Pestana Turismo is expanding its international growth strategy and has increased its investment in S. Tomé e Príncipe. It currently manages the four-star Hotel Pestana Equador in Ilhéu das Rolas.
The first and second stages of construction involve Condomínio Vila Maria, a luxury residential complex consisting of 51 villas. Condomínio Vila Maria is situated in a leafy, wooded setting overlooking the beach on the outskirts of the city of S. Tomé. The two-, three- and five-bedroomed villas, each with its own pool, are located in open-plan gardens of local island vegetation in safe, modern, comfortable surroundings.
In a country where infrastructures are still pretty basic, Condomínio Vila Maria is equipped with emergency generators and a sanitation system to guarantee the quality of this very special environment. The spacious communal green areas are maintained by the complex's cleaning and gardening team. Sales so far have been very encouraging and construction and sales are now well under way.
In addition to this new complex, a new hotel is being built near Fortim de S. Jerónimo. It's the Pestana S. Tomé, a five-star hotel with 115 rooms (84 standard, 30 junior suites and 1 presidential suite), a restaurant and bar with a large terrace, a conference room with natural light and a sea view and a health club with a gym, sauna, Turkish bath and treatment and massage room. The hotel will have two outdoor pools, one for adults and the other for children. It overlooks the sea and there is direct access from the hotel. There will also be a jetty for pleasure craft. The hotel is surrounded by a magnificent garden planted with the luxuriant, tropical greenery so typical of S. Tomé e Príncipe.
There will also be an office building with an area of around 3,200m2 and a covered car park in the vicinity of the hotel.
The finished complex will also include a casino and club. The octagonal building overlooks the sea close to the hotel and Vila Maria. It represents a clear commitment to luxury entertainment and activities that is unique in S. Tomé.
All these projects will be ready by the spring of 2008 and represent an investment of around 30 million euros. The complex is expected to create at least 120 jobs.