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Holiday Inn Beja featured on NiT: the legacy behind Vhils Artwork's façade
The work created by the hands of the Portuguese artist features the faces of two emblematic figures of Portuguese literature. "Beja Castle, On the endless plain; Already dead that I am, Remember me." On May 1, 1890, the poet Mário Beirão was born in the city of Alentejo, "the singer of the fields of Beja, of the stones of the city and the ascetic plains of its term, of the brave austerity of its people".
He graduated in Law in the capital, where he studied alongside other great poets such as Florbela Espanca who, despite not being born in Beja, has Alentejo roots in her blood. Known as the "Princess of Alentejo", she was born in Vila Viçosa, on December 8, 1894, and was only eight years old when she wrote her first poems, precisely in this village in the district of Évora.
Andthese emblematic figures of Portuguese literature (and the Alentejo) are honored at the new hotel in Beja, which opened to the public this Monday, August 19. The Holiday Inn Beja, managed by AHM \u2012 Ace Hospitality Management, stands out from all the brand's other hotel units in Portugal due to the main façade.
"In addition to being the first hotel of an international brand in the city, I can confirm that it is the first of its kind to have a façade worked in this way. It is a work that means a lot to us", begins by telling NiT the general director Diogo Fragoso.
The connection to the inhabitants and culture of the region has not been forgotten and is visible as soon as you reach the façade, which has been respected and maintained in the rehabilitation process. It is there, right at the top, that a work created by the hands of the Portuguese artist Vhils appears to honor the culture of the region. The murals feature the faces of Florbela Espanca and Mário Beirão, one on each side, adding a unique artistic element to the cityscape of Beja.
Right in the heart of the city, less than 500 meters from the castle and the cathedral, the four-star hotel is the result of an urban rehabilitation project. "It was a building that was already a few years old and was initially designed to be a hotel. The building had another part divided for housing, which continues to exist, despite being two completely independent projects", he adds.
The property was the subject of an in-depth intervention with the aim of "giving it a new look and a new image". The development is the second investment by the Mercan Properties group in Alentejo, joining the Hilton Garden Inn Évora, already in operation, and the Holiday Inn Express Évora, which is expected to open in the second half of September. With an investment of almost 17 million euros, the new four-star hotel has 95 rooms (80 of them twin) spread over four floors, where there is no shortage of details such as a workspace or tea and coffee machine. Half of them have a balcony "with incredible views of the Alentejo plain".
"As well as on the façade, the interior is also a tribute to the Alentejo, with colors that remind us of the region and the typical houses. The entire hotel will have a kind of storytelling of the people here, with references to the city of Beja and the Alentejo", highlights the general manager.
Guests will also have access to the gym and the outdoor pool located on the hotel's rooftop, which is also one of the main protagonists of the project. Another highlight is Chaparro Alentejo, a restaurant that focuses on the traditional gastronomy of the region, investing in quality local products. This is chef Miguel Rocha Vieira's new project, as part of his partnership with AHM, which seeks to revitalize and reimagine old and new restaurant spaces in the hotels managed by the company — read more about the project in this NiT article. "It is something that we believe will distinguish us and will be a plus for the city of Beja", underlines the director.
Open to the general public and guests, there is also a commercial space with retail stores and a bar. Despite being very focused on the family and leisure segment, it also has "all the conditions to receive the corporate segment", as it consists of two meeting rooms. There are also 163 parking spaces available, including electric charging stations. "We want to receive all those who want to get to know the Alentejo region, but also to establish a close dialogue with those who are already in the city, so that they see themselves in this space. Therefore, we also have spaces designed for the local public, where we want to continuously reinforce the offer open to all", he stresses.
This is the first presence in Alentejo of the Holiday Inn brand, managed by the company AHM - Ace Hospitality Management, which is part of the Mercan Properties Group. The group has been in Portugal since 2015 and has 32 developments throughout the country.
Read more, here!