Portugal

Portuguese Hospitality Giant Pestana Hotel Group Secures 38 Nominations at World Travel and Golf Awards 2026

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Pestana Hotel Group received 38 nominations at the World Travel Awards 2026 and World Golf Awards 2026. The nominations include 33 World Travel Awards and 5 World Golf Awards across properties in Portugal (Porto, Lisboa, Tróia, Algarve, Madeira, Porto Santo) and internationally (Spain, Netherlands, USA, Brazil, Venezuela, Morocco, and São Tomé and Príncipe). Notable nominations include Europe’s Leading Hotel Brand 2026 for the group overall, and multiple category nominations for properties like Pestana CR7 Times Square and Pestana CR7 Gran Vía Madrid.

Ikea to Cut 850 Jobs Globally as Furniture Giant Seeks Organizational Simplification

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Inter Ikea Group announced 850 job eliminations globally (300 in Sweden) to reduce complexity and costs. The reorganization aims to improve decision-making speed and reduce prices for customers. In Portugal, Ikea is undergoing gradual structural updates with individual transition plans for affected employees. The company reported a 32% drop in net profit to 1.5 billion euros in fiscal year 2024/25.

Portuguese Bank Launches First Homegrown Stablecoin Compliant with EU Crypto Rules

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Bison Bank, a Portuguese bank specializing in investment banking, custodial services, corporate advisory and cryptocurrency services, launched the first Portuguese stablecoin with two versions indexed to the euro and US dollar. The stablecoin was designed to enable fast, secure and transparent international payments and transfers in compliance with the EU’s MiCA regulation.

TAP Air Portugal Divests Handling Services Stake to Menzies Aviation in Strategic Restructuring Move

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Sérvulo & Associados advised TAP on the sale of its 49.9% stake in SPdH (Portuguese Handling Services) to Menzies Aviation Portugal. The transaction was contracted on April 28, 2026, subject to fulfillment of applicable conditions. This divestment allows TAP to focus on its core aviation business in compliance with the European Commission’s approval of TAP Group’s restructuring plan.

Portuguese Insurance Broker and Credit Intermediary Join Forces to Simplify Financial Services

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Sabseg and Sabcrédito announced a strategic partnership to offer integrated financial services combining insurance brokerage and credit intermediation. The partnership aims to reduce complexity and bureaucracy for customers making major financial decisions by providing coordinated advice on insurance coverage and credit solutions for housing, automotive, and personal loans.

Engie unveils hybrid renewable energy projects across northeastern Portugal

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Engie presented hybridization projects combining wind and solar energy with existing hydroelectric facilities in northeastern Portugal. The project involves a 157.5 MW wind park at Picote and three solar projects totaling 354 MWp capacity at Bemposta, Baixo Sabor, and Foz Tua facilities. Portugal’s Environment and Energy Minister emphasized the importance of community involvement and transparency in renewable energy development.

EY Study Reveals Sharp Digital Divide as Seniors Show Deep Skepticism Toward AI

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EY released a report titled ‘Understanding older generations’ adoption of AI’ revealing that less than one-third (24%) of people aged 60-85 are familiar with AI. The study found high skepticism among seniors, with 8 in 10 respondents acknowledging that AI-generated results are not always accurate. In Portugal specifically, only 38.7% of the population aged 16-74 used AI tools in 2025, with adoption being asymmetrically lower among older age groups. The study recommends governments fund practical AI literacy programs for seniors and companies develop AI products prioritizing simplicity and accessibility.

Portuguese holding company Semapa reports 513.3 million euros in Q1 profits from cement division sale

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Portuguese holding company Semapa reported Q1 2026 results showing 513.3 million euros in profits, primarily from the sale of cement company Secil for 1.4 billion euros. Operating performance declined with consolidated revenue at 478.4 million euros (down 14.1%) and EBITDA contracting 40.7% to 70.9 million euros. The company invested 102.9 million euros, including reinforced investment in Gropyus and new investments in CarbonRe and Sybilion through its venture capital arm Semapa Next.

European AI Security Firm Calls for Strategic Autonomy in Cybersecurity at eRadar Conference

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Carlos Carvalho, CEO of Adyta, participated in a panel discussion at the eRadar Conference in Lisbon about cybersecurity challenges posed by AI and Europe’s capacity to respond. Carvalho emphasized the need for European strategic autonomy in AI and digital technologies, warning against dependency on foreign AI models from companies like OpenAI and Anthropic. He advocated for accelerating technological business development within Europe and promoting partnerships between national companies and larger enterprises to build European technological capacity. The discussion also covered cybersecurity threats in the space sector and the importance of digital and spatial sovereignty for Europe.

Portuguese Drone Maker Tekever Demonstrates Rapid Deployment Capabilities by Retrofitting Systems for Ukraine

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Portuguese drone manufacturer Tekever showcased its operational agility by rapidly retrofitting autonomous systems for Ukrainian forces. The company participated in eRadar conference discussing Portugal’s defense industry growth, with drones representing approximately 20% of Portuguese defense exports. Discussion focused on Portugal’s potential to become a national champion in autonomous systems software and the opportunities presented by European defense investments through initiatives like Space Shield and Drone Shield.