Tag: Portugal

Portugal has been ranked as the top destination in Europe to retire to and the second in the world according to the latest Annual Global Retirement Index from International Living. The Annual Global Retirement Index is considered to be the most “comprehensive and practical tool of its kind” and draws on the first-hand experiences of […]

The number of US citizens residing in Portugal has accelerated in recent years, having increased more than sevenfold from 2017 until 2024.  According to Público and cited by idealista, in 2017, the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) registered 2,888 US citizens residing in Portugal. In 2024, according to data from the US embassy based on records from […]

Portugal currently ranks in 5th position in the ranking, with 190 countries available to passport holders without the need for a visa Singapore has reclaimed its position as the holder of the world’s most powerful passport, offering visa-free access to an impressive 195 out of 227 global destinations, according to the 2025 Henley Passport Index. […]

Portugal’s tourism sector is on track for another record year, potentially surpassing 2023’s remarkable performance. While initially projected to stabilize, 2024 has seen continued growth, driven by increasing visitor numbers and stays. Entering the final months of 2024, Portugal’s tourism sector is surpassing expectations, positioning the year to potentially outperform the record-breaking numbers seen in […]

The Renaissance Porto Lapa Hotel has earned international acclaim at the 2024 World Luxury Awards: Luxury City Hotel and Luxury Conference & Event Hotel. These prestigious awards celebrate the hotel’s exceptional leisure and business hospitality standards, positioning it as one of Porto’s premier destinations for travelers and event organizers alike. Located in the vibrant Lapa […]

Around 9,500 high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) are expected to leave the UK this year, with most set to relocate to the EU, which is projected to attract over 6,500 of these millionaires by December’s end. The UAE ranks as the second most popular destination, anticipating an increase of about 800 HNWIs from the UK, followed by […]

October 8th marked the first chapter in the Algarve region for Mercan Group, with the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the first stone of the Lagos Marina Hotel project targeting an investment of 107.8 million euros. This development in Lagos, Algarve, will result in two hotels: the five-star Lagos Marina Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, and the […]

The Council of Ministers Resolution No. 87/2024, dated July 10th, established the creation of a “Task Force for the Resolution of Pending Applications at AIMA” (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo – Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum). The primary objective of this task force is to address the backlog of 410,000 pending immigration […]

Lisbon has won the award for Best MICE Destination in Europe at the 5th edition of the World MICE Awards, beating the cities of Athens, Berlin, Istanbul, London, Madrid, Milan, Paris, and Vienna, which were also competing. The MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) segment contributes significantly to tourism revenue and the consequent development of […]

The new Mercan Group’ 4-star hotel – Holiday Inn Beja – was officially inaugurated yesterday, September 10, in a ceremony attended by local delegates, including the Mayor of Beja, Paulo Arsénio, and representatives from the Mercan Group – Mr. Jordi Vilanova, and Mariano Faz – President of AHM. This hotel represents a €16.8 million investment […]

Faro is the third city in Europe with the cleanest air, after Uppsala and Umea, in Sweden, with Funchal in eighth place, according to a report by the European Environment Agency. With 3.6 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter, Faro is in third place in the table, the same value as Umea but with […]

The contract was awarded through a public tender, which was only open for three days, to the law firm Eduardo Serra Jorge e Associados, and there were no other competitors. The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) has hired a law firm for 200 thousand euros to defend itself in court. The issues at […]

The new Holiday Inn Beja by Mercan Group is officially open, just in time for the summer holidays. Under the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) brand, the latest development by Mercan Group represents an investment of €16.8 million and it will generate 31 new jobs, in addition to the approximately one hundred jobs created during the construction […]

The National Federation of Public and Social Workers’ Unions has issued a strike notice by AIMA employees, scheduled to take place from August 22 to December 31, 2024. The potential strike, which centers on issues related to overtime and weekend work, can be seen as part of the growing pains that can be expected with […]

Hilton has announced plans to open three new hotels in Portugal between 2025 and 2026 under three brands – Canopy by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, and DoubleTree by Hilton – as part of the group’s expansion plans in Portugal. In which, 2 hotels that developed by Mercan Group that qualified for Portugal Golden Visa […]