Growth
Between 1990 and 1995, and after the acknowledged success of their first investment, the group began its expansion process in the Algarve with the opening of four new units in Albufeira and Armação de Pêra. Shortly after, in the mid-90s, it reached other regions in Portugal, by investing in hotels in Cascais, Estoril and Porto.
It was in the turn of the millennium that Vila Galé entered Brazil, with the opening of a unit in Fortaleza. Simultaneously, in Portugal the group entered a new hotel segment with the opening of Vila Galé Alentejo Vineyards & Olive in Beja.
That project marks the group entering the wine and olive oil production, with the incorporation of the company and the launch of the brand Santa Vitória, in 2002. Since then, Vila Galé produces and markets quality regional wines and olive oils from the Alentejo. At the estate Herdade da Figueirinha, in a rural environment, it began to combine agritourism, gastronomy and hospitality, with agriculture and outdoor activities.
2002 remained in history also because it was the year that the group opened the largest number of hotels: Vila Galé Ópera in Lisbon, Vila Galé Ericeira and Vila Galé Tavira.
Between 2003 and 2010, the group’s growth continued, with the opening of five units in Brazil and three additional units in Portugal.
Continuing to invest in its expansion, in 2013, Vila Galé Collection Palácio dos Arcos is inaugurated, the group’s first 5-star hotel in Portugal and the first of the new sub-brand "Vila Galé Collection".
Shortly, in 2014, Vila Galé Rio de Janeiro opened, with the group then holding seven units in Brazil. Months later, its new hotel in Évora inaugurated and the group reached the Douro, where it launched a boutique hotel. Already in 2017, the Vila Galé Porto Ribeira hotel is inaugurated in Porto.
In 2018, the year the group celebrated the 30th anniversary of the opening of its first hotel, the thirtieth unit, Vila Galé Collection Braga, opened as a result of the rehabilitation of the former São Marcos hospital building. This unit won the Urban Regeneration Award. But earlier that same year, on 25th April, Vila Galé Sintra opened, a five-star hotel with an offer designed for families. A unit was also opened in Brazil: Vila Galé Touros.
In 2020, Vila Galé reached 36 hotels with the opening in Portugal of Vila Galé Collection Alter Real (in Alter do Chão, Alentejo) and Vila Galé Serra da Estrela, its first mountain hotel. In Brazil, Vila Galé debuted in São Paulo with the opening of the Vila Galé Paulista hotel.
With the opening of Vila Galé Alagoas in 2022, the Vila Galé brand reaches another Brazilian state, with one more “all-inclusive” resort.
Next year is marked by the opening of four hotels in Portugal. In 2023, the Vila Galé brand reaches the Azores archipelago, with the opening of Vila Galé Collection São Miguel in the centre of Ponta Delgada. Two more Collection units start operating, namely Vila Galé Collection Tomar and Vila Galé Collection Monte do Vilar, a boutique agrotourism hotel located in Clube de Campo Vila Galé, where Vila Galé Alentejo Vineyards already existed. In this estate, the group also debuts an innovative hotel concept in Portugal: the Vila Galé Nep Kids, entirely designed for children, where adults can only enter if accompanied by children.
In October, the group strengthened its international presence with its arrival in Cuba, where it opened Vila Galé Cayo Paredón, an all-inclusive resort in Cayo Paredón Grande, right on the beach.
Also, as early as 2024, Vila Galé enters a new geography: Spain. In Isla Canela, Huelva, the brand will open its first project, Vila Galé Isla Canela, a resort very much geared towards families and couples, with a strong gastronomic focus and direct access to the beach of the same name.
The hotel chain is also growing in Portugal, with the opening of the Vila Galé Collection Figueira da Foz, another unit resulting from the restoration of a historic building, with a privileged location right on the city's waterfront and next to the sandy beach.
