Immigration “is a necessity” for the Portuguese economy, said the founder and chairman of the board of directors of the Vila Galé hotel group, Jorge Rebelo de Almeida, during the presentation of the company’s 2025 results, in a meeting with journalists. “The truth is this. Contrary to some nonsense voices that we have in the country, saying that immigration is a torment. It is not a torment, it is a necessity”, defended the businessman.
The group closed 2025 with a 15% increase in turnover compared to the previous year, with a total balance of 321 million euros, including the 52 hotels in the chain. “I think all of us here at this table are aware that today, if we didn’t have immigrants, GDP would drop dramatically. Nobody would catch it. We wouldn’t be able to function if it weren’t for immigrants”recognized Jorge Rebelo de Almeida, admitting that it is necessary to “solve a very serious problem” currently for the entire population in Portugal, which is housing conditions.
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In the case of foreigners, the difficulties in accessing decent housing result, in the businessman’s analysis, in the loss of essential labor for the economy, as many end up leaving Portugal. “If we don’t take urgent action to solve this housing problem for immigrants, they will move on and go to other countries in Europe.”
Growth in Brazil
Vila Galé’s 2025 numbers highlight the growth of the Brazilian market, which, for the first time, was ahead of the Iberian market. While the turnover of units in Portugal and Spain registered an increase of 8% compared to 2024, in Brazil the growth was 23% in the same period. “In the case of Brazil, there is 23% growth in revenue, but there is 12% growth in operating rates. Therefore, Brazil grew in the two main indicators, Portugal grew in the revenue indicator”, stated the group’s CEO and son of the founder, Gonçalo Rebelo de Almeida.
With 34 projects in Portugal, 13 in Brazil, four in Cuba and one in Spain, the network currently has 12 projects underway, six in Portugal and six in Brazil. You Investments amount to 210 million euros for completion by 2028.
The only opening forecast for 2026 is, including, on Brazilian soil, with the first phase, of the start of operations of the two units under construction in the state of Maranhão. The start is estimated for November.
The other expansion projects in Brazil are in city of Brumadinho, in Minas Gerais, on Jurerê Internacional beach, in Santa Catarina. Two other hotels will be expanded on Coruripe beach, in Alagoas, one of them being the chain’s first resort entirely dedicated to children outside of Portugal.
caroline.ribeiro@dn.pt
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