How does Grupo Pestana view the year that is now beginning?
The highly volatile environment caused by the war in Ukraine, inflation and rising energy costs did not prevent tourism from regaining its central role in the Portuguese economy last year, as data from the National Statistics Institute shows.
Present in 16 countries and with more than 100 hotels in its portfolio, the Pestana Hotel Group was one of the promoters of this recovery, benefiting from the desire of customers to rest in a vacation destination and to be welcomed in an environment that we define as "The Time of your Life".
For 2023, the risks of war and inflation remain and there is also the uncertainty of a possible recession in some of the countries where we have operations, as well as in those that send tourists to Portugal.
In the coming months, we will open two new hotels in the center of Lisbon, one with 89 rooms in Rua Augusta and a guesthouse with 42 rooms in Alfama, assets with a lot of potential, given the interest of tourists in Lisbon and the privileged location in two prime areas of the city.
Consolidation in the hotel and real estate segments allows us to remain optimistic about 2023, fueled by the solid financial situation and the receptiveness of the brand in the markets where we are present, and we are also confident in our dynamic and committed team of more than 5,000 people.
What is Altice's contribution, as a technology partner, to Grupo Pestana's business?
Our vision for hospitality requires technologically robust, resilient and innovative solutions and Altice is a reliable partner in this regard.
The customers don't do without quality Wi-Fi and connectivity during their stay, whether they're with family or on business, and the demand for this connectivity is skyrocketing with gaming or entertainment platforms.
Both before and after the stay, interaction is physical and increasingly virtual, whether through access to digital channels, augmented reality or sophisticated interaction systems based on artificial intelligence in a mobile context, where mobile phone is the privileged medium.
Vital in this industry is privacy and data protection, which requires technology partners and complete information systems solutions that are capable of evolving, with a roadmap that matches up well with business needs.
The monitoring and support, both face-to-face and remote, guaranteeing 24-hour coverage, seven days a week, helps with the objectives of rapid response to incidents and ensures better availability of the networks and systems under Altice's management.
Finally, the frequent sharing of the innovation trail (either with the help of international experiences or local associated companies) with partners such as Altice, favors the construction of the technological evolution roadmap with a greater chance of execution on time.
For example, the monitoring and control of energy consumption, through direct connectivity with the "meters", which allows feedback instructions for responsible and sustainable use.