The Portugal Real Estate Summit 2025 is set to host an engaging session titled "Tourism and real estate - A golden marriage with a future?", focusing on the evolving landscape of tourism & real estate. Industry leaders from Arrow Global, Explorer, Azora, Accor and Pestana will discuss if tourism still have scope for growth in Portugal, or if instead we have reached the top of the mountain and a certain saturation.
Taking place on September 15th and 16th at Hotel Palácio Estoril in Lisbon, the Summit is expected to gather over 350 global leaders and investors to analyze portugal’s position as a premier investment destination. Organized by Iberian Property, the event is now celebrating its VIII edition, serving as a platform for industry professionals to examine key economic trends and local strategies shaping the real estate landscape.
Similar to other years, the panel will be introduced through a joint presentation by two consultants – CBRE and Savills – who will highlight the main market figures and trends that relate to hospitality. The roundtable that follows will be moderated by Richard Betts, Co-founder and Head of Content at Real Asset Media, and features a distinguished panel of experts:
José Roquette, Member of the Board of Directors & Chief Development Officer at Grupo Pestana, has been a driving force behind the group’s global expansion since 1996. He led Pestana’s entry into Mozambique, Brazil, and other key markets, helping grow Portugal’s largest hospitality brand to over 100 hotels across 16 countries.
Originally in venture capital, José made a bold move relocating to Africa with his young family to oversee Pestana’s first international project—marking the start of a career defined by strategic risk-taking and global vision. Under his leadership, the group has diversified into residential real estate, golf, and lifestyle ventures including Pestana CR7.
In 2024, Pestana reported revenues of €651.5 million across hospitality, real estate, and associated businesses, continuing its strong growth trajectory.
John Calvao, Partner & Fund Principal at Arrow Global, leads Southern Europe investments and hospitality assets, and heads its M&A and Market Development teams. Since joining Arrow in 2010, he’s driven the firm’s expansion in Portugal and Italy, previously serving as Country CEO in both regions.
Before Arrow, John spent 15+ years in senior roles across international capital markets—COO at MIAC Assurance, Head of Operations at SCA (building Portugal’s first independent NPL servicing firm), CIO at Clayton—and began his career at MBIA.
A recurring speaker at the Portugal Real Estate Summit, he discusses the evolving real estate landscape in Portugal, from resort developments like Vilamoura and Palmares to the firm’s growing interest in affordable housing and sustainable hospitality strategies.
Daniel von Barloewen, Regional Vice President of One Living and Head of Mixed‑Use EMEA at Accor, also serves as Global Development Lead overseeing the Group’s branded residences and integrated community platforms. In this role, he drives the planning, design, and launch of branded living developments across EMEA, in alignment with Accor One Living’s 360° mixed‑use strategy.
Accor One Living was launched in January 2023 as an industry‑first platform dedicated to integrating hospitality, residences, coworking, private clubs and extended‑stay hotels into mixed‑use developments. Today, the Group manages over 135 branded residences across 22 brands, with plans to open more than 125 new residences in the coming years.
Under Daniel von Barloewen’s leadership in EMEA, Accor’s mixed‑use pipeline leverages its portfolio strength, positioning the Group as the world’s second-largest player in branded residences—an increasingly vital business driver for Accor globally.
Elizabeth Rothfield, Founding Partner & Chief Executive Officer at Explorer Investments, has guided Portugal’s leading independent private equity firm for over two decades. As CEO, Board President and a key member of the Investment Committee, she oversees Explorer’s funds spanning Private Equity, Growth Capital and Real Estate, managing around €1.4 billion in assets under management and advisory.
Her financial journey began in brokerage with Benito y Monjardín in Madrid, followed by a leadership role at Schroders London managing the Spanish desk. In 1994 she joined Midas Investimentos in Portugal as a partner and board member, later founding Explorer Advisors in 2002—a precursor to today’s Explorer Investments.
Educated at the University of Edinburgh with an MA (Hons) in European History & Literature, she brings an analytical mindset and strategic judgement to finance. She is also on the boards of several portfolio companies and related firms including Refundos, Gascan and Powervia.
Javier Arús, Senior Partner, Hospitality & Leisure at Azora, leads the strategic acquisition and management of hotel assets across southern Europe and beyond. Since joining Azora in 2010, he has overseen major transactions like the Hispania hotel portfolio (2014–2017)—which made Azora Spain’s largest hotel owner—and the full restructuring and turn‑around of the Carey fund across Europe and the U.S.
A former Santander executive, he spent 15 years in investment banking, asset management, and private banking, including serving as CEO of Banco Santander Suisse and later its international private banking arm before joining Azora in 2010.
Under his leadership, Azora has completed roughly 85 hotel transactions totaling about 26,000 rooms and €3.5 billion in investment—earning him the 2024 “Premio Desarrollo” for elevating professionalism in hotel finance in Spain. Recently, he expressed confidence that leisure hospitality will unlock greater liquidity in 2025, reinforcing Azora’s continued capital deployment—particularly in resorts and urban leisure destinations including Portugal’s Praia d’El Rey Resort. Today, Azora manages over 26,300 keys across some 106 hotels.
REGISTRATIONS OPEN
The Portugal Real Estate Summit continues to be the go-to forum for industry leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue, shaping the future of the real estate market in Portugal and beyond. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with key decision-makers and gain valuable perspectives on the forces driving investment strategies. Learn more about the event HERE.