The Algarve Tourism Region once again awarded personalities and entities that distinguished themselves in the service of Algarve tourism, in a ceremony that took place this Monday, at the Algarve Hotel and Tourism School, in Faro. In all, 16 medals were awarded, five of which were gold and 11 were for tourist merit.
The occasion also served to honor all RTA presidents since its foundation 45 years ago. At the session, which was attended by the Secretary of State for Tourism Ana Mendes Godinho, some of them were present, who received a diploma from the current responsible for the entity Desidério Silva.
The Tourist Gold Medals were awarded to Christopher Stilwell, posthumously, to the University of Algarve, the Portuguese Association of Travel Agencies, the Vila Joya hotel and the Vilamoura Marina.
The tourism merit medals went to: Chef Henrique Leandro, Vítor Neto, Luís Correia da Silva, Mediterranean Diet, Safe Communities Algarve Association, Hotel Vasco da Gama, Hotel Dom José, Hotel Pestana Alvor Praia, Casinos Sol Verde, Penina Golf and Hotel Resort and to the oldest employee of RTA Mário Valente.
Photos Hugo Rodrigues/Sul Informação
Tourism Gold Medal
Christopher Stilwell
Recently and prematurely gone, Christopher Stilwell was one of the great figures in the Algarve's tourism and particularly in golf, an area to whose development in the region he had a decisive contribution.
As manager and president of the Algarve Golf association, he was directly involved in the organization of major events such as the Open de Portugal and the Portugal Masters, which honored the Algarve region.
Due to the functions he performed throughout his professional career and the dedication he has always shown to the Algarve, RTA could not fail to honor this personality that will undoubtedly remain in the history of tourism in this region.
University of Algarve
Higher education institution that for more than three decades has contributed to humanistic, cultural, artistic, scientific, technical and professional training in the Algarve.
Its important role in scientific research, in the dissemination of knowledge and in the close connection with the main sectors of economic activity in the region, namely tourism, has undeniably contributed to the Algarve's regional development.
APAVT
The Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies, created in 1950, is the oldest association in the tourism sector in Portugal and has arguably played a key role in the development of national tourism, both through the debate of ideas that it regularly promotes within the scope of its annual congress, either through other activities specifically aimed at its members, or through the sharing of knowledge through its publications, for example.
Vila Joya
The Vila Joya hotel is one of the most awarded tourist developments in the Algarve, having been successively distinguished, since 2006, by the World Travel Awards as the best boutique hotel in the world.
Its restaurant, run by Chef Dieter Koschina, also has 2 Michelin stars and stands out for organizing prestigious gourmet gastronomy events.
It is, therefore, a reference in the luxury offer of the Algarve destination, undoubtedly contributing to its image of quality and excellence.
Marina de Vilamoura
In operation since 1974, Vilamoura Marina, with its 825 berths, is the largest marina in Portugal and, more than that, it has been successively distinguished as the best marina in the country and as the best international marina.
Recognition of the excellence of this nautical infrastructure also includes the European Blue Flag award it has been awarded and the certification of its Environmental Management System and Quality Management System.
Vilamoura Marina is also recognized for its commercial environment and cosmopolitan atmosphere that makes it a mandatory reference for tourism in the Algarve.
All these attributes constitute an undeniable attraction for the Algarve destination that RTA wanted to highlight by distinguishing Vilamoura Marina.
Medal of Tourist Merit
Hotel Dom Jose
Dom José Beach Hotel started out as a tavern next to Quarteira beach, in the 1960s/61s. As a hotel, it opened in 1964, a year before the Algarve opened to the world through the great tourist gateway that is the international airport of Faro.
It is, therefore, an accommodation unit that is part of the history of tourism in the Algarve, being associated with the genesis of tourism development in this region.
It has followed the evolution of this sector of activity and in the last three years it has been successively distinguished as the best 3-star hotel at the Publituris Travel Awards, contributing to the image and quality of the Algarve's tourism offer.
Luis Correia da Silva
He is currently a professor at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, at Nova School Business & Economics.
He has developed, over more than a decade, relevant activity in the tourism area, both in the public and private sectors, with emphasis on his connection to the Algarve as executive director at Lusotur and André Jordan Group, as well as for the exercise of post of Secretary of State for Tourism.
Victor Neto
Born in São Bartolomeu de Messines, Vítor Neto runs a business group with activities in the areas of agribusiness, tourism and real estate and is president of NERA – Associação Empresarial do Algarve.
He was Secretary of State for Tourism in the XIII and XIV Constitutional Governments, between 1997 and 2002. Deeply knowledgeable and studious of tourism issues, a sector to which he has been involved for over 30 years, he collaborates with various institutions, namely with the WTO – World Organization of Tourism.
He is the author of the book “Portugal Turismo Report Urgente”, in which he analyzes the state of tourism and presents paths to be followed.
Vítor Neto is an unavoidable personality when it comes to tourism and to whom the Algarve owes recognition.
Chef Henrique Leandro
Professor/trainer at the Algarve Hotel and Tourism School, and president of the Algarve Cooks and Confectioners Association, has been active in promoting regional gastronomy, an important component in the tourist offer of the Algarve destination.
Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, integrating Portugal and with Tavira as a representative community.
Due to the importance that this ancient lifestyle assumes in the cultural identity of the Algarve, due to its influence on the region's cultural landscape, its traditions and its gastronomy, the classification as a World Heritage Site assumes positive effects on the region's tourism, constituting an additional reason for visitor attraction.
The Municipality of Tavira was recognized as the leading role in the candidacy that allowed the referred classification.
Hotel Vasco da Gama
Opened in 1960, Hotel Vasco da Gama, in Monte Gordo, is undoubtedly a landmark in the history of tourism in the region.
At the forefront of tree tourist that would take place in the Algarve in the 60s of the XNUMXth century, this hotel was referred, in an unavoidable tourist guide from the time of the authorship of Patrick Swift and David Wright, as the maximum exponent of luxury and comfort.
After 55 years, the Hotel Vasco da Gama is among the few hotel units that have managed to cross time and remain prominent in the regional offer of tourist accommodation.
Mario Valente
Mário de Jesus Gomes Valente is currently the longest-serving employee of the Algarve Tourism Region, which he joined in January 1972, less than two years after its creation.
For almost 44 years, this RTA employee has always performed his duties in the financial/accounting area, having been the entity's treasurer since 1996.
When marking 45 years since the creation of the RTA, it was considered to be the utmost justice to honor this collaborator for his long and uninterrupted career in the organization, also highlighting his great dedication to the Algarve's tourism.
Safe Communities Algarve
Safe Communities Algarve, a non-profit association that offers extensive free information services related to the safety of goods and people and crime prevention, has been playing an important role in civil society, working closely with the authorities of public, judicial, municipal and tourist security in the Algarve region.
Safety is a major attribute of the Algarve as a tourist destination and that is why RTA has recognized that the work developed by SCA represents an undeniable contribution to helping keep the Algarve as a safe place, both to live and to visit.
Algarve Casino Hotel
Inaugurated in June 1967, it was the first hotel-casino in Portugal, standing out then for its size, luxury and available services.
It followed the tourist evolution of the region, adapting to the new times but always marking the coastal landscape of Praia da Rocha in an iconic way, constituting a true postcard of a holiday defined by comfort, fun and quality.
For its role and representativeness in the history of Portuguese and Algarve tourism, RTA could not have failed to distinguish, on this occasion, the Hotel Algarve Casino.
Hotel Pestana Alvor
It is one of the emblematic hotels of Algarve tourism, inaugurated in 1968, next to Três Irmãos beach, responding to the expansionist current in the sector at the time and presenting itself as one of the luxury hotel units of the time.
Today, after a total refurbishment, it once again marks the Algarve hotel scene, distinguishing itself, as when it was created, by the design, services and comfort.
An example of the renewal of the Algarve's hotel offer, RTA also distinguished this merit.
Penina Hotel and Golf
It is defined as the property where golf was born in the Algarve. And so it is, since in 1966 the first 5-star hotel in the region was inaugurated, together with the first 18-hole golf course in the Algarve.
The Penina Golf Hotel, in Montes de Alvor, now known as the Penina Hotel & Golf Resort, continues to mark the region's tourism offer for its excellence.
Undoubtedly a brand in the history of tourism in the Algarve, RTA decided to distinguish it on this occasion.
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