Our intention was to create a hospitality experience that honoured the richness of Portuguese culture, respecting its people, land, and culture
From the moment Chitra and Roman Stern envisioned Martinhal, their intention was to create a hospitality experience that honoured the richness of Portuguese culture, respecting its people, land, and culture. They travelled extensively across the country, learning regional culinary traditions and establishing relationships with local artisans and suppliers. The result was an experience rooted in authenticity, where every detail reflected a profound reverence for place.
This enduring spirit continues to guide us today. Our approach to sustainability is purposeful and embedded in our philosophy: to create family experiences that honour the past, enrich the present, and shape a thoughtful future. Every decision, whether in design, operations, or partnerships, reflects our commitment to uplifting local communities, preserving the environment, and offering meaningful, shared experiences.
We are proud to hold the renowned Green Key certification for Martinhal Sagres and Martinhal Lisbon Oriente, a rigorous international hallmark of environmental and social responsibility, recognising our ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impact, enhance operational efficiency, and create enriching experiences for our guests.
Examples of our broader approach include intelligent energy systems, solar infrastructure, local sourcing of goods, and low-waste operations. Martinhal Sagres, designed by Portuguese architect Teixeira Pinto, has used desalinated water for irrigation since 2008 and was conceived with energy-efficient construction principles and careful integration into its natural surroundings within Costa Vicentina National Park. Martinhal Lisbon Oriente, designed by renowned Portuguese architect Eduardo Capinha Lopes, features a façade with over 174 olive trees and 779 planters, blending nature into the urban environment and reflecting a design philosophy rooted in sustainability from the outset. Across all our properties, we have integrated green spaces that prioritise native, drought-resistant plants, creating Mediterranean-inspired natural environments that align with our commitment to sustainability and local heritage.
We are also deeply invested in the local communities we serve. This commitment was recently honoured with the Medal of Merit for Tourism (2024) and a Special Award for socio-economic impact (2025). For over a decade, Martinhal Sagres has hosted Luxury Art & Design Weekends, offering a platform for Portuguese artisans, designers, artists and makers to share their work with the wider world, while Martinhal Lisbon Oriente pays homage to Portuguese artistry through the “Living in Art” concept, showcasing original work by eight nationally renowned artists throughout the building.
Through sustainable practices and community engagement, we continue to create safe, healthy and enriching environments for family members to connect with one another and with the world around them, in ways that are both responsible and long lasting.
Across our properties, we integrate renewable energy with over 290 thermal solar panels and 884 photovoltaic solar panels. We optimise energy use through intelligent climate control, reduce waste through effective waste segregation, and have significantly reduced single-use plastics with refillable amenities and eco-products from Voya and Groupe GM. Our water conservation initiatives, towel reuse programs, energy-efficient construction, and the prioritisation of A and A+ rated appliances wherever possible all contribute to minimising our environmental footprint across the group.
On the social side, we offer strong employee benefits, such as health insurance, access to psychological support, and staff housing, and we are actively exploring ways to enhance representation and inclusivity across our workforce and to support professional growth.
We support local communities and aim to create positive environments that extend far beyond our hotel and resort properties. Some of our initiatives include the revitalisation of industrial spaces with anchor projects such as the United Lisbon International School and Edu Hub, fostering education and focusing on energy-efficient, BREEAM-certified design and resource-sharing facilities.
We are now working towards achieving Green Globe certification for each of our hotels and resorts, embracing rigorous external verification and maintaining the highest standards of internal accountability, ensuring our operations meet stringent global standards whilst considering the lasting impact we wish to create.
The above described activities are not the end goals, but rather they are milestones in our ongoing ESG journey, which seeks to integrate sustainability into every layer of the Martinhal experience. We continuously seek new ways to improve, ensuring a better tomorrow for both our guests and the communities we serve.
