New chapter for PortoBay in the Algarve

NEW CHAPTER FOR PORTOBAY IN THE ALGARVE
Interview reveals more details about the new PortoBay Blue Ocean hotel

PortoBay, a brand renowned for its excellence and expertise in hospitality, is about to inaugurate a new chapter in its history. With the opening of the 4-star PortoBay Blue Ocean hotel in the summer of 2025, the brand consolidates its presence in the Algarve and presents an innovative resort concept that promises to elevate hospitality standards in the region. Discover the details of this ambitious project and what to expect from this dream destination in this interview with António Trindade, President and CEO of PortoBay Hotels & Resorts.

 

What motivated PortoBay Hotels & Resorts to invest in a second hotel in the Algarve, so close to PortoBay Falésia?
We have been expressing our interest in expanding in the Algarve for some time now. The results and feedback we’ve received at PortoBay Falésia justify this need—not only due to the excellent results we’ve achieved but also because of our ability to attract and retain the loyalty that is so recognized in our Group.
We have had an operating agreement with the owners of PortoBay Falésia since 2007, and we had already expressed interest in acquiring the hotel. There was a coincidence in the timing of the expiration of contracts for both PortoBay Falésia and the former TUI Blue Falésia (which will reopen in the summer of 2025 as PortoBay Blue Ocean). This created the opportunity for us to become partners in the ownership of both hotels.

 

With the two hotels side by side, are you preparing to create an innovative concept in the Algarve?
The proximity of the new PortoBay Blue Ocean hotel to PortoBay Falésia allows for synergies, as we have already been implementing in other destinations. Additionally, the location is excellent. This venture allows PortoBay not only to add a hotel but also to create a resort concept in the Algarve, utilizing the facilities offered by these two neighboring hotels.
Given our experience with resort environments in Madeira, we saw this as an excellent opportunity, being mindful of the differentiation needed to create added value. Guests staying at either hotel will have access to the amenities offered by a 660-room resort, especially in terms of gastronomic experiences. The connection between the units will be made outdoors, through extensive gardens totaling 35,000 square meters, making for a pleasant walk—similar to other resorts we have visited and tested.

Will guests notice differences between PortoBay Falésia and PortoBay Blue Ocean?
They will be complementary units. We are creating conditions for PortoBay Falésia to assume a more active and sporty component, while PortoBay Blue Ocean will have a more lifestyle-oriented ambiance, partly due to the spaciousness of its social areas and the size of its rooms.

 

And what is the timeline?
We have been working on the project for months, and at this stage, the requalification of PortoBay Blue Ocean is already underway, aiming to open in the summer of 2025. Our focus of intervention is on the hotel’s social areas, with a new interpretation of the gastronomic spaces and wellness areas, including the renovation of the indoor pool and its surroundings, as well as the creation of a new, more private bathing area. The rooms will also be redecorated, aligning them with the recognized standards of PortoBay Hotels & Resorts.
During PortoBay Falésia’s winter closure this year, we will advance with the first phase of its requalification, including a new indoor pool, solarium, gym, and Pilates room in the hotel’s northern section. In the winter of 2025/2026, the hotel will be closed for the second phase, focusing on certain social areas and a comprehensive renovation of the hotel rooms.
In summary, by the summer of 2026, we will be ready to fully present the Vila PortoBay Algarve resort, combining facilities from PortoBay Falésia and PortoBay Blue Ocean. However, the gastronomic concept of the Dine Around experience between the two hotels will already be available next summer.

 

Speaking of gastronomic experiences, can you tell us more about what guests can expect?
PortoBay has a strong gastronomic appeal, and this concept will be aligned and reinforced in the Algarve. There will be two main restaurants with show cooking and buffet areas, and one of them will feature a marketplace concept, offering a wide variety of products to be enjoyed in a relaxed manner.
Additionally, we will have two specialty restaurants: a brasserie-style restaurant combining classic dishes with regional cuisine inspired by the proximity to the sea at PortoBay Blue Ocean. At PortoBay Falésia, we will maintain our Italian concept, Il Basilico, which has been highly appreciated and recognized by guests.
All gastronomic spaces will feature generous terraces in addition to indoor seating. The offering is complemented by bars and snack bars with lighter, more casual options and live music every night.
We want our guests to have a broad Dine Around experience between the two hotels, offering gastronomic diversity and freedom of movement within the Vila PortoBay Algarve resort.

…similar to what you already offer in some units in Madeira, correct?
Exactly! Our guests love this varied offering, and essentially, we will replicate what we already do at The Cliff Bay and Vila Porto Mare in Madeira.

 

Does this new investment reflect PortoBay’s investment strategy in the Portuguese market, specifically in the Algarve?
Even before the PortoBay brand emerged, we began with 146 rooms in 1988 when the Suite Hotel Eden Mar opened in Madeira. We grew gradually, and by 2000, we had 346 additional rooms with The Cliff Bay and PortoBay Santa Maria. Three years later, the Vila Porto Mare resort added 297 rooms to Eden Mar.
In 2004, we felt it was time to expand beyond Madeira and grow the PortoBay brand. In 2007, we ventured not only into the Algarve but also into Brazil, with properties in Rio de Janeiro, Búzios, and São Paulo. Later, we complemented our urban experience nationally in Lisbon and Porto. We have grown organically over the years and are now present in Portugal’s major tourist destinations, offering both resort and urban experiences.
Throughout these years, we have accustomed our guests and the market to high-quality standards, and our path and growth have reflected this reality.

 

What excites you about this project?
All new projects bring me great excitement. With this one, in particular, it’s thrilling to see what PortoBay can bring to this new product and concept, which has the potential to attract new market segments typical of large-scale resorts with 600 or more rooms.
This is a new endeavor, and we aim to execute it with two 4-star hotels to ensure unrestricted internal movement between them. We are confident that the experience we offer, combined with the location and accessibility, will be key to its success.
The Algarve in general, and Albufeira in particular, is an attractive destination due to its excellent air, rail, and road accessibility. We believe we will reach new age groups and nationalities from this strategic position.

How do you expect this new hotel to be embraced by your tourism trade and the community already loyal to PortoBay?
We have a proud tradition of guest loyalty, especially in resort environments, and many of our repeat guests are always curious to try PortoBay’s new offerings. Their insights are invaluable in shaping new hotels, and we listen to them closely.
To date, this will be PortoBay’s largest hotel. It’s a new type of product, and we are also learning. We’ve taken care to observe how larger-scale hotels operate. This preparation is based on what we’ve seen and learned from other players with different histories and scales. We are aware that growth must be accompanied by a clear understanding of how to position ourselves in the market and distribution networks.
We have consistently grown sustainably, both through our partnerships with tour operators and online travel agencies and through our ability to foster guest loyalty.
We know that there is curiosity among guests who were already accustomed to visiting this hotel in its previous iteration as TUI Blue Falésia. The positive experiences associated with this hotel and the brands that previously managed it will be an important contribution to the success of this new hotel. To that end, we are inviting these guests to join our loyalty program, demonstrating that we can offer as much or more than the experiences they’ve come to expect.

 

What is the inspiration behind the interior design of PortoBay Blue Ocean? What do you aim to convey to guests through the architecture and decor?
The design team is already well aligned with the PortoBay brand, having been responsible for the interior design of other highly acclaimed projects, such as PortoBay Flores and PortoBay Teatro in Porto, the Horta restaurant in Funchal, and the recent renovation of the entrance and dining areas at PortoBay Liberdade.
Our interior design concept is closely associated with Mediterranean environments, using light colors to convey comfort and timelessness.

We know sustainability is a core value for PortoBay. How has this been incorporated into the PortoBay Blue Ocean project?
Environmentally, we have already implemented several initiatives. The air conditioning system has been replaced with high-performance, more efficient units that recover heat, resulting in a 75% reduction in gas consumption for the hotel’s boilers. Replacing the fan coil units in the rooms and optimizing their controls will save about 15–20% in energy consumption.
We replaced the industrial cooling system with one that uses water cooling, repurposing heat for hot water and pool heating while reducing noise levels to acceptable standards.
Finally, around 3,500 square meters of the existing garden and new solarium will adopt a dry garden philosophy, featuring low-water-consumption plants and drip irrigation.
On the social responsibility front, we have promoted a circular economy by donating furniture from the hotel, prioritizing employees and local social welfare institutions. We are also introducing our HOPE by PortoBay program at this hotel, which annually raises donations from the hotel and its guests for local social welfare institutions.