Hilton has unveiled its new hotel in Porto, Hilton Porto Gaia, located in Vila Nova de Gaia. The 194-room former port warehouse is the latest addition to the internationally renowned Hilton Hotels & Resorts portfolio and opens following a franchise agreement with Sabersal — Promocao Turistica e Imobiliaria.
A €40m development project preserved the property’s classic shape and structure, whilst substantial refurbishments took place influenced by the building’s unique character. Drawing on Porto-Gaia’s rich heritage, the hotel’s interior has been styled by the award-winning Portuguese designer Nini de Andrade Silva to offer contemporary comfort and sophisticated design throughout the eight floors and 32,000m². The hotel’s rooms have also been designed with the building’s history in mind, and many offer excellent views of the Douro River and the historic centre of Porto-Gaia.
With a range of drinking and dining options, guests can enjoy the hotel’s two bars and restaurant, the latter of which is headed by celebrated chef Hugo Portela. Portela takes his inspiration from authentic local cuisine, interpreted with a modern and contemporary twist using locally sourced ingredients. The building's two bars are an extension of this concept, with areas dedicated to artisan coffee prepared by specialist baristas and to the art of mixology, with signature cocktails that can be enjoyed with a panoramic view over the banks of the Douro River.
The hotel’s wellness centre, spread over 1,100m², emphasises ‘slow beauty’, a holistic approach to the body, mind, and spirit. Guests can relax in dedicated rest areas and take advantage of the heated indoor pool, which references the building’s port wine history with its garnet-toned design. The space also hosts a dynamic fitness centre, with a fully equipped gym open to the public, and a stylish studio ideal for the practice of yoga, pilates and clinical pilates.
Hilton Porto Gaia offers more than 2,200m² of the dedicated conference, event and meeting rooms. The extensive meeting space features a magnificent ballroom that can host up to 600 people and an impressive auditorium, which comfortably accommodates 350 attendees and is equipped with the latest technology, including a lift stage.
“It is with great enthusiasm that we open the first Hilton Hotels & Resorts property in northern Portugal,” said Monica Gonçalves, general manager of Hilton Porto Gaia. “This hotel is a highly anticipated new offering for the Portuguese market, and we are excited to welcome guests to this beautiful property which is steeped in history as a former port warehouse. Whether visiting Porto for leisure or for business, Hilton Porto Gaia will provide the perfect base for travellers, and the strength of the Hilton brand will be an enormous asset as we welcome guests from all over the world to the Porto-Gaia hub.”
“In partnership with Sabersal — Promocao Turistica e Imobiliaria, we are thrilled to open Hilton Porto Gaia, our second Portuguese property under our flagship Hilton Hotels and Resorts brand,” commented David Kelly, senior vice president, Continental Europe, Hilton. “Though modern in style, the former port warehouse still retains the original shape in keeping with the area’s architecture, connecting guests to the history and culture of Vila Nova de Gaia through its unique design elements and locally inspired drinking and dining options. This opening solidifies our commitment to Portugal, Hilton Porto Gaia being the first in a series of new openings that will see Hilton’s portfolio more than double in the coming years.”
