ÂNGELO PAUPÉRIO Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer Sonae Tourism

Only an hour from Lisbon and one of Portugal’s most anticipated tourism projects, the development of the Tróia Resort on the stunning Tróia Peninsula has now been launched and is set to be a masterpiece of tourism and environmental protection

Representing some €500 million ($660 million) in investment for leading national developer Sonae Tourism, Tróia Resort has been touted as a landmark in 21st century Portuguese urban planning. Although plans for the area date back some thirty years, the final product – Tróia Resort – was well worth the wait.

Ângelo Paupério, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of Sonae Tourism, says the beauty of the peninsula was the reason the company decided to go ahead with the project. “Our main inspiration has come from Tróia itself,” he remarks. “Just being there is a fantastic source of inspiration. It is a truly stunning place. The natural beauty of Tróia would inspire anyone.”

When fully completed in 2011, Tróia Resort will boast 10,500 beds and cover an area of more than 1,500 hectares, divided into four main zones: recreational, beach, golf and ecotourism. The resort’s recreational anchor on the northern tip of the peninsula will comprise real estate and tourism, including a marina, casino, five-star hotel and conference center. A beach zone to the northeast will feature villas and tourist apartments. The area surrounding the resort’s championship 18-hole golf course, one of the country’s most beautiful courses, will include high-end golf and spa hospitality. Finally, an eco-resort close to Tróia Roman archeological site will feature small cottages, bicycle paths and pedestrian routes.

Tróia’s stunning and unspoiled natural setting between the Sado Estuary nature reserve and the natural park of Arrábida Mountain has meant that special attention to environmental concerns has played an important part in the development’s planning. The sea surrounding the Tróia Peninsula is populated by dolphin colonies, while the natural park is home to various rare bird species.

Consequently Sonae, which has carried out comprehensive environmental impact studies and drawn up a project masterplan that encompasses an environmental management system for the entire surrounding area, is using only environmentally friendly technologies in the building and concentrating on low-density construction.

Mr. Paupério elaborates: “I believe that we have invested well in terms of preserving Tróia’s environment. Our investors and clients will see this for themselves when they come to the resort. The project is probably one of the most studied developments. We have been in constant collaboration with some of the most reputable environmental experts in the country to create the best environmental conditions throughout the development.” He adds that Sonae has been constantly monitored by national and international bodies throughout the last few years that can attest to the company’s compliance with the strictest environmental rules.

Sonae Tourism, which took over the project ten years ago, forms part of the Sonae Group and was established in 1994 to encompass the group’s investment portfolio in tourism. In addition to its flagship Tróia development, Sonae operates a five-star hotel in Porto’s business district, as well as an apartment-hotel complex, Aparthotel Aqualuz, in the Algarve. The company also has an events and catering business, Solinca Eventos and Catering, the Solinca chain of health and fitness clubs, which has recently expanded into Spain, and two family entertainment centers, one of which is the world’s largest shopping center leisure complex.

Sonae also owns two travel agency chains. Star Travel includes an online subsidiary, EXIT, and has more than 60 agencies throughout the country. TQ3 Travel Solutions, with its corporate slant, has offices in Lisbon and Porto. It offers a range of services to companies, including the organization of travel related to conferences, incentive trips and training, through a global network covering more than 50 countries.