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Get able to be impressed by this unique interview with Erik Ussene, the visionary CEO of São Vicente – Alfama Hotel! We’re excited to dive deep into Erik’s background, discover his revolutionary strategy to hospitality, and achieve invaluable insights into the trade. Prepare to be wowed by Erik’s ardour and experience in creating a very distinctive resort that completely captures the essence of its environment.
LLA: As the CEO of São Vicente – Alfama Hotel, are you able to inform us about your journey and the way you got here to be on this place?
EU: First of all, let me start by saying that it’s an honor for TRIUS Hotels to be acknowledged by LLA with this prestigious award. This recognition validates our efforts and serves as motivation for the longer term.
TRIUS Hotels was established in 2018 on account of a family-owned resort enterprise and the dedication of the youthful technology to professionalize and develop this sector of the household enterprise.
We, the youthful technology, can confidently say that we virtually grew up in our household’s resorts, gaining an innate understanding of the ins and outs of the hospitality enterprise from a younger age. This upbringing naturally led us to pursue research in hospitality and return residence, not as mere observers, however as energetic managers of the resorts.
São Vicente Alfama by TRIUS Hotels is a end result of our data and insights into the evolving developments within the hospitality trade.
LLA: São Vicente – Alfama Hotel has been acknowledged because the Best Luxury Boutique Hotel in Lisbon by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards. What do you suppose units your resort other than others within the trade?
EU: Nowadays, it’s more and more tough to differentiate ourselves from different gamers within the trade. This is particularly true in Lisbon, Portugal, the place there was a big surge in tourism, accompanied by a brand new idea of luxurious for essentially the most discerning prospects.
Fortunately, at São Vicente Alfama Hotel, we have now the privilege of being positioned within the coronary heart of Lisbon’s Alfama neighborhood. We understood that these discerning prospects desired an genuine native expertise whereas nonetheless having an “oasis” to return to on the finish of the day.
Our focus has been on offering excessive consolation via our top-notch facilities and delivering wonderful service. We try to make sure that you don’t have anything to fret about besides having fun with the very best metropolis on the planet, as acknowledged by quite a few awards.
LLA: With the resort’s give attention to capturing the essence of town’s vibrant tradition and wealthy historical past, how do you stability conventional structure and trendy facilities to create a singular and unforgettable expertise in your visitors?
EU: That stability was an important facet in the course of the growth of this undertaking.
Our constructing, previously often known as the Ricardo Espirito Santo Silva’s Institute for Arts & Crafts, holds nice significance.
We positioned a robust emphasis on using top-quality supplies sourced from expert professionals, primarily from factories within the northern area of Portugal, identified for his or her world-class manufacturing and artisans. Our purpose was to seize the essence of town, evident within the hand-made native tiles that adorn our rooms, complemented by lavatory facilities from a Lisbon-based firm with a century-long legacy. Furthermore, we proudly showcase a life-sized, hand-crafted statue of São Vicente, Lisbon’s patron saint, within the foyer.
All of those parts have been meticulously balanced with exceptionally comfy rooms which can be bigger than the common dimension and geared up with the newest in expertise.
LLA: São Vicente – Alfama Hotel locations a robust emphasis on wellness and stability. Can you inform us in regards to the resort’s strategy to wellness and the way it’s built-in into the visitor expertise?
EU: Wellness performed an important function on this undertaking, however not within the typical sense. It centered on the well-being facet, emphasizing the importance of small but impactful particulars. For occasion, we at all times welcome our visitors within the foyer with a freshly baked do-it-yourself cake or biscuits, complemented by Portuguese glowing wine or Port wine.
Once you step into our rooms, you’ll uncover an array of elements and directions to create pleasant cocktails from scratch. Furthermore, our Wellhouse gives a comfortable hearth in the course of the winter months, the place you possibly can unwind and savor a glass of Port Wine on the finish of your day.
There are many extra surprises in retailer for our future visitors, which I want to maintain undisclosed, permitting them to expertise and uncover them firsthand.
LLA: P.TISCO Food & Wine gives a singular eating expertise with a give attention to locally-sourced merchandise and conventional Portuguese delicacies. What impressed the idea of the restaurant, and the way has it been obtained by visitors?
EU: We needed to pay homage to the wealthy traditions of town, particularly the Alfama neighborhood. That’s why we selected to supply “petiscos,” that are small portion dishes meant to be shared. Our objective is to supply our visitors with the chance to savor a number of dishes in our hidden terrace, tucked away from the hustle and bustle. To improve the expertise, we have rigorously curated a number of beautiful Portuguese wines that completely complement our menu.The response from our visitors has been overwhelmingly constructive, as our “petiscos” idea is right for any time of the day.
LLA: As a boutique resort, São Vicente – Alfama Hotel gives a extra customized and intimate expertise for visitors. How do you make sure that every visitor receives the eye and care they deserve throughout their keep?
EU: We have aligned the well-being facet of your stick with distinctive care and a spotlight to your completely different wants. It all begins with the check-in expertise, the place there is no such thing as a “categorical” service provided right here.
Upon arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted by considered one of our employees members who will information you thru the check-in course of. As part of our distinctive strategy, we invite you to take pleasure in a glass of champagne or Port wine whereas participating in a nice dialog. This serves as a chance for us to know your particular necessities and journey plans, enabling us to suggest and even e book numerous actions, native workshops, artwork experiences, gastronomic adventures, and way more.
By gathering this data, we achieve invaluable insights into the kind of visitor you might be, permitting us to tailor our providers to your particular person wants.
LLA: Sustainability and eco-friendliness have gotten more and more necessary within the hospitality trade. How does São Vicente – Alfama Hotel strategy sustainability, and what steps have you ever taken to cut back your environmental impression?
EU: This undertaking entails the reconversion of a historic constructing, the place preserving its id was paramount. However, we additionally prioritized the implementation of sustainable and eco-friendly programs, supplies, and expertise.
One notable instance is our strategy to minimizing meals waste via our A La Carte breakfast system. Not solely is it environmentally pleasant, nevertheless it additionally ensures that our visitors obtain top-quality merchandise and freshly made-to-order service.
In phrases of expertise, we have now launched a brand new lock system that enables visitors to point their desire for privateness or room service via a panel within the room. This eliminates the necessity for paper utilization or door hangers.
By incorporating sustainable practices into our merchandise, establishing partnerships with native suppliers, implementing environment friendly water heating programs, and managing waste successfully, we’re dedicated to each the atmosphere and offering an distinctive expertise for our visitors. It actually is a win-win state of affairs!
LLA: Finally, what do you see as the way forward for luxurious hospitality, and the way is São Vicente – Alfama Hotel adapting to fulfill the altering wants and expectations of visitors?
EK: We envision the way forward for luxurious hospitality to revolve primarily round customized one-on-one visitor service, expertise, consolation, and sustainability. In a metropolis like Lisbon, the place area for brand new gamers available in the market is extraordinarily restricted and new tasks have fewer rooms, widespread areas, and repair services, our focus will likely be on maximizing the time our visitors spend with us and catering to their each want. We will make the most of expertise to not create distance, however to boost our visitors’ consolation throughout their keep.
Sustainability just isn’t solely mirrored within the merchandise we use but in addition within the providers we provide. We forge partnerships with native small companies and providers, offering them with the chance to develop alongside the visitors we carry into their neighborhoods. This ensures our visitors have an genuine native expertise with real native people, the best merchandise, and customized service.
For us, that is the way forward for luxurious hospitality, and we have now devoted ourselves to this imaginative and prescient from the outset of this outstanding undertaking. We eagerly await your arrival to expertise it firsthand, and we’re assured that you’ll not be disillusioned!
