Harland & Poston Group has been recognised with the prestigious Five-Star Award in the category Best New Hotel Construction & Design Portugal at the International Property Awards 2025–2026. The ceremony took place last Thursday, the 23rd, at the Grosvenor Marriott Hotel in London.The accolade highlights the new Holiday Inn Express & Suites Portimão, located in the heart of the city, an urban regeneration project led by Harland & Poston Group through its development arm, HP Invest. The hotel impressed the judging panel for its blend of architectural innovation, design, sustainability and local economic impact, positioning itself as one of the most promising contemporary hospitality references in southern Europe.Two International Property AwardsSecuring the Five-Star Award, the highest distinction in its category, also qualified the hotel for the Regional (Europe) Awards, allowing it to compete at a European level for international recognition among the world’s leading real estate developments.Commenting on the award, Andreia Leite, Harland & Poston Group’s Business Development Director and project lead, said:“This award is a source of great pride for our entire team. The Portimão project demonstrates that strategic investment can go far beyond financial returns. What we achieved here was the restoration of confidence, the creation of jobs and the generation of long-term value for the community, which is why this project is so special. Its impact is visible not only in the building itself but also in the renewed quality of its surrounding urban environment. For us, this is the true meaning of development.”The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Portimão: From Abandonment to a Five-Star Award WinnerScheduled to open in the first quarter of 2026, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Portimão has undergone a complete transformation. Before redevelopment, the site consisted of the ruins of the former Hotel Tropimar, a building often occupied informally by drug users and homeless individuals who, during winter, resorted to lighting fires indoors to stay warm. The regeneration addressed these safety concerns, an essential improvement given the presence of a school just across the street, while revitalising local commerce and creating new jobs.Working closely with regional suppliers, the Group ensured that the majority of the hotel’s construction and equipment utilised Portuguese labour and materials, reinforcing its commitment to the Algarve’s economy.As completion approaches, the hotel is emerging as a new benchmark for sustainability. It is the first IHG-branded hotel in Portugal to join the Low Carbon Pioneers programme, operating with zero on-site emissions and powered exclusively by renewable energy. The project was designed with energy efficiency and environmental responsibility as guiding principles, setting a new national standard for sustainable hospitality.Design plays a pivotal role: this is one of the first Holiday Inn Express properties to incorporate IHG’s new Gen 5 Design, a concept that enhances the guest experience through more functional, modern and efficient spaces. Another distinctive feature is the inclusion of a swimming pool and outdoor area — uncommon for this IHG brand, typically associated with urban locations and short stays. This addition broadens the hotel’s appeal, attracting leisure travellers seeking a holiday destination with proximity to Praia da Rocha, combining comfort, recreation and sustainability.With Holiday Inn Express & Suites Portimão, the Group continues to demonstrate its ability to transform underutilised assets into high-performing, socially responsible projects, further consolidating its position as one of Portugal’s leading forces in real estate and investment.Pátio do Jordão: A Benchmark in Contemporary Residential RedevelopmentSet within the historic neighbourhood of Lisbon, the Mouraria, Pátio do Jordão has brought a renewed sense of coherence and quality to its immediate surroundings. Now fully completed and occupied, the Pateo stands as a thoughtful reimagining of a once-neglected 19th-century courtyard.What had long been a fading architectural relic has been carefully revived by the Harland & Poston Group and reshaped into a residential enclave noted for its elegance and purpose. The development comprises 11 bespoke homes, each designed to honour the building’s original character, from its preserved façade and vaulted structures to the distinctive limestone features, while introducing the standards expected of modern urban living.Contemporary enhancements are discreet yet substantial: reinforced structural stability, improved thermal and acoustic performance, and the use of environmentally responsible materials all contribute to a more resilient building.Pátio do Jordão is more than a residential project; it is a respectful nod to Lisbon’s architectural lineage, illustrating how sensitive restoration can yield places that feel both enduring and beautifully contemporary.

FORMBY — In a move that’s been widely welcomed, the Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa, now part of the Harland & Poston Group, have donated more than 75 pieces of commercial gym equipment during this Summer to 3 nearby schools: Range High, Scarisbrick Hall and Formby High School. The handover happened on July 24, the beginning of the summer term.This donation is part of the renovation that the resort will undergo, managed by HP Invest, starting with the gym. It is important to highlight that this is not outdated gym material gathering dust in a backroom. These are good quality machines, Technogym treadmills, Matrix strength trainers, Olympic-standard weights, all still in perfect condition.  What says the CEO of the Harland & Poston GroupDavid Poston, CEO of the Harland & Poston Group, said the donation is about “supporting young people in our community with practical tools for health and wellbeing.” “As we invest in the future of Formby Hall, we want to ensure our progress benefits the people around us,” he added. Each school is set to receive a tailored bundle, chosen to match their physical education needs. Think: treadmills, rowing machines, cable stations, and more. The equipment will be put to use across PE lessons, fitness programmes and extracurricular sports, helping to embed physical activity into everyday school life — at a time when budgets are tight, and demand is high. The 3 schools all play a vital role in the educational and social fabric of Sefton and West Lancashire. Range High, a short jog from Formby Hall, has served the community since the 1970s. It’s known for its focus on both academic and personal development — and now, it seems, for building stronger muscles too.  Statements from the SchoolsMr Owens, from the PE department at Range High School, was full of praise. “The generous donation from the new owners of Formby Hall Golf Club will significantly enhance students' physical education experience,” he said. “It promotes fitness, wellbeing, and healthy lifestyles — and provides greater access to quality resources, encouraging participation, improving performance, and inspiring lifelong habits that support both physical and mental health.” Scarisbrick Hall School brings a blend of heritage and forward-thinking education, set in one of the area’s most iconic buildings. Meanwhile, Formby High, going strong since 1938, continues to be a lynchpin for inclusive education and community spirit. Mrs Melia, the Curriculum Leader for Physical Education at Formby High School, also expressed her gratitude. "On behalf of the students and staff at Formby High School, I would like to thank Formby Hall Golf Club for their very kind and generous donation of free fitness suite equipment for our students to use. The students really enjoy using the fitness suite, and this donation will benefit them in lesson time as they now have access to more equipment, but it will also benefit those students who use the fitness suite after school. Staff also use the facility, so it will contribute to staff health and well-being too.” The generous gesture from Formby Hall is the start of a long-standing relationship with the area. Over the years, the resort has been more than a leisure destination; it’s hosted fundraisers, local events, and now, it seems, a new generation of fitness enthusiasts. The gym and wellness refurbishment itself is due to start later this year, with Schulte Hospitality Group overseeing the works. It forms part of a broader revamp following the Harland & Poston Group’s acquisition of the resort in early 2025. For now, the only heavy lifting going on is the delivery of dumbbells and rowing machines. But it’s the kind of weight everyone’s happy to carry.

The Harland & Poston Group has returned from the Outbound Investment Hong Kong Summit 2025 (11–14 May) after 4 days of animated debate on the future of investment migration, international real-estate flows and residency-by-investment programmes. Hundreds of delegates from more than 30 jurisdictions converged on the city, underscoring Asia’s growing weight in global capital re-allocation.Representing the Group were Keith Poston, Business Development Manager, and Paul Smith, Investment Advisor. Group Representation: Strategic Insight on the GroundBetween them, they brought decades of deal-making insight. From panel sessions to closed-door briefings, the specialists outlined the Group’s “mobility-meets-value” thesis and met potential partners keen to channel capital into resilient, geographically diversified assets.From panel sessions to closed-door briefings, Mr Poston outlined the Group’s “mobility-meets-value” thesis and met potential partners keen to channel capital into resilient, geographically diversified assets.“The summit demonstrated how swiftly investors are embracing agile, border-straddling solutions,” Mr Poston remarked. “By fusing residence rights with robust bricks-and-mortar plays, we can deliver opportunity both for families seeking security and for host economies hungry for productive capital. Harland & Poston will now nurture the connections forged in Hong Kong and convert dialogue into durable partnerships over the months ahead.”Post-Summit Momentum and Emerging PartnershipsPre-summit interest has already translated into a pipeline of exploratory memoranda, with further meetings scheduled through Q3 2025 across London, Lisbon and Dubai.Ongoing bilateral talks with Asia advisory houses regarding co-branded investment-migration products.A series of investor roundtables in Lisbon (July) and London (September) to present newly aligned opportunities emerging from the summit.