Troia Resort - Gold Medallist at International Resort Awards

For immediate release: Troiaresort, the new 440 hectare resort development on Portugal’s Costa Azul (Blue Coast), won two awards at the UK’s prestigious Homes Overseas Magazine Awards 2007 on Monday 3rd December, a gold award for Best Apartment – Portugal and a bronze award for Best Marina Development. The Homes Overseas Magazine Awards are judged by an independent panel of respected property experts including architects, surveyors, and respected property journalists. These awards have rapidly become the benchmark for the finest in international real estate and new properties around the world. The judges visited each of the properties shortlisted to choose Gold, Silver and Bronze winners. The Awards are sponsored by Barclays and the Association of International Property Professionals (AIPP). Eng. Rui d´Ávila, Sonae Turismo spokesman, comments that: “We are very pleased that our commitment to creating one of the finest resorts in Portugal has been recognised as being on a par with the best in the world.” Troiaresort, located on the Tróia Peninsula, a traditional weekend and holiday destination for Lisbon’s influential inhabitants, encompasses the existing Robert Trent Jones 18-hole golf course. This world famous golf course, which is now closed for a six-month, £1 million overhaul will be enhanced with the addition of a new clubhouse, 12 miles of wide, white, sandy beach, two five-star hotels, two four-star aparthotels, a 184-berth marina, a casino, a conference centre, a beach club, a country club, a tennis centre and an equestrian centre. A range of contemporary residences, including 211 beach apartments, 79 marina apartments and 98 private villa plots, is now available at Troiaresort. The apartments have beach and Marina views, while the villas have views of the ocean, the lakes or the golf course. Villa owners have golf rights included. For further information, please visit www.irgtroiaresort.com or call +351 214 643 322 -ENDS- For media information (not for publication), please contact Rakhee Shah at BlueIce Communications, Tel: +44 (0) 20 7937 7537, Email: rshah@blueicecom.com EDITORS’ NOTES Background The Tróia Peninsula, known for superb golf and water sports, is the setting for the 440 hectare Troiaresort, a new development on this northern tip of the Alentejo region of Portugal, just 30 minutes south of Lisbon. A range of apartments, townhouses and villas is under construction at the resort, which will offer a wealth of facilities and amenities in a picturesque setting. Thanks to careful design of the masterplan, all properties will have a sea view. The first phase, which will comprise three hotels, a marina, casino, conference centre, commercial facilities, restructuring of golf course and delivery of Marina and Beach apartments, will be completed by September 2008. Location Located on one of the most southerly latitudes in Europe, the Tróia Peninsula enjoys a mild climate with agreeable temperatures all year round. The capital city of Lisbon is just a 30-minute drive away. Getting there Flights to Lisbon from London and regional airports in the UK run on a daily basis. Flight times are around two hours and forty minutes, and airlines include British Airways, easyJet, TAP, BMI Baby and Monarch. Cars can be hired from Lisbon airport, and it takes about half an hour to drive to Troiaresort. Once at the Tróia Peninsula, modern ferries run every 20 minutes – linking Tróia with the town and port of Setúbal. Facilities and amenities Troiaresort will be divided into four separate areas – with each part offering a different range of facilities and amenities. The Central Area will provide a 184-berth marina, a casino and conference centre, two four-star aparthotels, a five-star hotel, restaurants, bars and shopping facilities. The Beach Area will offer and beach club and a country club, as well as a wide range of watersports, including jet skiing, waterskiing, surfing, water polo, snorkeling and scuba diving. The Golf and Hotel Resort will feature a five-star hotel, a clubhouse and a par-72, 18-hole golf championship course. The course, which was designed by Robert Trent Jones and has been host to the Portuguese Open, will be closed in November for six months due to a £1 million improvement project. Finally, the Eco Resort will provide a tennis centre, an equestrian centre, an archaeological centre and an environment centre. The Developer Sonae SGPS has a worldwide presence with total assets of €9 billion and 58, 000 employees in 14 countries. Sonae manages a portfolio of diversified business by setting strategic guidelines, monitoring their performance, fostering synergies between them and identifying new business opportunities. Sonae's business portfolio includes interest in retail, shopping centre, telecommunications, services and tourism. Sonae Turismo specialises in the tourism sector. Its core business is the development and marketing of recreational property projects. The synergies between the various businesses such as the hotel management, leisure and travel create clear competitive advantages for the group. Sonae announced a turnover of more than €6.6 billion in financial year 2004. Properties A range of apartments, townhouses and villas are available at Troiaresort. Prices range from €290,400 for a one-bedroom marina apartment to €1.3 million for a six-bedroom villa. Inspection trips Two-night, three-day inspection trips are available to Trioaresort, with the hotel accommodation provided on a complimentary basis. Finance Finance is available for the purchase of freehold land, buildings, apartments and houses in Portugal. Banco Santander Totta SA. Barclays International and Deutsche Bank are some of the banks offering mortgages on Portuguese property to UK residents.