Savoy Signature invites travellers to discover luxury in Madeira, Portugal

Representatives from Savoy Signature, a luxury boutique hotel brand with seven properties in Madeira, Portugal, recently visited Toronto for an intimate media luncheon.

The event provided a detailed overview on two of the brand’s newest properties, The Reserve and Saccharum. Representatives from the hotel also took the opportunity promote travel to Madeira from Canada.

Brimming with nature, culture and history, Madeira is a gorgeous island located in the North Atlantic Ocean, closer to Africa than mainland Portugal. As a result of its unique geographical location, the destination enjoys sunnier, warmer temperatures.

Typically, most Canadians combine a visit to Madeira with a longer stay in popular parts of Portugal or additional destinations in Europe, as there are non-stop connections from more than 50 European gateways.

Getting to Madeira from Canada

In June 2024, Azores Airlines will launch direct service from Toronto to Madeira, allowing more Canadians to experience the destination without a stopover.

Additional routes with one stop from Canada to Madeira include:

• Air Canada via Lisbon
• AzoresAirlines via Ponta Delgada 
• BritishAirways via LondonHeathrow 
• DeltaAirlines and KLM viaAmsterdam 
• Lufthansa via Frankfurt and Munich 
• Iberia via Madrid 
• SWISSAirlines via Zurich and Geneva 
• UnitedAirlines via Lisbon, Oporto, Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich 
• TAP Portugal via Lisbon and Oporto

“Madeira is a small island, small enough that it’s easy to get around, but big enough that there’s plenty to do,” said Ricardo Farinha, chief commercial officer, Savoy Signature. “We’re very excited about the new, non-stop connection to Madeira island. We’ve been investing in the Canadian market and this year, in addition to the non-stop service from Toronto via Air Canada, we’ve also launched The Reserve, the epitome of luxury within the Savoy Signature collection.”

Savoy Signature has seven luxury hotels in its portfolio, all targeting different segments. Two of the properties are on the southwest coast of Madeira on Calheta Beach, and the remaining five are scattered in Funchal.

Royal Savoy is a five-star oceanfront property; NEXT is a lifestyle boutique hotel targeting a younger clientele; Calheta Beach is an all-inclusive, family-oriented four-star hotel and Gardens is a four-star adults-only hotel.

About The Reserve

The Reserve, the brand’s newest property, opened on Jan. 15 and is an ultra-luxury, 40-room hotel located within Savoy Palace.

“The concept is to get to the epitome of customization and personalization for the experience of the guest,” Farinha said. Upon check-in at The Reserve, each guest is assigned a Guest Experience Personal Assistant (GEPA) who is available 24/7 for the duration of the stay. 

Additionally, in partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo Airport, Savoy Signature offers guests a meet-and-greet service upon arrival. “As the client exits the plane, regardless of the class of service, regardless of airline, this person escorts the guest through the terminal, helping them with their luggage and the arrivals process,” Farinha said. “This service then ends at the hotel, or the car rental service. This is also included upon departure from the hotel, too.”

The transfer service from Savoy Signature includes  champagne service, or a signature cocktail for the guest to drink on the ride to the hotel. Guests can opt to travel in a Rolls Royce, which the brand recently acquired, or a BMW. For its most exclusive guests, The Reserve has a separate hotel entrance (including a private elevator), which guests seeking the utmost privacy may opt to use instead of the main entrance. 

Enhancements at Saccharum Resort & Spa

Savoy Signature’s second stand-out property is the breathtaking, design-forward resort Saccharum, which means “sugarcane” in Latin.

The property, which opened in 2015, has undergone a series of enhancements and new developments.

With a focus on wellness and sustainability, the hotel is built on the site of a former sugar mill. The colour palette runs from purple to green and brown, which mimic the natural colours in the life cycle of sugarcane. 

“Last year, we decided to have Saccharum as the beacon of sustainability in the hotel collection,” Farinha said. “We refurbished several areas in the building and all of the new furniture is organic or wood-based.” 

Along with panoramic views of the ocean and mountains, the 196-room Saccharum offers its guests the following:

• Savoy Premium Experience added to any reservation
• Calhau Beach Club, with direct access to the sea
• Three restaurants and three bars
• A spa with four treatment rooms, a Turkish bath, sauna and heated indoor pool
• Mixology and gastronomy classes
• Pet-friendly rooms 
• A fitness centre with personal trainers booked on request

Travel advisors can earn 10 per cent on all bookings with Luxury Consortia (Virtuoso, Internova, Serandipians, etc.). | Additionally, during a specific period Savoy Signature offers an increased commission of 20 per cent for all The Reserve bookings, as well as Suite bookings at the Savoy Palace and Saccharum. 

This offer is only valid for bookings made until the end of February 2024 and booked directly with Savoy Signature. Agents can direct those bookings to: rita.simoes@savoysignature.com.

For more information on Savoy Signature, click here.