Pousadas de Portugal (European Portuguese: [poˈzaðɐʒ ðɨ puɾtuˈɣaɫ]) is a chain of luxury, traditional or historical hotels in Portugal. Formerly run by the state, they are now run by the Pestana group, which in September 2003 won a public bid for the sale of 37.6% of mother company Enatur and for a 40-year running concession. It is a member of the Historic Hotels of Europe.
The Pousadas were envised and created in the early 1940s by Government Minister António Ferro, also a poet and playwright, who had the idea of creating hotels that were both rustic and genuinely Portuguese. His first Pousada was built in Elvas, in the Alentejo, which would be the first of what Ferro called «small hotels that look nothing like hotels». This Pousada is still in use. There are now 44 Pousadas installed in historic buildings.
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Created by the Law 31.259 of the 1 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 and monasteries. 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].
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% (Viagens Abreu & Portimar). On 1 September 2003, the PPG became responsible for the management of the Pousadas hotel chain for a period of 20 years[3].
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.
In 2005, the first Pousada de Portugal outside of Portugal opened in Brazil, in a historic building and fort built by the Portuguese. Although this is by far the biggest hotel in the chain, in Brazil "pousada" means a cheaper hotel, more like a bed and breakfast, which may lead to confusion.
Under an internationalization optic, the PPG wants to open Pousadas in all the locations that the Portuguese once ruled: Asia (Goa, Macau and even East Timor?), Africa (Cape Verde, Mozambique and even Angola?) and new places in Brazil[4].
The Pousadas are divided in four main groups, according to their architectural specifity, its surroundings or even its concept:
(In historical buildings)
(In historical buildings with modern architectonical elements)
(In calm and relaxing places, with characteristics for eco-tourism)
(In typical buildings or places)