Interview to 'Vida Imobiliária': Mercan Targets 30 Hotels in Portugal by 2030

Source: Vida Imobiliária

The Canadian group wants to surpass 30 hotels in Portugal by 2030, with new openings already planned in Lisbon, Porto, Algarve, and Madeira. In an interview with VI, Miguel Gomes, General Manager C&D, emphasizes that “this geographic dispersion and the expansion of our portfolio reinforces our territorial diversity and our commitment to our investors and clients.”

Mercan Properties wants to strengthen its presence in Portugal, consolidate its portfolio of hotel units, and continue investing in sustainable and transformative projects. “Since its arrival in Portugal, Mercan Properties has built a solid track record in the hospitality sector, positioning itself as one of the main developers of tourism projects in the country,” says Miguel Gomes, General Manager C&D of Mercan Properties.

In an exclusive interview with Vida Imobiliária, the executive highlights that the company has already opened 13 units and intends to surpass 30 by 2030. “Our path has been marked by a focus on distinctive assets, by enhancing the regions where we invest, and by strategic partnerships with the best international brands,” he states. “Our portfolio is a demonstration of our commitment to hospitality, which is why we have partnerships with excellent brands and groups such as Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Wyndham, Accor, and Hard Rock.”

“Our positioning’s evolution involves further consolidating our national presence, expanding our hotel portfolio, and strongly committing to creating value for local communities while maintaining our commitment to our investors.”

The choice of locations, Gomes points out, is always strategic and well-founded. “We base it on a careful analysis of the urban and tourism potential, cultural offerings, and the possibility of contributing positively to regional development,” he explains. “From Amarante, Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, and Matosinhos, to Lisbon, Évora, Beja, Algarve, and Madeira, every national territory where we invest offers a unique proposition to which we seek to add value with our hotel units. Our project development team is always on the lookout for new locations with potential to develop sustainable and authentic tourism, whether for leisure or business.”

Alliances with international brands have a strategic weight for Mercan. “These alliances ensure high standards of quality and excellence, visibility, and attract different traveler profiles. At the same time, they guarantee that we offer the best quality and the best product,” says Miguel Gomes, highlighting as an example the A-Mar-Ello Hotel Praia Santo André, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, on the Alentejo coast.

Travelers Seek an “Authentic Experience, Aligned with Sustainable Responsibility”

When asked about new tourism trends, the executive responds that “travelers are increasingly demanding” and that “many seek an authentic experience, aligned with sustainable responsibility.” In this regard, “we want our hotels to offer excellent comfort and enable a truly local experience,” he says. “Integration with the cultural and natural context, contemporary design, and the offer of personalized services, including gastronomy, are part of our response to the evolution of tourist profiles.”

“Portugal Continues to Gather All the Conditions to Be a Top Destination for Tourism Investment”

For Miguel Gomes, Portugal is now a top destination for investors. “Portugal continues to gather all the conditions to be a top destination for tourism investment in particular and real estate investment in general: stability, security, and climate translate into an excellent quality of life, increasingly valued internationally,” he says. “Despite some regulatory challenges, we believe the country will maintain a positive and upward trajectory. The hospitality sector, in particular, will continue to be an engine of economic growth, and we want to contribute to that.”

Sustainability, he guarantees, is an essential pillar for the company. “We incorporate energy efficiency solutions, sustainable construction, and landscape integration in all developments.” One of the most relevant examples is the Renaissance Porto Lapa Hotel, inaugurated in 2023. “It played a key role in revitalizing the Lapa area in Porto,” he points out. “It is a clear example of Mercan Properties’ commitment to enhancing these historic areas with a project that achieved LEED Platinum certification.” The goal, reinforces Miguel Gomes, is to have “the widest set of assets with environmental certification by entities such as LEED or BREEAM,” and the company is actively working toward that.

Openings Planned for This Year

For 2025, several openings are planned. “We continue to work actively on the final stages of construction, team recruitment, and pre-opening strategies,” says Miguel Gomes. “Among the highlighted projects are units in Porto, Lisbon, Madeira, and the Algarve, where we will open the first hotel in Portugal under the Hard Rock brand, in Portimão.”

Diversification is, in fact, an essential trait of the strategy. “This geographic dispersion and the expansion of our portfolio reinforces our territorial diversity and commitment to our investors and clients, strengthening Mercan Properties’ positioning in Portugal,” he states. The hotel strategy is now joined by residential ambitions. “In the medium term, we also plan to launch some purely residential projects.”

Finally, Miguel Gomes underlines the legacy that Mercan Properties intends to leave in the territories where it operates: “Leaving a mark means contributing in a positive and lasting way to any territory where we operate or will operate.” He concludes: “We take on the responsibility of being a strategic partner in the growth of national tourism and in positioning Portugal as a global reference in this sector.”