From London to Alentejo: a sustainable dream taking shape

Our client, a London resident, has spent every summer in Portugal for over five years. Deeply in love with our country — especially the serenity of the Alentejo — he came to us with a dream: to transform an Alentejo estate into a sustainable boutique hotel, a peaceful retreat where nature, authenticity, and comfort come together in harmony.

He already had the land, a clear vision of what he wanted, and some documentation — but didn’t know where to start, or whether public funding would be an option. A friend of his was on board and willing to invest in the project.

We began with a technical and strategic assessment of the initial idea. It quickly became clear that some areas of the land fell outside the zones permitted for construction. This required creativity and sensitivity in redesigning the layout. Working closely with the client, we preserved the essence of the project while adjusting the site plan to fully comply with legal requirements.

We scheduled meetings with Turismo de Portugal to validate the project’s alignment with national policies supporting sustainable tourism. At the same time, we identified the most appropriate funding programmes — and the financial support lines available.

Our team then developed a solid business plan with realistic projections and a strong case for both environmental and economic sustainability. We managed the entire funding application process, from submission to approval follow-up.

To ensure a high-quality and coherent implementation, we brought in a multidisciplinary team: an architect with experience in nature-based tourism, a lawyer to oversee licensing, and an environmental consultant to ensure minimal ecological impact on the estate.

Testimonial

“Marlene and her team were more than consultants — they were true partners along the way. What once seemed like a maze became a structured, achievable plan, and today, the project is finally happening. I’m deeply grateful to have found them and for their outstanding professionalism.” —Thomas, United Kingdom