A place to inspire
– October 2, 2024 | Text Maria Simiris
Located in the heart of the Algarve, the never-ending green hills provide the backdrop for a new hotel in Tôr (Loulé) with a concept that is not only unique in the country but also difficult to find in the Iberian Peninsula.
Viceroy at Ombria Algarve opened on October 1st, comprising 76 rooms and 65 one- and two-bedroom residences that will provide a holiday experience that goes beyond a simple hotel stay.
The hotel is a natural haven where you can relax and renew your energy through a laidback lifestyle. With a wide range of F&B options, an 18-hole golf course, spa, Kids Club, swimming pools, gym, congress centre and a series of experiences, the hotel promises to show guests the rural charms of the inland Algarve.
“We follow three guidelines: sustainability, localism, and a top-level experience. The overall concept is to promote the lifestyle you’d find in a village. The buildings are separated from each other, there are several streets, a main square, and the restaurants are spread out.
The idea is for guests to explore, walk around and savour the atmosphere,” explains Duarte Gonçalves da Cunha, general manager of Viceroy at Ombria Algarve.
The resort’s first stone was laid in 2017 and marketing of the residential units, under a tourism operation contract, began in 2020.
For commercial director João Richard Costa, Ombria stands out in many ways: “Firstly, we offer guests and owners ample space. The room sizes are much larger compared to other five-star hotels. The largest is around 300 square metres. In recent years, no resort of this level and positioning has opened in the Algarve. We’re going to be a novelty in the hotel industry and the challenge is to offer an unforgettable experience. And we will succeed,” he states.
The first Viceroy hotel in Portugal (and the second in Europe) will focus heavily on its gastronomic offer, inspired by fresh produce combined with the talent of world-class chefs. One of the restaurants will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, catering to all tastes, but with a focus on healthy food and an open kitchen dedicated to Portuguese and Algarvian cuisine. The cocktail bar will be perfect for a late afternoon, a more elevated experience where surprising flavours and combinations await guests.
At the ‘village’ centre, guests will find a bakery, a pastry shop, an ice cream parlour, and a shop selling branded products – all in one place.
For sports fans and golfers staying at the resort, there is a restaurant serving lighter meals. In all these spaces, the premise is simple: “To bring the Algarve into Ombria,” says the general manager.
Surrounded by hectares of citrus groves, fig and carob trees, the local fauna and flora are at the centre of the resort’s experiences.
And there is a lot to do: horseback riding, honey tastings, hiking, cycling and even spending a morning with a shepherd.
Following the trend of the Viceroy brand, there are also plans for at least four major events per year. These will be “special events featuring gastronomy, grape harvesting activities, concerts, art exhibitions, among others”, says Duarte Gonçalves da Cunha.
The next step will be to build a collection of 83 villas and flats overlooking the golf course. Construction is set to start at the end of 2024 and is expected to be finished in 2027.
Although marketing hadn’t yet started at the time of print, there were already around 20 units reserved.
“Then we will have another area with 12 single-family homes, where we are preparing to build a model home,” explains João Richard Costa. “We believe [the whole project] will be finished in eight years’ time,” says the commercial director.
Until then, the focus is on Viceroy at Ombria Algarve and marketing a unique product through differentiation.
“We want to change the way people view five-star hotels in the Algarve. We want guests to compare us to destinations and locations such as southern Spain or France. That’s what we are aiming for. Our product is very different from what already exists in the region. I’m not saying it’s better or worse; there’s simply no basis for comparison. And even in the Iberian Peninsula, there are similar projects, but with this quality and scale, there are very few. Now the goal is to open our doors and create a village for all who want to visit us,” concludes Duarte Gonçalves da Cunha.
Meet the general manager
Aman Resorts in four different countries are just one chapter in the 20-year career of Duarte Gonçalves da Cunha, general manager of the Viceroy at Ombria Algarve hotel.
With a degree in Hotel Management and Strategic Marketing from the Les Roches Hotel Management School in Switzerland, his career has taken him to nine countries on four continents. With Aman Resorts he worked in Morocco, Indonesia, the Philippines and Montenegro. He also has experience in southern Spain, at Finca Cortesin, and more recently served as general manager at Discovery Hotel Management, leading the team at Octant Douro.
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