European hotel management company Cycas Hospitality has signed to operate its first hotel in Portugal.
The development in Sintra, near Lisbon will introduce Marriott International’s Autograph Collection to the country. With a capacity of up to 260 guests across rooms, suites and villas, the hotel is expected to open in summer 2026.
New life for a holiday complex
The development, being created by project partners Patron Capital and Quest Capital, will repurpose a former employee holiday complex that was operated by Compania Uniao Fabril, one of Portugal’s largest and oldest industrial conglomerates. The site includes 15 buildings, with distinctive features designed by original architect Antonio Lino, and many of these will be retained.
Guests will enjoy sun terraces and gardens, with several outdoor and indoor pools, and a wide variety of dining options. There will be a wedding suite, overlooking the sea, for the most romantic of ceremonies.
“Partnering with Cycas Hospitality and Marriott International on this exciting new hotel and spa reflects our shared vision to create a landmark destination in Sintra,” said Wiktor Lesinski, investment director and partner at Patron Capital. “Portugal is a key market for Patron Capital where we have been successfully investing since 2015. We plan to continue to invest in Portuguese hotels as we deploy capital from Fund VII, our real estate fund that invests in transitioning properties with value-add strategies.”
For Marriott, the addition will mean another option within its Autograph Collection, which features more than 290 individual hotels around the globe. In the USA, upcoming additions include the Hotel Vin Pinnacle Hills, and Marriott Autograph Collection Orange Station at the Edge, under construction in St Petersburg. In Europe, the brand will soon see the arrival of the Schlossberg Resort Oberstaufen, plus new projects in Cappadocia, Turkey; Wroclaw and Hrvatska, Croatia.
In early 2025, the brand was off to a strong start with two openings during January. These were The Islano, the first Autograph Collection hotel in Croatia, which opened in Cres overlooking the Adriatic Sea. And it was quickly joined in the collection by Veranda Resort Phuket, the brand’s third hotel in Thailand. Located on the Cape Panwa peninsula, the 159 room hotel includes stunning pools, great views, and private terraces.
Cycas builds on success
For Cycas, the addition of the Sintra hotel will mean the group now has a presence in 13 European countries, operating more than 55 hotels for a variety of owners, across a full mix of brands. Its pipeline includes the upcoming 133 room GRIDX hotel in Luxembourg, due to open in mid 2025.
In the UK, Cycas is supporting Marriott as its builds its presence, recently opening a Four Points Flex by Sheraton hotel in London’s Shoreditch. And in early 2026, Cycas will open the UK’s first Fairfield by Marriott hotel, a 142 room property adjacent to the British Motor Museum at Gaydon.
