Study visit to the Hotel Evolution Cascais-Estoril “New concepts, Think outside the box”

Last Friday, November 15th, within the scope of the Introduction to Hotel Operations curricular unit, a study visit was carried out to the Hotel Evolution Cascais-Estoril, belonging to the Portuguese hotel chain SANA Hotels, with a group of first-year students of the Graduation in Hotel Management and Management, accompanied by Professor Paula Ramalho.

 

We were hosted by General Director João Neto, who kindly welcomed us and accompanied us throughout the hotel and explained to our students the functioning, operation, and challenges of managing a hotel unit with such an innovative concept – Hi-tech, relaxed, cool, comfortable, very functional, lifestyle and at the same time luxury. At the same time, João had the opportunity to share his experience in Hospitality and his trajectory in Portugal and, mainly abroad, in countries such as the USA, Spain, Costa Rica, and Mexico and, in the most luxurious hotel brands such as Ritz Carlton, St. Regis and Four Seasons.

 

The students were fascinated by the technology in the hotel, in the rooms, in the lobby, the new self-check-in and self-check-out terminals, the format of the bar and public areas (with a live DJ on certain days, working), the Grab & Go service, the innovative breakfast service at The Kitchen, the wonderful Sayanna SPA and a Rooftop with a breathtaking view of the sea and Cascais Bay. A creative and irreverent concept that transports us to the future, while maintaining class, elegance, and luxury.

 

The visit included all areas of the hotel from the service areas, such as the storage room, the laundry room, waste separation area, kitchen, storage and warehouse, maintenance, passing through the rooms and other guest areas, and all areas public spaces such as the Spa, the Rooftop with its fantastic outdoor pool, Bars and Restaurants, Meeting Rooms, Patio, Lobby and Reception.

 

We thank the hotel and our host who uniquely knew how to convey to our students the importance of thinking outside the box, of constantly innovating, and, above all, the need to work in the hotel industry with great dedication and passion.