Alentejo estate boss named Best Portuguese Hotelier at Iberian luxury awards

Rita Andrade Soares, chief executive of Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, has won the Best Portuguese Hotelier title at the DUCO Spain & Portugal Awards 2026, presented at a ceremony in Marbella, Spain. The Alentejo regional tourism promotion agency, ARPTA, welcomed the recognition of her career and her role in raising the profile of Portuguese luxury hospitality. Accepting the prize, she shared it with her family and team. The estate, near Albernoa in the municipality of Beja, is a family-run Relais & Châteaux member combining a luxury hotel, wine tourism, gastronomy and nature experiences, with an emphasis on local produce and sustainability.