Charming Pousadas

(In typical buildings or places)

1. Alijó - Pousada do Barão de Forrester
2. Almeida - Pousada de Nossa Senhora das Neves
3. Bragança - Pousada de São Bartolomeu
4. Condeixa-a-Nova - Pousada de Santa Cristina
5. Elvas - Pousada de Santa Luzia (first Pousada of the network)
6. Guimarães - Pousada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira
7. Horta/Açores - Pousada do Forte de Santa Cruz
8. Marvão - Pousada de Santa Maria
9. Ourém/Fátima - Pousada do Conde de Ourém
10. São Brás de Alportel - Pousada de São Brás
11. Valença do Minho - Pousada de São Teotonio
12. Viana do Castelo - Pousada do Monte de Santa Luzia

[edit] References

1. ^ Pousadas History
2. ^ Enatur Financial Situation
3. ^ Governo da República Portuguesa nota sobre a privatização da Enatur
4. ^ Interview with the Pestana Pousadas Group President

[edit] Bibliography

• Pousadas Directory, Ed.Enatur, Lisboa, 2003

[edit] See also

Tourism

[edit] External links

• Institution Page
• Location and characteristics