Tag: Portugal

Renaissance Porto Lapa Hotel, a 5-star hotel in Porto, operating under Marriott International is  standing as one of the flagship hospitality assets developed by Mercan Group in Portugal. 2025 marked a milestone year for the hotel, highlighted by a remarkable run of international recognition. At the Haute Grandeur Global Awards 2025, the hotel achieved a […]

Portugal is entering the New Year season with strong momentum, reaffirming its position as one of Europe’s most attractive winter holiday destinations. According to recent travel data, Portugal ranks 4th among European New Year destinations, following Spain, Italy, and France, while outperforming the UK and Germany. This ranking reflects a combination of accessibility, climate, safety, […]

AHM – Ace Hospitality Management, a long-standing hospitality management partner of Mercan Group, closed the year with €50 million in revenue. This milestone reflects a period of strong operational performance as AHM accelerates the expansion of its hotel management platform nationwide, with a clear objective to manage 15 hotels in Portugal by 2028. This positive […]

Portugal’s real estate market continues to heat up. According to the latest data released by Statistics Portugal (INE), Portuguese house prices reached a new all-time high in the third quarter of 2025, with the house price index rising 17.7% year-on-year. This marks the third consecutive quarter of record-breaking growth, confirming that property prices remain on […]

The prime residential market was marked by a cyclical slowdown in the third quarter of 2025, registering the slowest growth rate in the last two years. However, Lisbon stands out as one of the most resilient European markets. According to Knight Frank’s Prime Global Cities Index (PGCI), the average annual global appreciation was 2.5%, while […]

The new president of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP), Pedro Pimpão, has argued that Portugal effectively needs an immigrant population, considering that the national demographic conditions are insufficient to meet the needs. “Immigration is not a problem; it is a challenge for the country as a whole to create effective conditions to integrate […]

The authoritative British magazine The Economist has announced that Portugal has been named “Economy of the Year” 2025, ranking first among the world’s 36 wealthiest countries and successfully surpassing last year’s champion, Spain. This marks the fifth consecutive year that The Economist has conducted a comprehensive ranking of economic performance among 36 high-income countries, selecting […]

The Portuguese government has confirmed that starting from the first quarter of 2026, the validity period of Portuguese passports will be officially extended. For adult citizens, passport validity will be doubled from the current 5 years to 10 years. This measure is one of the government’s key reforms aimed at simplifying public services and reducing […]

On 19 Dec 2025, The President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has recently vetoed and returned two parliamentary bills concerning amendments to the Nationality Law and the Criminal Code, in accordance with constitutional requirements. The decision follows rulings by the Portuguese Constitutional Court, which found several provisions of the proposed legislation to […]

As the holiday season arrives, Mercan Hotels in Portugal invite guests to experience Christmas and New Year’s Eve through a curated series of festive celebrations across Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Évora, and Beja. Each property offers a distinctive blend of gastronomy, art, music, and cultural expression — creating memorable holiday moments across the country. […]

Mercan’s Journey in Portugal Since 2015 Mercan Group entered the Portuguese market in 2015, launching its first flagship project, Casa da Companhia in Porto. This marked the beginning of a long-term investment strategy aimed at revitalizing historic buildings, strengthening local tourism, and positioning Portugal as a global hospitality hub. Over the past decade, Mercan has […]

According to the latest data from Portugal’s National Statistics Institute (INE), the Algarve recorded €1.71 billion in tourism revenue during the first ten months of 2025 — a 9.3% increase year-on-year, already exceeding the total revenue for all of 2024. As the nation’s second-highest revenue-generating tourism destination (after Greater Lisbon), the Algarve continues to strengthen […]

Over the past five years, Portugal’s property market has undergone dramatic changes. National home prices have surged, supply has tightened, and listings below €200,000 have virtually disappeared from major cities and most regions. The market is rapidly shifting from affordable housing to higher-priced residential segments. Sharp Decline in Affordable Listings: –73% in Five Years Long-term […]

According to the latest report, Portugal Golden Visa investment immigration program has contributed over €54 billion in direct and indirect economic benefits since its launch in 2012, while supporting approximately 30,000 jobs. Golden Visa Drives Investment and Economic Growth The Golden Visa program is designed to attract foreign investment and support Portugal’s economic recovery. To […]

According to the latest official data, tourism revenues in Portugal and Greece showed growth during the first nine months of 2025, though monthly performance reflected notable seasonal variations. Portugal Tourism Revenue Continues to Grow Data from the Bank of Portugal (BdP) show that in September 2025, Portugal’s tourism revenue reached €3.213 billion, up 4.2% year-on-year, […]