October 18, 2019, was marked by the inauguration of the first unit of the Brazilian group Luzeiros Hotels on Portuguese soil. The event brought together very special guests at Luzeiros Suites.
Across the ocean, the Group Luzeiros Operations and Sales Director, Dagoberto Silva, columnist Lêda Maria, family members, and friends from the northeast of José Hugo Machado, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Grupo Luzeiros Hotéis, arrived and did not want to miss supporting the businessman in yet another achievement in his long career.
The Consul General of Brazil in Portugal, the Secretary to the Brazilian Ambassador, as well as the President of the Avenidas Novas Parish Council, were some of the dignitaries who honored us with their presence.
Also present were Architect José Barata Duarte, responsible for the overall rehabilitation project of the building; the administrator of Tecnorem and their team, who professionally and dedicatedly carried out the restoration work over the past two years; the interior design team; the entire Luzeiros Suites and Imobras teams, who worked behind the scenes to make this dream a reality; and many others who did not want to miss the inauguration of the Luzeiros Hotéis Group’s first investment in Europe.
José Hugo Machado – Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Luzeiros Hotéis Group
“I am not a true ‘alfacinha’ (native Lisboeta); I am a Northeasterner par excellence and do not renounce my homeland, but I am a Lisboeta at heart, and it is with great joy that I am here at the inauguration of our first unit in Portugal in the hotel industry. Being here today at Luzeiros Suites, housed in a magnificent building from the 1960s, takes me back to the past, when I arrived in Portugal in the 1960s and dedicated myself to restoring old buildings, contributing to the enrichment of Lisbon’s real estate heritage. Five decades later, our portfolio includes around 350 new and restored buildings in the residential rental and service markets, and as a businessman, I will continue to make my contribution both in Portugal and Brazil.”
Mário Miguel – Coordinating Engineer of the Luzeiros Hotéis Group
“The dream of Mr. José Hugo to create investment in order to generate employment for his compatriots gave birth to the Luzeiros Hotels network. First along the waterfront of Fortaleza, then in São Luís do Maranhão, and later in Recife. Currently, the group’s units are often considered the best in Brazil’s northeast region. The unit inaugurated today, the result of dedication, professionalism, and a spirit of teamwork from a multidisciplinary team that combined knowledge, experience, and functionality, will certainly achieve the same recognition in the city of Lisbon. I would also like to emphasize that all the work of our group has only been possible thanks to human capital—a corporate culture that fosters creativity and individual participation with guiding principles and values. To everyone, my heartfelt thanks!”
Valéria Machado – Architect and Administrator of the Luzeiros Hotéis Group
“The building where we are gathered today is, without a doubt, the main star of the evening.
Designed in the late 1950s by the renowned architect António Gomes Egea, this building was commissioned as a residence for a wealthy family with business interests overseas.
The requirements at the time for the project were to follow a sober architecture, a careful design, and the use of good and noble materials. The seven apartments that made up the building, each with 600 m² per floor, impressed with their richness in details and decorative elements in their interiors.
It was precisely these characteristics that we made a point of preserving — giving new life to this building while maintaining its history. The great challenge presented to Architect José Barata Duarte, who was responsible for the overall rehabilitation project, was to respect the building’s DNA and, without distorting its decorative features, equip and adapt it to its new functions as local accommodation.
To ensure coherence across all floors, to implement all the amenities required for the building’s new function, and to maintain, restore, and rehabilitate all the decorative details that amazed and enhanced the interior of this historic property were the goals set — and judging by the many feedbacks we have received, we are confident that these objectives have been widely achieved.
I invite you to go up to the first floor. As you pass through the reception hall, don’t miss the magnificent glasswork that allows natural light to flood the space. Take a look at the old elevator cabin, which served the building for 57 years—peek inside, and you’ll see it resembles the interior of a horse-drawn carriage. Notice the fabric lampshades in the corridors, the frescoes by visual artist António Basalisa on the 6th floor, and the intricately crafted wooden niches. Step into the suites and admire the stunning wood inlaid floors and the original fireplaces found in some of them. In the bathrooms, take in the spaciousness and views, the marble covering the walls, the partitions and shower bases, as well as the original bathtubs—each one carefully restored. Finally, the woodwork on the interior staircase and the masonry on the exterior—these, to me, are true sculptures.”
Dagoberto Silva – Director of Operations and Sales Grupo Luzeiros Hotéis
“I have followed this project since its inception three years ago. The final result has far exceeded my initial expectations. It is elegant, preserving and enhancing every detail while adding modernity, meeting the current demands of the hotel market. For us Brazilians, it is a great source of pride that a Brazilian, Northeastern network has achieved the feat of opening a hotel in Europe. In fact, it is the first Brazilian chain to do so. Moreover, in what is currently considered the tourism capital, Lisbon. This truly makes us very happy.”
