Bensaude Hotels has been in business for over 90 years. The group began its career in the hotel industry in 1935 with the opening of the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel. The date marks a starting point for a new stage, focusing on the expansion and development of tourism in the region, centered on three strategic axes: excellence, sustainability, and hospitality.
Conceived by Vasco Bensaude, the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, located in the Furnas Valley and part of the Terra Nostra Park, has become a landmark in the island’s history, serving as a catalyst for tourism in the region.
A pioneer in the Azores, the hotel was built at a time when the region lacked the infrastructure and accessibility we know today. To reach São Miguel, travelers had to face long sea crossings, and the situation in Furnas was even more isolated. In that remote parish, in 1935, Vasco Bensaude created a luxury hotel, something totally revolutionary and unprecedented – a tranquil refuge that still today combines elegance with the surrounding natural beauty, set in one of the best botanical parks in the world, where water and vegetation provide a unique experience of tranquillity and connection with nature.

Ninety years later, the group has ten hotels on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Faial, as well as in Lisbon, and has a plan underway to renovate its existing units, while also seeking to strengthen its presence on the Portuguese mainland.
“In a year as significant as our 90th anniversary, the ambition to expand Bensaude Hotels takes on even greater significance. It is with the strength of nine decades of experience that we look to the future, with the desire to take our brand to new horizons. We believe that this is the right time to explore growth opportunities, whether through consolidating our presence in the Azores or exploring the potential of the mainland Portugal market,” says Jorge Aguiar, Executive Director of Bensaude Turismo.
Throughout its history, Bensaude Hotels has consolidated an approach centered on valuing its Azorean roots, preserving its natural heritage, and promoting authentic hospitality. The group maintains its commitment to sustainability and creating a positive impact on the communities where it operates by investing in job creation and team development, incorporating local products into its offerings, and implementing environmental measures, such as investments in renewable energies.
The celebration of 90 years represents the recognition of a legacy, but also the start of a new cycle, geared towards strategic growth, geographical diversification, and the affirmation of the Bensaude Hotels brand as a benchmark in the national hotel sector.

In Correio dos Açores – Natalino Viveiros, director.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.