The Lince Hotels is a Portuguese hotel group dedicated to exceptional customer service and experiences. Sales Manager Jessica Sousa and Communications & Marketing Manager Raquel Cruz discussed the group’s new developments, as well as sustainable initiatives. Report by Antonia Cole.
SAa group, The Lince Hotels is committed to providing unique and memorable experiences, Sales Manager Jessica Sousa said: “When a guest visits our hotel, we welcome them as if they were family. Our goal is to make every visitor feel at home as they enjoy the beautiful scenery and culture of Portugal.”
Last year, Lince celebrated 15 years in hotel management. Now, the group owns four hotels: The Lince Azores, The Lince Nordeste, Ecorkhotel and – the most recent addition – The Lince Santa Clara.
Each hotel features a fitness centre, a spa, pools, restaurants, a bar, a kids centre and more. Lince ensures that there is a space for everyone to enjoy, despite the many different interests of visitors.
“Our hotels are situated in areas of magnificent natural beauty,” commented Communications & Marketing Manager Raquel Cruz. “It is our responsibility to not only make sure our guests are well looked after as they enjoy the country, but to also protect and preserve this spectacular environment for future generations. Finding the balance between luxury and sustainability has been key in our growth.”
Cultural hotels
Lince’s first hotel was The Lince Azores, located in Ponta Delgada. This urban hotel provides guests with access to the whole of São Miguel Island, from beaches to the Terra Nostra Garden. The hotel has 154 premium rooms spread across six floors, making it Lince’s largest property.
Additionally, there are many experiences and attractions surrounding the hotel including a pineapple plantation, a golf course and the opportunity to watch dolphins and whales.
Ten years later, Lince expanded and opened The Lince Nordeste. Situated
within walking distance from the village of Nordeste, the hotel has 28 rooms across three floors and holds magnificent views of the ocean, as well as Tronquiera’s mountain.
“This hotel is special as it is located in the countryside,” explained Ms Cruz. “It is an
ecological hotel, offering guests a space to slow down and escape day-to-day life. Our visitors can enjoy the beautiful natural environment that the Northeast region of the island has to offer, whilst relaxing using our amazing amenities.”
In 2024, Lince acquired the Ecorkhotel. This hotel is in the capital of Portugal’s south-central Alentejo region, Évora, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. This historic city is host to museums, picturesque streets and the ancient Roman Temple of Évora. With 56 individual suits and a modern design, this hotel holds sustainability and energy efficiency as its main focus. The architecture itself includes cork trees from the Alentejo forest.
“Our newest hotel is The Lince Santa Clara, also opened in 2024,” added Ms Cruz. “This hotel in Vila do Conde is inside the renovated Monastery of Santa Clara, which origins date back to 1318. Surrounded by rich history, this hotel combines contemporary comfort and sophistication with cultural legacy.”
Designed by renowned architect
Carvalho Araújo, The Lince Santa Clara has 87 rooms framed by neoclassical features. Each room is named after a significant figure in Portuguese history or literature, highlighting the buildings cultural significance. There are also a number of premium amenities on offer
including access to water sports, a wine cellar and a restaurant with a three Michelin Star chef.
Nature conscious
With sustainability as a core value, Lince was awarded the Blue Flag Association of Europe’s Green Key award. Throughout all hotels, Lince promotes waste reduction by
using recyclable materials and including bins that encourage waste separation in rooms.
“We are very conscious of our impact from all aspects of the hotel, which is why we have replaced plastic key cards with wooden ones,” said Ms Sousa. “We are also very aware of water and electricity use, so we have a rainwater collection system for use in irrigation and sanitation, plus air conditioning that automatically turns off when a guest checks out of a room.”
Throughout the hotels, solar panels and LED automatic lighting are used, plus there are chargers for electric vehicles. Every month, Lince also monitors its carbon footprint and waste production in an attempt to minimise them.
“Within the hotels, we use ecological cleaning products to limit our impact in that respect,” continued Ms Sousa. “We also include seed pencils for our guests in their rooms. These can be taken and planted to grow into flowers. It’s extra
touches like this that really highlight our commitment to guest experience and sustainability.”
The hotels’ restaurants make dishes that use organic, local and fresh produce, from local producers. Additionally, to combat food waste, Lince is developing a partnership with REFOOD. This is an organisation that recovers good quality food and redistributes it to people in need.
Staying local
As well as the environment, Lince also strives to support the region’s community.
The group prioritises local human resources. For example, 94% of The Lince Nordeste’s staff are residents of the area. Additionally, Lince provides employees with training opportunities and supports local cultural and sporting activities.
The group prioritises collaboration with partners who share the same environmental and social awareness and strives to promote these values amongst stakeholders. By using primarily local suppliers, Lince is able to contribute to the sustainable economy of the region.
“Our suppliers add value to the hotels,” explained Ms Sousa. “For example, in The Lince Santa Clara, we had a company located only 40km away complete all the design and decoration works. The result is a hotel that showcases the cultural beauty of the area. We also had the uniforms made by a local designer, Micaela Oliveira. They incorporate the history of the monastery and reference traditional Poor Clare attire.”
Lince hopes to continue its growth trajectory in a sustainable way and keep
delivering exceptional guest experiences. By having a variety of different properties that satisfy a range of guest requirements, the group has become recognised for hospitality, memorable experiences and comfort.
“Our properties are surrounded by the natural environment,” explained Ms Cruz, in conclusion. “We want our hotels to be an extension of the location itself, creating a space that fully immerses guests in the beauty of Portugal. Our hotels promote the language and culture of our country, which is really important to us. Not only do we want our visitors to have a relaxing and pleasurable stay, but we also hope they return home with a new appreciation and understanding of Portugal and all it has to offer.”
