Interview with Sean Moriarty, CEO of Quinta do Lago
The Algarve is best known for its access to an array of picturesque beaches, postcard friendly natural vistas and delicious cuisine. The coastline offers an eclectic range of hotels, varying from quaint bed and breakfasts, design hotels to secluded resorts. Quinta do Lago is an established resort that has been delivering impeccable hospitality for more than 50 years and continues to adapt and elevate all that they offer. The luxury resort is affectionately embraced by 2,000 acres of the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park. As the resort has recently opened its doors, post COVID-19, we got to spend some time with CEO Sean Moriarty about the implications of COVID-19 and what guests visit Quinta do Lago can expect going forward.
Where are you from?
I am from Ireland which is where I grew up with my family. My professional background started in retail, also in Ireland. When I was offered the position to become CEO of Quinta do Lago, it came with the opportunity to move here permanently and build on the resort’s amazing offering. My family all moved out with me, at the time I had my wife and two kids – I now have a son and two girls called Bobby, Emma and Kimmy (aged eight, four and three). They love going back to Ireland and it really makes them appreciate the climate in Portugal, particularly when they are layering on the jumpers, coats, scarves and gloves at Christmas!
How did QDL start?
Quinta do Lago began with a vision of a destination of quality of life. The resort dates back to 1971, when property developer André Jordan created the masterplan for a low-density residential area, inspired by the natural landscapes of the land. At the time, Quinta do Lago was just one single, crumbling farmhouse, but it has since become a true sanctuary for outdoor living and family lifestyle. Almost 50 years on, we are one of the few tourist destinations in the world that have maintained this commitment to preserving the natural environment and we’re very proud to offer residents and guests a unique, exceptional experience of quality of life.
We know from our own experience, that QDL has a fantastic family offering as a boutique resort. How important is this to you?
As a parent, I’m extremely lucky to have my own children that are happy to give me an opinion! All my children have given me ideas, visions and a focus of what is needed for families and this is a huge inspiration that drives me to continually develop the resort for the family market.
From an accommodation perspective, we have The Magnolia Hotel featuring 7 one-of-a-kind cottages, perfect for families and boasting a heated outdoor pool, a colourful in-house restaurant, cinema, gymnasium and spa. By staying here, we make sure that everything is accessible, and we also offer regular special ‘Kids Stay & Eat for Free’ packages all year round along with special guest offers on our villa rentals. This means that when booking accommodation, children get free accommodation and meals. Nestled amongst the pine groves, the cottages are a perfect place to relax. Their wood-style cabins are fitted with spacious bedrooms, bathrooms, lounge areas, a kitchenette and a private patio area.
Similarly, our latest investment, The Campus, is a state-of-the-art sports facility that offers beginners’ clinics, private professional coaching, and sunshine all year round. Our F&B offering is also very well-tailored for families including the newly renovated Casa do Lago which has the most picturesque view you could imagine, as well as The Shack where you've got access to the man-made beach or lake which means you can sit and enjoy a meal with friends with the kids happily playing in earshot.
We saw that you are currently offering some post-COVID-19 packages at your establishment. Can you talk us through some of these?
I think that people are using this time to pause and reflect. People are going to really look at their bucket list of things of what they want to do when this is all over. Currently, people are exploring new things such as online yoga, meditation or virtual personal training and I think this is going to give people a more open-minded view about what they want their future holidays to look like. Guests are going to want to learn new things, experience a bit of adventure and will really appreciate what a family holiday together means. Quinta do Lago is creating new packages to offer just that.
We are developing a brand-new surprise package where guests answer three questions and we then plan their whole holiday – this will ensure guests really get the most out of a holiday with us and an experience holiday which cannot be replicated elsewhere.
What would you say to those that are considering visiting the Algarve?
I would say visit Quinta do Lago. In all seriousness, there are very few places in Europe with the kind of quality of life we can offer. For nearly 50 years, we have sustained a pure and natural destination, with a low-density population so there’s no crowds and in one of the safest places in Europe. In the wake of the pandemic, we reviewed and stepped up our health and hygiene measures and the resort has been Clean & Safe Approved by Turismo de Portugal. But this hasn’t come at any cost to the experience of Quinta do Lago; we remain vigilant to the virus and are committed to keeping our community safe, while ensuring that the active, outdoor lifestyle, family values, unique experiences and appreciation for nature are all central to the experience of spending time here. You can count on Quinta do Lago to give you a place to unwind, relax and spend time with your loved ones in a safe and trusted destination.
What does a day of work typically entail for you?
Every day is different – and I like it that way. I like to be amongst it all, so I’ve just come from our sales meeting about real estate, this morning I was talking about golf and before that, I was signing off on a new restaurant menu. I love hearing people say, “Wow, we love this place!” and it’s the combination of our team being happy too. We’re big into communication, we’re big into involvement, we’re massively into empowerment. Wherever you are in the team you are encouraged to think big and be ambitious. Quinta do Lago is about living the life you dream of – so every day that’s the goal.
https://www.quintadolago.com/en/
Read our review on The Magnolia Hotel here.
