On April 16, the Accor hotel group opened the Mercure Ponta Delgada Azores hotel on the island of São Miguel, thus strengthening its presence in Portugal. With this opening, the brand now has more than 38 hotels in Portugal, eight of which operate under the Mercure brand. This is the brand’s first unit in the Azores archipelago, consolidating Accor’s expansion strategy in regions with a strong cultural and landscape identity.

The new unit is located in the city center of Ponta Delgada, on the main shopping street, about ten minutes from the airport. The hotel occupies the building of the former Pensão Central, a property with heritage value that has undergone extensive renovation. The intervention was based on principles of sustainability and energy efficiency, respecting the historical character of the space while adapting it to current standards of comfort and functionality.

The Mercure Ponta Delgada Açores has 75 rooms and a wide range of facilities. Among the services available are two outdoor swimming pools – one for adults and one for children – a spa equipped with a heated indoor pool, sauna, Turkish bath, and Vichy shower. Additionally, there is a meeting room that can accommodate up to 60 people, prepared to host events and cultural initiatives. The hotel’s ambience incorporates references to the world of travel, with decorative elements such as old suitcases, compasses, and maps, creating an evocative atmosphere that is simultaneously rooted in local history and the tradition of the island’s first explorers.

The Bruma bar, located on the premises of the Mercure Ponta Delgada Açores, has a menu centered on local products, including appetizers made with local ingredients and island-inspired craft cocktails.

The Mercure brand has sought to deepen its connection with the communities in which it operates, promoting local culture, crafts, and gastronomy. In the case of the Azores, this commitment is also reflected in the involvement of the Mercure Ponta Delgada Azores team, whose mission is to provide guests with a genuine and personalized experience. In addition to hospitality, team members are available to make recommendations related to the island’s authenticity. Among the places suggested is the Porto Formoso Tea Factory, where you can learn about the traditional process of growing and processing tea, take part in guided tours, taste infusions in a typical Micaelense kitchen, or on the terraces overlooking the north coast of the island. On the first Saturday in May, a historical re-enactment of the tea harvest takes place here, with hundreds of extras in period costume.

Mercure’s arrival in Ponta Delgada comes at a remarkable time for the brand, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023 and opened its 1,000th hotel in the fall of 2024. With the Mercure Ponta Delgada Azores, the brand now has 16 hotels on the Iberian Peninsula, including eight in Portugal, seven in Spain, and one in Andorra.

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.