With the American tourism boom, more and more airlines are investing in direct flight connections to the Algarve, as promoters announce new hotel developments for the ultimate luxury
American tourism boom
The boom of American tourists in Portugal is continuing in 2024, with the number of US guests at Portuguese hotels and tourist accommodation units reaching just over one million in the first half of the year, right behind the UK.
According to the national statistics institute (INE), Portuguese tourist accommodation establishments welcomed a whopping 1,039,354 travellers from the US between January and June 2024, just slightly below the 1,158,937 guests from the UK.
Faro to Reykjavik: Connecting North America and Europe via Iceland
Starting in April 2025, Icelandic airline Play will operate between Faro and Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, with two direct flights a week, and tickets are already available for purchase.

The new direct route, whose inaugural flight is scheduled for April 12 next year, will operate on Saturdays and Wednesdays until October 29, Play announced in a statement.
According to Einar Örn Ólafsson, the airline’s CEO, the new route reflects the company’s commitment to connecting North America and Europe via Iceland, “providing passengers with exceptional service”.
Highgate to rebrand Algarve hotels under Marriott
Highgate Portugal has announced plans to transform four hotels in Praia dos Salgados, in Albufeira, into Marriott and Westin-branded properties.
Renovations are set to begin at the end of this year, with the reopening scheduled for 2025.

Nau Salgados Palace
The hotels will be renamed Westin Salgados Beach Resort, The Residences at Westin Salgados Beach Resort, Algarve Marriott Salgados Golf Resort & Conference Centre, and Marriott Residences Salgados Resort.
New date for Faro-Newark link, bringing the Algarve and the USA closer together
Initially planned to launch this year, United Airlines’ direct flights between Faro and Newark, USA, have been postponed until May of 2025.

Last year, when the air link was announced, Algarve tourism chief André Gomes saw it as “excellent news for the region and a very important milestone that opens a new chapter of opportunities for Algarve tourism”, which will bring the Algarve and the USA closer together.
The sustainable ‘village’
Arcaya is a new sustainable development nestled in the Algarve’s ‘Golden Triangle’, designed to harmonise eco-friendly living with modern comfort.

The project, built using innovative wooden structures and off-site construction methods, offers an immersive natural setting.
With customisable homes that blend seamlessly with the surrounding forest, Arcaya fosters a lifestyle centred on environmental consciousness. Amenities include wellness centres, private pools, and access to nature trails.
Forging ahead
As part of Details Hospitality Sports & Leisure’s plans for their recently acquired properties in the Algarve, the Dom Pedro Vilamoura hotel will make way for a Hyatt Regency unit, which is expected to be fully operational by October 2025.

Dom Pedro Laguna
In September 2025, the Dom Pedro Marina will be replaced by a Canopy by Hilton hotel.
The plan also includes converting the existing 20-room hotel in Palmares into a 150-room JW Marriott hotel, with construction starting in the first half of 2025; and a new tourist development near the Laguna and Millennium courses is expected to begin in the second half of 2025.
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