Lisbon enjoys new hotels boom

Lisbon enjoys new hotels boom

LISBON’s success as a city-break destination has spurred a boom in hotel openings over the next three years.

There are 23 new properties due to open in the Portuguesecapital by the end of 2004, representing a total investment of around £120 million.

“I have never known there to be so much of a hotel boom,” said Lisbon Visitors Bureau brand manager Miguel Gonzaga.

“It is because of the success of our marketing efforts following Expo in 1998. We have followed the example of Barcelona after the Olympics and we have taken advantage of holding this high-profile event.” Visitor numbers from the UK rose by 8.4% to 60,646 in the first six months of this year and are expected to rise a further 10% in the first half of 2002 when 10 four and five-star hotels will open.